Inspiring Young Conservation Champions in Mida Creek
Mangroves are more than trees along the shore — they are lifelines for coastal communities, marine life, and climate resilience. In Watamu–Mida Creek, young learners are discovering this truth firsthand through a vibrant environmental education program that is nurturing the next generation of conservation champions.
Learning About Mangroves
Environmental education sessions were conducted in seven schools around the Watamu–Mida Creek ecosystem, reaching 249 students. The sessions introduced learners to mangroves using interactive and age-appropriate methods that connected classroom learning with their everyday surroundings.
Students explored:
- What mangroves are and their local names
- Why mangroves are important
- Threats facing mangrove ecosystems
Creativity as a Learning Tool
To reinforce learning, students took part in a mangrove drawing assignment in each school. Through peer voting, the best drawings were selected, giving learners a chance to practice leadership, decision-making, and appreciation of creativity. The selected students earned a special opportunity — a mangrove educational trip.
Growing Beyond the Classroom
At Timboni Junior Academy, the impact of the program extended beyond the environmental club. The school requested expansion of the sessions to include the entire school of over 200 students, showing how quickly conservation enthusiasm can spread.
Students also initiated a photo board project, creatively sharing conservation messages with their peers.
Experiencing Mangroves Firsthand
Learning came alive during field trips to Mida Creek, guided by the Dabaso Creek Conservation Community Groups. Students travelled through the mangroves in traditional dug-out canoes, gaining hands-on experience in the ecosystem they had studied.
Activities included:
- Planting mangrove seedlings
- Identifying different mangrove species
- Measuring mangrove trees for basic data collection
One unforgettable moment was measuring an old mangrove tree with a 54 cm diameter, estimated to be over 90 years old — a powerful reminder of why conservation matters.
Celebrating Conservation at the Watamu Conservation Festival
The journey culminated at the Watamu Conservation Festival, held on 8th November, where learners, teachers, community members, and conservation stakeholders came together to celebrate environmental stewardship.
Six institutions participated, including Kenya Watamu Education Support Trust (KWEST), which brought 88 children from fishing families in Mida Creek village. Despite not having formal mangrove lessons beforehand, KWEST students actively engaged, showing strong interest and environmental awareness.
One of the most powerful moments was painting. The message of the day was “Mangroves Matter Most” — a phrase chosen by the children themselves and proudly worn throughout the event. Children expressed their learning through poems, songs, and artwork, all centered on mangrove conservation. Across performances, a shared message stood out: mangroves are vital habitats that protect birds, fish, crabs, turtles, and coastal communities.
Students also sang a shared mangrove conservation song together, creating a joyful and unifying atmosphere. More than 500 community members, including elders, fishermen, and fisherwomen, attended the festival. Students received prizes and recognition in front of the community — a powerful moment that boosted confidence and reinforced the value of caring for the environment.
Looking Ahead
This initiative has:
- Reached 249 students across 7 schools
- Linked classroom learning with real-world conservation
- Empowered students through leadership and creativity
- Sparked demand for expanded environmental education
Next steps include expanding sessions to entire schools, supporting student-led conservation projects, and engaging school clubs in long-term mangrove monitoring.
Mangroves matter — and through education, creativity, and community, young people in Watamu are leading the way in protecting them.
A huge thanks to AGA and Werner-Mertz.
Article by Queen Hare.
