ARCAS Environmental Activities

_{Environmental Education}

ARCAS believes that the key to addressing the root causes of wildlife trafficking and other environmental problems is environmental education, and it usually dedicates half of its overall budget to this activity.  In its three main program areas – Peten, Hawaii and Guatemala City – it carries out a variety of environmental education activities.

In Guatemala City, the ARCAS Environmental Education Department uses live, non-releasable animals, puppets and other props to give presentations in local schools, engaging students in a fun, participatory manner, always conveying its principal message: don’t buy wild animals as pets!. In the Senderos de Alux Ecological Park in San Lucas Sacatepques, it has created environmental exhibits and trails.

In Hawaii, ARCAS staff and volunteers conduct beach clean-ups, sea turtle hatchling releases and community reforestations, and organizes local youth groups , ecological festivals and youth training courses.

At the Rescue Center in Peten, ARCAS hosts visits from school groups to the Kinkajou Kingdom Environmental Education and Interpretation Center, and conducts presentatios and training courses in various points throughout the Maya Biosphere Reserve.

Thanks to the Columbus and Brevard County Zoos for their hep in developing environmental education suitcases used in educational activities.

There are opportunities to volunteer in environmental education activities both in Guatemala City, Hawaii and Petén.  Let us know if you are interested in volunteering or have access to donated educational supplies.