The workshop aims to create awareness of Palau’s ecosystems, its different animals, through artwork and very short presentations, said Carol Emaurois, Head of Environmental Education/PR Department of PICRC, in an interview.
The first Arts and Crafts session was held in June 5 to 10. “Usually we just do it one time. But because of a lot of demands for it this year, we had to do a second session. This is the first time that we had to do two sessions,” Emaurois said.
The workshop was designed for kids five to 10 years old. It was mostly hands-on crafs- and arts-making, using recycled products.
“A lot of our activities were based on recycling. We teach the kids to extend the lifespan of cans and plastics so that they’re not thrown right away to the dumpsite,” Emaurois said. “We also teach them about mangroves, corals, seagrass, and how important those ecosystems are to Palau.”
To give kids an up-close and personal encounter with the mangroves and animals, Emaurois and her team took them to Dolphins Bay and also showed them around the Palau Aquarium.
“This is really a smart group,” Emaurois said. “They know their mangroves and seagrass.”
During the last day of the workshop, the kids made piñatas out of water, flour, newspaper and balloons. “We popped the balloons and filled the piñata with candies, and we had a piñata game,” Emaurois said.
The kids also got to experience planting green onion, coral hunting and were treated to a feeding show at the Aquarium during their last day at the workshop.
