93% of students feel happy being immersed in nature

Elementary student are part of the environmental club at the Juan Ponce de León school.

The Montessori method, which we make accessible as a non-profit organization in the public education system, considers that the environment has a fundamental role since it offers the child a series of development possibilities, more enriching and broader than the ones inside a room.

Through Enraizando environmental project we manage to provide students in Montessori public schools with contact with nature that helps their well-being and development. As evidenced in the 2023-2024 project report, 93% of students feel happy being immersed or in contact with nature.

Likewise, 99% of the families who completed the project evaluation form expressed their desire for the project to continue next school year. In the case of students, 97% expressed their desire for their friends and colleagues to have the experience that they enjoy through the project.

This project began in 2018 under the name Sembrando Regresamos serving 6 Montessori public schools. Currently, it is known as Enraizando and reaches 21 Montessori public schools around the island and 1,083 participating students, being the elementary level with the largest number of participating students.

The activities offered to the students by the guides or teachers, who serve as links between the school communities and the project, were varied throughout the year. There were talks, initiatives to create cohesion and community, discussions, garden maintenance, work in nurseries and butterfly farms.

Part of the achievements are the rehabilitation of planting spaces, the establishment of two new spaces and the construction of two closed butterfly farms.

An important part of the project and its results has been the support of the guides who direct these initiatives in their school communities. From the beginning, Para La Naturaleza interpreters have been great facilitators, who together with the guide develop environmental awareness activities for the students, as well as provide suggestions for green spaces, distribute trees in schools, facilitate excursions and make visible the needs of materials and services.

Para La Naturaleza interpreter carries out activities with students from the Delia Dávila de Cabán school in Toa Baja.

In this way, 542 students from 13 schools participated in excursions to natural areas of Para La Naturaleza, agroecological farms or educational spaces.

Unlike previous years, this year another type of support was established. Thanks Enraizando, 13 specialists in environmental and agroecological issues offered consulting, advice, and demonstration and practical workshops to the school communities to strengthen their environmental initiatives.

Johanna Colón, coordinator of the project, expresses that it goes beyond impacting students in public Montessori schools. The impact has reached families, school staff, neighbors and themselves as leaders of these efforts, as expressed by the link guides.

“Enraizando is a living example of how having a prepared environment enables the construction of knowledge, the development of environmental awareness and the integration of a community,” concludes the 2023-2024 report.

As an organization we celebrate the achievements obtained through this project, and we are excited about the results of the initiatives that will be carried out during the new school year.

The Environmental Club of the Urbana Nueva de Guaynabo sings to the planted tree.