Integrated Community Environmental Education Program

We work with the elementary schools in Puerto Peñasco to offer this free two-session program for all fifth graders. Kids learn the basics about local environment, both marine and desert, and the importance of these ecosystems for human health and sustenance.  Our goal is to develop students’ knowledge, interest in science and awareness of environmental issues. Together with teachers and school leaders, we developed the curriculum to meet the needs and interests of the schools.

Session 1: Through discussion, activities, experiments and games, children learn how oceanic ecosystems work, how the Sea of Cortez was formed, as well as its biodiversity, oceanography, and essential habitats. This session takes place at CEDO.

Session 2: To experience the richness of the region directly, our next session is held in Estero Morúa, where students learn to identify many of the species which depend on this unique wetland habitat. Children get to know how wetlands work, why they are so important, and about the threats they face. To gain additional perspective, students try out some basic field techniques that biologists use to learn about wetlands.

We will expand  this program to the communities of Puerto Lobos, Santo Tomás, Puerto Libertad, El Desemboque, San Jorge and el Golfo de Santa Clara. All of these communities are experiencing rapid growth, and increasing pressure on their natural resources.

This project is currently supported by the Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature). Long term funding will be needed to continue these efforts.

“Biologuitos” - Young Biologists Ecology Club

Through the Ecology Club, CEDO has brought together a group of sixth graders interested in learning more about the environment and conserving it.

We meet twice a month for a variety of activities, including:
- Talks and activities on environmental themes
- Trips to the field to gather biological data
- Events: Beach Clean Ups and Eco-celebrations
- Leadership activities

Joining the club is free and independent of school activities.

Our current members are:
Erick Ernesto Beyles Montoya, Mauricio Chaul Garduño, Dania Helenes Cabrer,Juan Carlos Suárez Murillo, Yelthsin Carrillo, Cinthya Carolina López Contreras, Lizbeth Durán Soto, Rusell León Magalowski, Guadalupe Mariel Martínez Gamboa, Karen Enriquez Loacute;pez, Alex David Melendez Sánchez, José Angel Melendez, Juan Francisco Quiroa Flores

Wet Feet Ocean Camp

Every July we hold Wet Feet Ocean Camp for children, aged 9-12, of Puerto Peñasco. Kids stay at CEDO’s field station and enjoy many group activities and opportunities to learn about the environment.  The days are packed. We visit the tidepools to learn about starfish, fireworms, anenomes and the many other creatures adapted to live between the tides.

In Estero Morúa, children discover the amazing creatures of this muddy habitat: halophyte plants (which tolerate the very salty wetland water) and the endangered least tern which nests near the mouth of the estuary. Everything we learn in the field is complemented with natural history talks, movies, experiments, dissections and crafts.

To make it possible for more children to participate, we offer scholarships to students who meet the following qualifications:
- Teacher’s recommendation
- Active participation in CEDO’s other school programs
- Interest in science and environmental issues

* Please This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you would like to Donate to the Scholarship Fund.