Sarteneja’s kids learn about marine conservation through art

By Cecilia Guerrero and Ineiri Muñoz.

What’s the best way to get kids interested in marine conservation? Make it colourful, messy and a lot of fun! Last August, 35 kids from Sarteneja village visited Blue Ventures’ office for a three-day art camp, where they also got to learn about marine conservation efforts in Belize.

The focus on day one was laying the foundations for the next few days. With the help of our Community Officers Darling Ortega, Ineiri Muñoz, Bairon Flores and Romeldo Catzim, everyone learnt about primary, secondary and tertiary colors, and the color wheel –  fundamental knowledge for any art project.

Our Science Coordinator Tyrell Reyes then explained to the kids how invasive lionfish are threatening the Belize barrier reef, and what the community of Sarteneja are doing to manage this invasion.

Tyrell Reyes, Blue Ventures’ Science Coordinator, explaining Belize’s lionfish invasion.

Everyone had fun mixing paints and learning about the colour wheel.

The kids with their colour wheels.

During the second day, our Community Officers showed the kids how to make beautiful lanterns from wax paper and lollipop sticks, and explained to them that these lanterns were going to be used as decorations during a special lionfish dinner at Nerie’s Restaurant in Belize City. This dinner was organised by Blue Ventures as part of a social marketing campaign to help promote Belize’s nascent lionfishery, and encourage people to #EatDaLion.

When the kids learnt that their artistic creations would be displayed at this special occasion, they began making their lanterns enthusiastically, decorating them with many different marine conservation themes.

Darling Ortega, Blue Ventures’ Community Officer, assisting with the lanterns.

The kids painting lollipop sticks and wax paper.

Lantern shades.

Lantern shades.

On the third and final day of the camp, the kids finished making their lanterns and the fast workers created some other marine decorations too. Overall the art camp was a great success. All the kids enjoyed themselves, and on top of that they learned many new things about lionfish and marine conservation in Belize. The Blue Ventures team had a great time too!

The lanterns on display at the lionfish dinner in Nerie’s Restaurant, Belize City.

We would like to thank The Summit Foundation and New England Biolabs Foundation for supporting our lionfish outreach and social marketing efforts, and Ms. Neri from Greenwoods Store in Sarteneja for her generous contribution to the art camp.

Discover the role of conservation volunteers in the detection monitoring and management of invasive lionfish in Belize, or get involved and become a volunteer yourself!