Biaba Dioum’s famous saying, made during a speech before the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), is often used to explain the importance of environmental education. At Seatuck, we have a slightly different take on Dioum’s wise words: We think a love of nature and the development of a conservation ethic begins, most fundamentally, with a connection to the natural world. And these connections start with experiences in the outdoors.

In an era when mobile phones, televisions and other factors increasingly conspire to keep people (especially children) from having such experiences, our education programs seek to get people outside for authentic experiences in nature. From that simple starting point, we can teach about the natural world, expand understanding and – as our education team likes to say – grow future conservationists!