Change starts with you, but it is strengthened in community
Our work
"Discover the projects and programs of the Kiñewen Elemental Natura Foundation: our work in environmental education, energy efficiency and research for the conservation of the environment in the Los Lagos Region."
Cultivating Your Health
The program addresses the intrinsic connection between mental well-being and the health of the natural environment. Aimed at young people and adults, this initiative invites participants to explore how the state of the environment reflects and affects their own psychological well-being, using nature as a space for introspection and growth.
The program aims to raise awareness and connect young people with their mental states, inviting them to recognize the link between environmental problems (drought, pollution, deforestation, among others) and their own internal challenges (stress, lack of communication, repression). Through a participatory and practical methodology, self-knowledge is promoted, and young people are encouraged to take an active role as agents of change.
To achieve this, "Cultivating Your Health" integrates experiential activities in nature:
Reforestation: Young people participate in the restoration of local ecosystems, understanding how their direct action contributes to the health of the planet, and at the same time, generates a positive impact on their own sense of purpose and well-being.
Hiking: Through guided walks, reconnection with nature is encouraged, promoting relaxation, stress reduction and emotional regulation, while strengthening social bonds and appreciation of the environment.
In this way, "Cultivating Your Health" not only offers young people a space to reflect on their mental health, but also provides them with the tools and motivation to become catalysts for positive change, both in their personal lives and in the environment around them.
Environmental Excursions
A hands-on, immersive educational project. Its essence is to take learning beyond the classroom walls, directly into the heart of the natural environment. Focused on children with high rates of school vulnerability, this project uses protected wilderness areas as its primary setting to reconnect participants with the environment in a profound and meaningful way, fostering awareness through experience.
More than just a simple educational outing, "Environmental Excursions" is a comprehensive strategy that uses innovative educational methodologies to maximize the potential of outdoor learning:
Play-based learning: Exploration and understanding of the environment are achieved through playful activities and games, making environmental education an attractive and fun experience.
Place-based learning: The park becomes a living classroom. Children interact directly with local ecosystems, learning to appreciate the richness and biodiversity of the region's flora and fauna.
Forest-school methodology: Free exploration and direct interaction with the environment are encouraged, stimulating curiosity, creativity and inherent resilience in children.
Thinking-based learning: Critical reflection and the practical resolution of environmental problems are promoted, encouraging participants to think about the causes and consequences of ecological challenges.
It also integrates a series of activities designed to develop psychomotor, cognitive and socio-emotional skills:
Hiking and rock climbing: They promote physical development, coordination and self-confidence.
Flora and fauna recognition: Children become little naturalists, identifying species and understanding their role in the ecosystem.
Games and storytelling: They reinforce environmental concepts in a creative and memorable way.
Reflections and relaxation exercises: The internal connection and calm are cultivated, generating a space for introspection and emotional well-being.
Park Rangers
The program's main objective is to empower elementary and secondary school students whose communities border state-protected wilderness areas (National Parks, National Reserves, or Natural Monuments), fostering a deeper and more responsible relationship with their socio-environmental surroundings. Through a pedagogical approach that integrates the recovery of ancestral knowledge, the learning of local crafts, the recognition of biodiversity, and environmental and geomorphological interpretation, the program strengthens the role of host communities as active agents in the conservation of their natural and cultural heritage.
It also fosters collaboration with local guides, allowing a synergy between ancestral knowledge and sustainable tourism practices, which benefits the entire community and enriches the visitor experience.
Methodology and approach:
Experiential learning: The program is implemented as an extracurricular and multi-grade activity, using an experiential and field learning methodology to enhance practical knowledge and the emotional connection of students with their environment.
Cultural rescue: Ancestral knowledge and traditional trades of local communities are rescued and valued, promoting the intergenerational transmission of knowledge.
Capacity building: Training is provided in environmental interpretation, geomorphology and biodiversity recognition, strengthening the skills of participants in these areas.
Impact and benefits:
Community strengthening: By enhancing knowledge and appreciation of local heritage, the program strengthens the territorial identity of the host community and its role in the conservation of the protected area.
Sustainable tourism: The program seeks to have local guides integrate environmental education as a central focus in their tour scripts, thus promoting a model of tourism that is sustainable and responsible towards the environment.
Future opportunities: Through training and empowerment, sustainable options are provided for the professional development of young people in their own communities, encouraging their return and contribution to local progress after their higher education.
Living roots
Programa de educación ambiental e intervención comunitaria, diseñado para involucrar activamente a toda la comunidad educativa: docentes, estudiantes, apoderados y miembros de la comunidad local. Su misión es integrar de manera efectiva la educación ambiental dentro del currículo escolar, transformando la teoría en acción concreta. El programa se centra en el conocimiento, la valoración y la protección de la flora nativa y los complejos ecosistemas locales, fomentando la restauración ecológica como una herramienta tangible para mitigar el cambio climático.
Objetivos clave
-
Fortalecer la conciencia ambiental: Educar sobre la biodiversidad local, destacando el valor de las especies nativas y las complejas relaciones biológicas que sostienen la vida en los ecosistemas.
-
Impulsar la restauración ecológica: Capacitar a los participantes en los principios y prácticas de la restauración ecológica, demostrando cómo acciones locales pueden generar un impacto positivo en el medio ambiente.
