The Ara Project
Education Program

Our education program is a major priority and we are hoping it will grow and grow, within schools, at our Breeding Centre and within the community. “From small acorns ….”

Schools and children have been using our education facilities to enhance their knowledge of Costa Rican Macaws and the Ara Project reintroduction program. *process of the new house*

Our education task is ever growing and will require time, funding, skills and volunteers. If you feel that you may be able to help develop our program, please email us at: thearaproject@gmail.com

Volunteers

If you are a teacher on summer break, or a trainee teacher looking for a different experience you may like to join us for a time.

A volunteer who can speak some Spanish and would like to practice their vocabulary skills, come and enhance our program and help us teach.

All will be welcome

Our program consists of:

A School Pack	coloring books information pack things to do, posters
A Visit to Schools	to talk about conservation and birds - how to help Costa Rica's birds how to look after your own bird taking a tame bird on the visit
Games and Quizes	Also available on our website
A guided tour	The Breeding Centre, Refuge and Nursery
Competitions	Coloring, painting, models, essays.

If you have extra ideas then we would delighted to hear them, and to add to the program.

We already have an education program in Tiskita, thanks to the owner of Tiskita Jungle Lodge, Peter Aspinall and our biologists. Peter, our biologists and some of our volunteers, visit schools in the area and tells of the birds in the release program. How the children can help to observe the birds and their behavior and what they can do to continue to help the birds survive. We also visit the local community and ask for their help in protecting the birds.

We have two wonderful coloring books in use with our education program, “The Fun Coloring Book”, written by biologist Michelle Whiting, full of puzzles and information about the Scarlet Macaws and “Lets Discover Costa Rica”, a color and activity fun book, produced by Andy Gingold.

Posters are often being produced by our volunteers and are used in schools in the area.

Our community observation chart has been distributed by our biologist throughout the area, requesting information on the birds behaviours and sightings. We find this is an excellent way to communicate with local residents and reinforces commitment to the Scarlet Macaws.

 

OUR NEW EDUCATION CENTRE
Also doubles as an Office/Food Prep. Area/Storage Room

Our education centre consists of two rooms, shower room, a kitchen area and large presentation area - we certainly will make good use of this excellent facility.

We like to encourage schools, children and visitors to view our breeding aviaries from viewing areas - thus not disturbing birds during the breeding season.

Learn more about the plight of the Scarlet and Great Green Macaws in Costa Rica.

• find out how our program works
• help conservation.
• hold school workshops
• help make conservation work
• Our community observation chart has been distributed by our biologist throughout the area, requesting information on the birds behaviours and sightings. We find this is an excellent way to communicate with local residents and reinforces commitment to the Scarlet Macaws. build communications skills
• enjoy artistry skills
• observe the birds
• photograph your day
  
• just enjoy the scenery

Education and Competition Time
and a new Poster

We are proud to have enlarged upon our educational program this year. Our volunteer, Rachel Reunis visited our local school, The Escuela David Gonzalex Alfaro, in Rio Segundo de Alajuela and arranged to give talks to every class throughout the day. Each class consisted of approximately 20 - 25 children ranging in ages from 8 - 12 years.

Rachel spoke on matters of Conservation of the Scarlet Macaw in Costa Rica and the The Ara Project re-introduction program.

 

She was assisted by Simon Hughes, several photographs and posters, some feathers and one Yellow Naped Amazon called Spudtoo! – who was extremely well behaved, and very popular.

 

 

 

Our art competition drew over 60 drawings and the prizes went to:

Our first prize went to: Josue Mauricio Carranza Campos aged 9
Our Second prize went to: Edgar G. Vuares Chaves
Our Third prize went to: Michel Campos
A Special prize went to: Wilber Oviedo Vargas
And the runners up were: Jonathan Josue Castillo Campos Randall Ascrubal Arce Suarez Maria Fernanda Moya C. Maria Auxiliadora Moneto J. Jocelyn Raquel Accina Arroyo Yadir Noguera Badilla

If you would like to join our education team, then please get in touch. The children love to participate and our programs are going out to an ever-growing field of schools.

 

 

 

Do come and help.

****

Cent-O, Educativo San Fernando,
La Giralda
for kindergarten and primary aged children

We visited Cento Educativo San Fernando in La Giralda in June 2005.

The children ranged in ages from 4 – 12 and we were delighted to be asked to go and give an initial talk to two of the classes.

We were greeted by two of the teachers and an extremely well behaved class of children. We took along a lot of large color photos of Scarlet Macaws and the release areas, a map, our new poster and a big box of feathers. Not to mention one very friendly Yellow Naped Amazon, “Spud”.

 

   

****

Escuela Central de Tres Rios,
San Jose

On a sunny day in March 2007 our team headed out to San Jose to meet the kids from Escuela Central de Tres Rios.

