The Youth Club of the Kronock Reserve has assumed management of The Nature Conservancy School.
Expanding Horizons: The Nature Guardians School and Junior Naturalists Club in Kamchatka
The Nature Guardians School and the Junior Naturalists Club have been making significant strides in fostering a love for nature and environmental conservation among children in Kamchatka Krai.
The Junior Naturalists Club, initially established in 2019 as part of the Kronotsky Reserve, has grown exponentially. Now, it boasts over 70 members from Elizovo District, Elizovo and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky cities, Ust-Bolsheretsky District (Ozernovsky cluster), and the village of Tilichiki, Olyutor District.
The Nature Guardians School, which has become a nationwide project, has taken over the management of the Junior Naturalists Club. Anastasia Kharkova serves as the acting head of the project at Kronotsky Reserve, while Tatiana Safronova leads the project in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
The Nature Guardians School project is not limited to the Junior Naturalists Club. It offers online training to residents from various parts of the country, aiming to increase environmental awareness among the population and involve the public in solving regional environmental problems.
Initially, the training was focused on volunteers and guides working in protected areas. However, the program has since expanded to include programs for the youngest nature protectors - young naturalists. This expansion is a testament to the growing importance of instilling a sense of environmental responsibility in the younger generation.
The "My Kamchatka - Protected Land" project is another significant direction of the Nature Guardians School. This pilot project is currently being implemented in schools in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, with the aim of forming a personnel reserve for local environmental organizations.
Moreover, the development of a protected area course for integration into the school curriculum of Kamchatka Krai began in 2022. This move signifies a commitment to making environmental education an integral part of the region's educational system.
Allesev Yakovlev, acting director of the FGBU "Kronotsky State Reserve", emphasized the alignment of the School's and the junior naturalists' movement's main idea: ecological education, understanding the laws of nature, and a respectful attitude towards it.
In conclusion, the Nature Guardians School and the Junior Naturalists Club are playing a crucial role in shaping the future of environmental conservation in Kamchatka Krai. Their expanding programs and growing membership are a promising sign of a brighter, greener future for the region.
