URL: http://www.amazonteam.org/index.php/262/ACT_For_Kids

ACT For Kids

Special Thanks to our partner and sponsor, Nature's Path™!

Outings for Schoolchildren of the Suriname Rainforest

In the Amazon, there are people who have lived in the rainforest for thousands of years: indigenous peoples. Their ability to live in harmony with the forest, and their knowledge of the rainforest’s many natural treasures, has much to teach us. But for most of these ancient peoples, their traditional way of living is disappearing. And very often, their special knowledge is no longer passed down from the village elders to their children.

The Amazon Conservation Team wants to help indigenous children of the rainforest understand and be proud of the unique value of their ancient cultures. Every year, in the South American country of Suriname, ACT brings indigenous youth and elders together to visit and learn to protect places that are very important to their history or to their natural world. When they are there, the children enjoy learning about the ways of their ancestors through nature walks, game playing, scavenger hunts, and arts and crafts. They learn many things about the plants and animals of their forests that cannot be found in schoolbooks. In the village, their grandfathers and grandmothers told the children stories of their ancient past—these trips bring those stories to life.

In July 2009, with help from the Giving Back Program of Nature’s Path Foods™ and their EnviroKidz™ Fund, ACT brought together children of the public school, their teachers and Wayana park rangers from the rainforest village of Apetina to visit Kuluwajak Island, a place rich in the history of the Wayana people. Over three days, the children learned to make traditional masks and baskets, practiced using the bow-and-arrow, made collages from natural objects, practiced traditional dances, and raced canoes. A village elder also taught the children about plants that can be used as medicines. On the last day, each group of children shared what they had had learned about the forest and about their culture with each other. Before they returned home, the children cleaned up their camp site to leave it just as it was before they arrived. The next month, three-day trip to the Karina enmïtïhpë river rapids to set up camp. The children played games, gathered wood for the campfire, and told stories.

Other Ways That ACT Works with the Children of Suriname’s Rainforest

In the villages of Kwamalasamutu, Tepu, Sipaliwini and Alalapadu, ACT holds traditional school programs to teach all village children about their traditional ways and learning. In the largest indigenous village, Kwamalasamutu, ACT makes it possible for children of the public school to learn from their elders and tribal shamans about the use of medicinal plants, the creation of traditional handicrafts, and the practice of tribal dances and music using native instruments.
ACT builds awareness children’s awareness regarding of the fragility of their environment. In the village of Apetina, ACT organized a clean-up competition for the children and awarded prizes for the most trash gathered. The children collected over 20 wheelbarrows full of trash!
ACT published the children’s book Lija, Sawo & Arimi: Drie Vriendjes uit Eluwima and distributed copies to the schools of the Trio and Wayana villages. The book teaches the children about their cultures, their natural world, and their traditional language.

Attention Parents and Teachers: The Amazon Conservation Team, along with Nature's Path™, has developed study guides for children ages K-12. You may download select study guide sample pages below, or request complimentary copies (we ask that you cover shipping) of professionally bound (complete version) study guides by contacting Elvira Yebra at eyebra@amazonteam.org.

Grades K-2: Download free sample pages by clicking the cover above!

Grades 3-5: Download free sample pages by clicking the cover above!

Grades 6-8: Download free sample pages by clicking the cover above!

Study Guide 4 (Cover)

Grades 9-12: This guide's samples are too large to post online, so please contact Dana from ACT using the information above to receive your complimentary copies!