Teachers’ Respond to the Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust’s Teachers’ Workshop

“Reinforced learning allows for better teaching and knowledge transfer to students. The ‘hands-on’ lab session, where examined and dissected wetland plants revealed new information for me and is useful both to my subjects- Biology and Environmental Science.

I propose that more schools become involved in field visits to the Trust for various subjects- Biology, Environmental Science, Geography and Integrated Science.”

– Natasha Mohammed,

St. Joseph Convent, San Fernando

“What I most appreciated was the variety of resources ranging from print to video, to hands on lab, to outdoor learning. This really hammered home the importance of teachers providing a wide range of learning activities and opportunities to their students.”

– Lorraine Vincent

St. Joseph Convent, San Fernando

“I was fortunate enough to participate in a wetland Conservation workshop hosted by and at the Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust. As an Educator, employed by youth Ministry of Education. I believe that this has increased my knowledge and capabilities of disseminating vital subject matter to my Environmental Science classes. The approach used was a hands on one whereby different aquatic environments were explored and natural flora and adaptations were documented.”

-Leon Samaroo,

Fatima College, Port-of – Spain

“I would like to take this opportunity to commend you and your team on the fantastic work done at the Pointe-a-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust (PAPWFT). I have been a member since 2013 and every visit to The PAPWFT has been a rewarding and memorable experience.

“I can never place a price on the number of things I learnt. I feel more equipped to educate my students on the importance of wetlands. This experience has been more valuable than looking at a documentary. Right here in South Trinidad, we can experience the value and wonders of a wetland. We can interact with the environment, carry out exercises and get idea on spreading awareness.”

– Alisa Jankie,

Naparima Boys’ College, San Fernando

Art Competition- Living With Climate Change, Today and Tomorrow

PaP WFT Educators were able to visit schools throughout Trinidad and Tobago to spread the message with our country’s youths, encouraging them to make lifestyle changes as part of Climate Change Project sponsored by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany with the PaPWFT. The focus was to educate them on ways to ensure a sustainable future for our country, region and by extension the world.

These schools were subsequently invited to participate in an Art Competition aimed at creating artistic pieces to depict living in a world with the current state of Climate Change and what the future of the World will eventually be. Many beautiful submission were entered which can be view below.

The Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust has been involved in Environmental Education for close to 50 years. In 2016 the Trust has embarked on another School Outreach Programme, funded by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Trinidad. The Trust’s Education officers have been visiting schools throughout Trinidad and Tobago inspiring children to be leaders and take a stand in the fight against Climate Change. Students will be exposed to solutions for combating Climate Change, invoking personal lifestyle changes to making a better tomorrow for future generations.

Holy Name Convent Point Fortin

North Gate College

Waterloo Presbyterian Primary School

Preysal Secondary School

Couva Anglican Primary School

Gasparillo Government Primary School

St. Bernadette’s Preparatory Primary School

Gasparillo Composite Secondary School

Carapichaima Secondary School

St. Joseph Terrace Private Primary School

Bishop Anstey High School East

In support of our Environmental Education Programme, the P-a-P Wildfowl Trust, over the years, has researched, designed and produced locally, publications to assist teachers and students with the modern approach to environmental management, to stimulate the understanding of the inextricable LINKAGES with our socio-economic well being and our good health.

Between 1992 and 2015, with grant funding from Atlantic, ,  BG Trinidad,Canada Fund,Carib Glassworks,Crown Papers,FIZZ, Inter-American Development Bank,  The American Women’s Club, the Fernandes Trust, The John D. & Catherine T. Macarthur Foundation, Nestle, NGC,Petrotrin, Phoenix Park Gas Processors Ltd., Royal Netherlands Embassy, Shell Trinidad Ltd. T&T Methanol, the Federal Republic of Germany (Embassy in T & T), GEF/SGP/UNDP, UK Women’s’ Club; the Trust has published:

Environmental Education should not only be taught in the classroom, it should be taken OUTDOORS. This is a concept that, though introduced into the local educational system by the Trust many years ago, is still relatively “new” to our islands. Outdoor education is the extension of the learning experience beyond the four walls of the classroom, bringing the Written Word to Life. It is an attempt to bring the lives of children particularly the urban child, the wonder of and intimacy with the out-of-doors. We believe that outdoor education offers children the chance to realize firsthand that they are surrounded by part of the eternal processes of life.

In 1979, the Trust initiated an environmental education programme with audio-visuals; the first to be taken into primary, secondary and senior comprehensive schools and community groups throughout Trinidad, and later on, in Tobago. In 1982, the ‘hands on’ field work at the Trust started and we initiated guided field trips for schools, scouts’ and guides’ groups to the Asa Wright nature centre, Toco and Matura.

Through the years, the Trust provided general and specific activities. These are adapted to suit students’ and teachers’ needs and the subjects are supplemented with audio-visual shows with interpretation.

Fieldwork at the Trust includes aquatic sampling, pond, leaf and feather labs; quadrat and transect sampling.

In our daily environmental education programmes, we teach about LINKAGES, we discuss all aspects of the natural environment and their interactions with and links to, human health and well-being, social and economic impacts, problems and solutions. We teach about wetland ecosystems, from forest to coral reefs and their links to people as we have a holistic approach to teaching.

The Trust believes that ‘hands on’ experiences are invaluable to awakening a young child’s senses and that environmental education should be taken a step further, so, we launched a special programme for pre-schoolers with the concept of ‘touch’, ‘feel’, ‘smell’ and sometimes, ‘taste’. This awakens tremendous wonder and interest in a child.

The Trust also holds workshops to assist schoolteachers and members of community-based organizations in promoting Environmental Education as we believe that this aspect can and must be infused in every curriculum subject, whether English, Geography, History, Maths, Social Studies, Music, Art or Drama. Environmental Education must be included in the State’s Teacher-training programmes.

Out of a population of 1.4 million people, 21,600 visit the Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust annually, of whom 16,000 are students.

WORLD WETLANDS DAY!!!!

WETLANDS FOR OUR FUTURE….

PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS

The Pointe-a-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust celebrates World Wetlands day for an entire week!!!!

Visiting the Trust….

The Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust celebrates World Wetlands Day throughout the week of Saturday 2nd to Friday 8th February, 2019 for visiting students from schools and for national, regional and international visitors.