HOW THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS IS SHAPING OUR FUTURE
UNDERSTANDING TOP ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS
A sustainable future for our planet depends on the next generation
understanding the most critical threats to our environment – like
pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change. As a small, coastal
country dependent on natural resources, with a large portion of
the population living on the coastline, Belize is particularly vulnerable to climate
change. In partnership with the Marine Conservation and Climate Adaptation
Project, EPI students are digging deeper into this challenge through new
curriculum focused on climate change causes, impacts, mitigation, and
adaptation strategies to help protect their local communities.
“
My EPI experience taught me that a
critical thinker looks beyond what she
sees for a deeper understanding of
what is happening in the world .
“
Greener, Brighter:
-C laire , Y ellowstone A lumna
BECOMING GLOBAL CITIZENS
DEVELOPING
CRITICAL
The path to global citizenship begins with a
personal connection to different people, places,
and cultures. Throughout the program season,
we see high school students connecting with
their international peers and expanding
their world views. They learn to recognize what makes
them similar and embrace what sets them apart.
THINKING SKILLS
The scientific process is
used to answer questions by
making an observation, coming
up with a theory, and then using
facts to support a conclusion. It’s a
central part of EPI’s science-based
curriculum, and a methodology that
proves useful for much more than just
scientific research.
At EPI, we’re lucky to witness this transformation
from the individual to the global – to see young
people become part of a larger community and
begin to take on the incredible responsibility
of personally contributing to a better world
for everyone.
For example, in Galapagos, EPI
students from the U.S. connect with
their Galapageño peers from the
Mola Mola Eco-Club. Eco-Club
members take the U.S. students
to visit Tortuga Bay, where
they participate in a sea turtle
conservation project. The
students have lunch,
play games, share
experiences,
and
develop a deeper
under standing of
another culture.
C O N S E R VAT I O N • E D U C AT I O N • C U LT U R A L E X C H A N G E
Between social media influences,
conflicting news sources, and tricky
advertising strategies, today’s generation
needs critical thinking skills to evaluate the
flood of information to which we are all
exposed. A true leader challenges what they see,
asks questions, and looks for proof – whether in
the lab or online , and we’re proud to call these leaders
EPI alums!
MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION
Sebali Eco-Club members in Costa Rica are getting
a chance to put the leadership skills they learned on
course to the test. Along with their peers from area
schools, they participated in “Eco-Campa,” a two-
day workshop and planning session to develop
conservation projects and learn the fundraising, communication,
and organizational skills they need to successfully carry them out.
Participants included both alumni and local youth who are new to
EPI, and several workshops were conducted by one of the Eco-Club’s
founding members, Stif.
E C O L O G Y P R O J E C T I N T E R N AT I O N A L • W W W. E C O L O G Y P R O J E C T.O R G • 4 0 6 . 7 2 1 . 8 7 8 4