Inspiring the Next Generation of Ocean Guardians in Puebloviejo
Conservation does not begin only at sea. It also starts in classrooms, where young people can discover the importance of the marine life that inhabits the waters surrounding their communities. A workshop was held in August 2026, with 23 fifth-grade students at San José School in Puebloviejo, a fishing community on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. The activity aimed to introduce students to batoids (rays and their relatives) while helping them understand the connections that link marine species, ecosystems, and people.
Photo by © Sharky M&C
The workshop began with an interactive presentation about rays found in the region. Students learned about their characteristics, habitats, and ecological importance, discovering how these animals contribute to maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. Throughout the session, students actively shared their ideas and previous knowledge, creating an environment of curiosity and participation. To reinforce key concepts, participants took part in a trivia challenge focused on rays and marine ecosystems. The activity encouraged teamwork and friendly competition while allowing students to revisit the topics discussed during the presentation in a fun and engaging way.
One of the highlights of the workshop was an activity called “The Web of Marine Life.” Each student received a card representing a marine organism, environmental element, or human actor connected to the ecosystem. Using yarn, they worked together to build a visual food web that illustrated how different species and ecosystem components are linked. The exercise helped students understand that every organism plays a role within the ecosystem and that changes affecting one species can have consequences throughout the entire network.
The workshop concluded with a creative activity called “The Ocean I Want.” Students were invited to imagine the future of the sea and express their ideas through drawings. Their artwork reflected hopes for healthy oceans, thriving marine life, and cleaner coastal environments. Beyond encouraging creativity, the activity provided valuable insights into how young people perceive the future of marine ecosystems. These drawings will contribute to “Raya de Historias” (“Ray of Stories”), an outreach initiative made for an internship student at the Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano – UJTL that seeks to connect science, conservation, and community perspectives through storytelling. By incorporating the visions of students alongside the experiences of local fishers, the project aims to showcase the diverse ways coastal communities relate to the ocean.
Through games, discussion, collaborative learning, and artistic expression, the workshop helped foster a greater appreciation for rays and marine biodiversity. Initiatives like this demonstrate the value of environmental education in building stronger connections between communities and the ecosystems on which they depend. In Puebloviejo, the next generation of ocean guardians is already beginning to take shape.