-
Promover el aprendizaje activo y experiencial: Alejar la educación ambiental de la simple teoría, ofreciendo metodologías participativas que permitan a los estudiantes ser protagonistas de su propio aprendizaje y de la transformación de su entorno.
Metodologías de aprendizaje activas
El programa se apoya en un conjunto de estrategias pedagógicas innovadoras y centradas en el estudiante, que garantizan un aprendizaje profundo y significativo:
-
Aprendizaje basado en proyectos (ABP): Los participantes trabajan en proyectos concretos, como la planificación y diseño del vivero o el sendero, lo que les permite aplicar sus conocimientos de forma práctica y colaborativa.
-
Aprendizaje basado en problemas (ABP): A través de la identificación de desafíos ambientales locales (p. ej., erosión, pérdida de biodiversidad), se motiva a los estudiantes a investigar y proponer soluciones creativas y sostenibles.
-
Aprendizaje basado en el lugar: Se utiliza el entorno inmediato del establecimiento como un aula viva, conectando a los estudiantes con su territorio y con las problemáticas y riquezas de su ecosistema local.
-
Aprendizaje servicio: Los proyectos desarrollados, como la creación del sendero, tienen un impacto real y beneficioso para la comunidad, reforzando el compromiso social y la responsabilidad cívica.
-
Aprendizaje experiencial: Las actividades prácticas, como el trabajo en el vivero, permiten a los estudiantes aprender "haciendo", a través de la observación directa, la experimentación y la reflexión sobre sus experiencias.
Materiales y componentes prácticos
"Raíces Vivas" provee una estructura sólida para la implementación del programa, incluyendo:
-
Cuadernillo de planificaciones de aula: Material didáctico integrado por ciclo educativo que facilita a los docentes la incorporación de los temas de flora nativa y restauración en sus asignaturas.
-
Instalación y creación de un vivero de plantas nativas: Este componente práctico dota al establecimiento de una infraestructura para la producción y propagación de especies autóctonas, creando un laboratorio de aprendizaje vivo y una fuente de material vegetal para futuros proyectos de restauración.
-
Capacitaciones en restauración ecológica: Sesiones teóricas y prácticas que cubren conceptos fundamentales y técnicas aplicadas, como la preparación de suelo, la siembra y el monitoreo de plantas.
-
Diseño de un sendero interpretativo: En un esfuerzo colaborativo, se crea un sendero educativo al aire libre dentro de las áreas verdes de la escuela. Este sendero se convierte en un legado permanente y un espacio para la observación, el aprendizaje y la conexión con la naturaleza.
Impacto y legado
El programa "Raíces Vivas" busca dejar una huella duradera en la comunidad, no solo a través de las acciones de restauración, sino también al cultivar una nueva generación de ciudadanos conscientes y comprometidos. Al final del programa, los establecimientos no solo cuentan con nuevas áreas verdes y conocimientos prácticos, sino con un sendero que funciona como un aula al aire libre, reforzando la identidad local y el sentido de pertenencia a su entorno natural.
Nature for all
"Nature for All" is a program born from a deep conviction: nature belongs to us all, and we all belong to it. In a world that often erects barriers, our project opens a portal of inclusion and connection, allowing children, young people, and adults with disabilities to immerse themselves in the beauty and richness of our ecosystems.
More than just an outdoor activity program, "Nature for All" is a journey of empowerment. We firmly believe that every person is a valuable agent of change, capable of protecting and honoring our environment. Through a focus on ecopsychology and sensory experiences, our guides create a safe and welcoming space where curiosity and joy are the main driving forces.
Families are a fundamental pillar on this journey. Recognizing their invaluable role, we provide them with training tools so they can accompany and support their loved ones on this beautiful adventure. Together, we create a legacy of love and respect for our planet, where inclusion is not just a goal, but a tangible and inspiring reality.
Our program includes activities designed for all hearts and spirits:
Art therapy : To explore creativity and emotional connection through nature.
Accessible hiking: Accessible routes to enjoy the landscapes and tranquility that nature offers.
Inclusive rock climbing : An exciting and safe challenge to strengthen confidence and teamwork.
Environmental training for caregivers: We provide tools and knowledge to continue learning at home and in the community.
Core reforestation : An opportunity to leave a positive mark on our environment, planting life and hope.
Ecopsychology workshops: To delve deeper into the connection between our well-being and the natural world.
Our friends in danger
An educational program designed to plant the seeds of environmental awareness in young minds. Aimed at preschool and early elementary school children, this program seeks to recognize, value, and foster empathy for endangered wildlife species, transforming children into defenders of nature.
To achieve this goal, "Our Friends in Danger" provides educators and students themselves with a complete and engaging educational kit that transforms learning into a playful and interactive adventure:
Integrated classroom planning: a booklet of detailed plans that facilitate the integration of environmental content into the school curriculum.
Design and production of educational materials: The program stands out for its teaching materials, which include:
Children's stories: Captivating stories that narrate the lives and challenges of endangered species, fostering emotional connection and appreciation of biodiversity.
Coloring book: A creative space where children can bring animals and their habitats to life, reinforcing the recognition of each species in a fun way.
Biodiversity Alphabet and Numbers: Innovative tools that combine basic learning with the identification of local fauna and flora, associating each letter and number with a species at risk.
Games and activities: Playful proposals that invite exploration, observation and action, promoting knowledge and care of the environment through fun.
