Eco-Trust Society x Peace Corps Guyana: Supporting Early Service Training for Environmental Volunteers
19 February, 2025
As part of its commitment to fostering environmental stewardship, the Eco-Trust Society was recently invited to conduct a dynamic training session titled "Clubs & the Environment" at Peace Corps Guyana’s Early Service Training. This initiative, held at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), was designed to equip Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) and their local counterparts with the skills and knowledge needed to establish and sustain impactful environmental and wildlife clubs within their communities.
The session was led by Eco-Trust Society President Dexter Pellew, Vice President Christal Craig, and Past President and Member Canisha Primo. Each speaker brought a unique perspective, making the training both comprehensive and engaging.
Laying the Foundation
Dexter Pellew opened the session with an introduction to the Eco-Trust Society, sharing insights into its background, mission, and impact. He provided guidance on what defines a successful environmental club, referencing key materials such as the Peace Corps "Environmental Activity for Youth Clubs and Camps Manual" and Policy Forum Guyana "The 1.5 Crew: A Guide to Creating an Environmental Club." He also discussed the differences and synergies between environmental and wildlife clubs, emphasizing their critical roles in fostering youth engagement in sustainability. Importantly, he highlighted how clubs provide a more unstructured and practical learning environment, making them highly effective for children who may struggle with traditional classroom settings.
Clubs as a Learning Tool
Christal Craig explored the connection between environmental clubs and educational development. She highlighted how these clubs can enhance the teaching of science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics, and environmental topics, providing a space for interactive and experimental learning. She emphasized that these clubs allow hands-on experiences, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and a deeper personal connection to environmental issues.Additionally, she shared strategies for ensuring inclusivity, making sure that club activities cater to diverse learning styles and abilities, ultimately helping young learners develop a stronger appreciation for the environment.
The Power of Games & Activities
Canisha Primo focused on the importance of games and interactive activities in environmental education. She distinguished between activities and games, explaining their respective advantages and how they can make learning more engaging for youth. To reinforce this, she created an opportunity for the volunteers to experience first-hand how environmental clubs provide such engagement, leading a practical session that demonstrated how interactive methods can effectively deliver environmental education. Additionally, she provided an overview of the existing support systems for environmental clubs in Guyana, emphasizing the role of interagency collaboration in ensuring long-term success.
The training was attended by eight Peace Corps Volunteers and their eight counterparts along with other attendees, all of whom are actively working within Indigenous and coastal communities across Regions 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 9. By equipping them with the necessary tools, this session helped strengthen their ability to establish, manage, and sustain environmental clubs that will inspire young minds and foster a culture of conservation in Guyana.
Through sessions like this, the Eco-Trust Society continues to champion environmental education, capacity building, and youth engagement, ensuring that sustainability efforts reach the grassroots level.
The session was led by Eco-Trust Society President Dexter Pellew, Vice President Christal Craig, and Past President and Member Canisha Primo. Each speaker brought a unique perspective, making the training both comprehensive and engaging.
Laying the Foundation
Dexter Pellew opened the session with an introduction to the Eco-Trust Society, sharing insights into its background, mission, and impact. He provided guidance on what defines a successful environmental club, referencing key materials such as the Peace Corps "Environmental Activity for Youth Clubs and Camps Manual" and Policy Forum Guyana "The 1.5 Crew: A Guide to Creating an Environmental Club." He also discussed the differences and synergies between environmental and wildlife clubs, emphasizing their critical roles in fostering youth engagement in sustainability. Importantly, he highlighted how clubs provide a more unstructured and practical learning environment, making them highly effective for children who may struggle with traditional classroom settings.
Clubs as a Learning Tool
Christal Craig explored the connection between environmental clubs and educational development. She highlighted how these clubs can enhance the teaching of science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics, and environmental topics, providing a space for interactive and experimental learning. She emphasized that these clubs allow hands-on experiences, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and a deeper personal connection to environmental issues.Additionally, she shared strategies for ensuring inclusivity, making sure that club activities cater to diverse learning styles and abilities, ultimately helping young learners develop a stronger appreciation for the environment.
The Power of Games & Activities
Canisha Primo focused on the importance of games and interactive activities in environmental education. She distinguished between activities and games, explaining their respective advantages and how they can make learning more engaging for youth. To reinforce this, she created an opportunity for the volunteers to experience first-hand how environmental clubs provide such engagement, leading a practical session that demonstrated how interactive methods can effectively deliver environmental education. Additionally, she provided an overview of the existing support systems for environmental clubs in Guyana, emphasizing the role of interagency collaboration in ensuring long-term success.
The training was attended by eight Peace Corps Volunteers and their eight counterparts along with other attendees, all of whom are actively working within Indigenous and coastal communities across Regions 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 9. By equipping them with the necessary tools, this session helped strengthen their ability to establish, manage, and sustain environmental clubs that will inspire young minds and foster a culture of conservation in Guyana.
Through sessions like this, the Eco-Trust Society continues to champion environmental education, capacity building, and youth engagement, ensuring that sustainability efforts reach the grassroots level.
