The Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) in Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City is intensifying its conservation education campaign to the youngsters through its Open Classroom Program, which is a fun way of knowing the eagles and learning about life science and conservation of the environment.
Tristan B. Montemor, PEC marketing coordinator, said on Monday that the Open Classroom Program is part of the offerings of the PEC during field trips.
“The activity is holistic dili lang siya entertainment, educational and the kids will experience nature. We will encourage them to smell the flowers, touch the soil,” he said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao.
The program involves games and enjoyable activities wherein students will participate in learning, which includes modules and themes specifically designed to suit the needs and interests of preschool, kindergarten, and elementary students.
Montemor said educating the youngsters on the Philippine Eagle and environmental protection is among the stumbling blocks of the center’s conservation efforts.
“We need to rally everyone because this is not a mission for the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), atin ito lahat because the Philippine Eagle is ours. We want to engage the kids as early as them because they’re impressionable and they easily get inspired by simple things. I-inspire mo siya at a young age at ialis mo sila from the influence of the internet and let them immersed with nature and anything that they can touch, feel, see, and hear, they get inspired to do things and protect these things,” he explained.
Montemor also said that through this Open Classroom Program, PEC is looking at raising future conservationists.
He said it is important that at a young age, kids will become aware of the struggles of the Philippine Eagle because of illegal hunting and deforestation.
“In the future, we’re hoping that these kids will become the policy-makers or kaning sila na ang mag advocate for the Philippine Eagles. We’re basically planting the seeds as early as now. All of these kids are the future conservationists or protectors of our Philippine Eagle,” Montemor said.
He also said that the program aims to highlight the shared responsibility of the kids from different communities to protect the environment.
“This is also our way of making sure that the next generation will included in the process of creating their future,” Montemor said.
This month of August, the Open Classroom Program will embody the spirit of the 39th Kadayawan sa Davao festival where PEC is going to bring the urban kids and then let them meet with the kids in the Indigenous People (IP) communities.
Registration is P600 which includes the tour, activities, and all the fun stuff that the kids can do inside the center. The registration would also include the sponsorship of an IP kid to experience an Open Classroom Program in PEC.
The PEC is an organization committed to the conservation and protection of Philippine eagles.
