Since we started the student eco-camp program with our partner organizations across snow leopard habitat, thousands of children have stepped out of their homes and classrooms to spend up to three days with us in nature. The core tenet of these programs is to foster an appreciation for wildlife, plants and conservation through firsthand experience and learning.
So far, none of our student participants have seen the elusive snow leopard in person during the camp itself. However, living in and around snow leopard habitats, many of them have had the opportunity to have sighted this magnificent animal in the wild. In fact, some of our earliest participants have grown into conservationists and naturalists and work as part of our team! Children gain invaluable experience studying local flora and fauna, igniting their curiosity about their region’s biodiversity. This type of environmental education is important, as these children are the future custodians of the snow leopard’s habitat, and their learnings can influence attitudes toward coexistence for snow leopards in their communities and schools.
Eco-camps are ongoing in Kyrgyzstan’s Shamshy Wildlife Sanctuary and the Besh-Aral Reserve in the Tian-Shan Mountains. 79 kids from 20 different schools, including 51 girls and 28 boys, have participated.
Kubanych Jumabay, our Country Director and head of the Snow Leopard Foundation in Kyrgyzstan, is an avid photographer who always encourages students to explore nature through a camera lens. This approach can unveil overlooked wonders while providing a comfortable, familiar tool for discovery. Recently, students participated in a friendly flower photography competition. They then gathered to discuss local flora and their importance or uses. The group also set up a saltlick near their camp and observed ibex visiting every day.
Do you have schoolchildren in your life? If you’re looking for fun conservation-focused activities to do with them this summer, our website has resources that can help guide your own “backyard eco-camp.”
Enjoy your summer!
Acknowledgments:
This project is in collaboration with Snow Leopard Foundation in Kyrgyzstan. Special thanks also go to Woodland Park Zoo, David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and Acton Family Giving for supporting conservation education in Kyrgyzstan.