We have a conservation program prepared for our school visits, so we went visiting with Silvia Coto our vet, Michelle Eglinton our zookeeper, Damaris one of our volunteers and Sabina from the UK .

Elsie Hidalgo the form teacher, brought along 206 kids aged around 7 years old, and they filled the assembly room. The presentation formed part of their education studies.

We took along some visual aids for the kids to look at, helping them to understand just what we were talking about.

We like the kids to ask loads of questions, which they like to do, and we all happily answered them.

As usual, we organised a drawing competition, the kids being asked to produce a picture of a bird by the end of April. There will be four winners and six runners up and the winner will have his picture on a poster and tshirt.

We find this part of our visit greeted with great enthusiasm, and we really enjoy seeing the talent and thought that goes into the pictures.

****

Escuela Miguel Obregon Lizano,
Alajuela.

Two in one month - we are working really hard to improve our conservation and education efforts.

Taking advantage of our spanish speaking assistants and volunteers - Silvia, Michelle, Sabina and Damaris, set forth again to meet with over 300 children. Aged between 9 - 11, the kids really enjoyed themselves and asked loads of questions.

The teachers, headed by the director: Juan C. Esquivel Chaves, also joined in the fun to ask for lots more information.

Our pictures on the presentation were a great hit, as usual, its really fun for the kids to see where the birds actually are, and to see them flying free.

Our competition at this school also began today, and we look forward to seeing some really marvellous pictures.

****

Winners chosen at Escuela Tres Rios
in San Jose

We received a wonderful collection of paintings from the children in our competition from this school, over 70 pictures.

It was really difficult to choose a winner, so we decieded this time to select the best five.

Osaus Garita Jimenez	Diego Mata Solis	Gabriel Solano Richmond	Karla Duran Molina
Fernelly Duran Aquilar

Congratulations to all the children - we hope to have some pictures of prize giving for you later.

****

Progressive School in Long Island Colouring Competition

Having received many entries for Amanda's Coloring Competition, we are delighted to announce the winners.

First Grade

The winner was Michael

In second place was Sydnee

And the runner up for her special picture and words was Jacqueline

Second Grade

Charlotte was the winner - her picture included some very good words.

Hanna took second place - again her words were very poignant.

Prizes included: Tshirts with their own picture printed on the back for each winner. A teddy bear t shirt and a book marker.

We would like to thank all the children that took part in the competition, and we hope that the words from 'childrens mouths' or pens! Says it all!

****

Guymi Indian Reserve in Tiskita

Anna, Mike and Sydney, three of our volunteers, spent time at the beginning of the year (2008) visiting the Guymi Indian Reserve. The Indian population are very aware of the birds and we often hear of reports of sightings from the reserve. Originally, the tribe would see the Scarlet Macaw as food and a decorative means. Although this has changed over the years we like to maintain an important contact with the reserve to try to ensure a continued understanding of the importance of the Scarlet Macaw in Costa Rica.

It's a difficult journey in the rainy season, but in the summer, ideal for visiting the kids and talking to them and their community about our project and its progress in the area.

Anna visited in January and spent a lot of time in the classroom chatting about the birds and answering lots of questions.

Mike and Sydney visited in February and got the children involved in a competition to make some art.

 

  

The Indian population are always very welcoming and the kids are always enthusiastic, although a little shy, and we were delighted with the efforts our volunteers put into making the kids day a little different. We always hope that conservation becomes a more important as time goes on and that the children will help to protect the birds as the flock grows.

 

 

****

European School - San Pablo de Heredia

Our judges were Margot Frisius and Chris Castles and Marti Everett and it really was a difficult decision to make, especially as the standard was so high.

However, after a long deliberation, we picked the winner and two runners up.

Winner - Marietta Blanco

Runners up - Alicia Gonzalez and Eleanor Battle

 

School has now broken up and so presentations will be made later in the year.

****

Progressive School in Long Island.
Presentation

Amanda sent me some pictures of the presentation of prizes, awarded to her classmates and school, in recognition of their excellent artwork in our competition earlier in the year.

Amanda kindly represented us at her school and it looks like everyone enjoyed the day.

  

****

European School - San Pablo de Heredia
Presentation Day at last!

Presentation day finally arrived, five months after our competition, and we joined the class of these talented youngsters just after lunch.

The teachers joined in the fun and we unleashed our bag of goodies!

Prizes were a "certificate of excellence for art", a feather, a photograph of one of our macaws flying free, a book mark, and a feather painting.

As Margot was not able to attend, Carol her daughter was delighted to help make the presentations in her stead. The children described all their art exhibits for her and all the children joined in a "questions and answers"session. They told us all about their visit and what they enjoyed best - the babies in the nursery seemed to come out on top!

 

These talented children are greatly encouraged by their art mistress Anna Hurlburt to use as much art in their education as possible and indeed the school sets very high standards for artistry - as can be seen on many of the displays around the building.

We congratulate the children on their efforts and look forward to having another class or two visit this coming year.