Instilling Environmental Consciousness through an Environmental Jamboree: The Experiences of Senior High School Students and Youth Leaders

Abstract

This study is a documentation of the Visayas State University environmental consciousness drive for Senior High School students and youth leaders through an environmental jamboree in April 2018. Through quantitative and qualitative research methods, this study is designed to determine the Senior High School students and youth leaders' basic understanding of the essence of nature conservation and assess their learnings from the environmental jamboree lectures, environmentally-themed adventure race, and cultural night. In addition, this study enables the participants to develop personal reflections on their realizations of the importance of environment conservation. This study concludes that the environmental jamboree participants have little knowledge about environmental conservation at the start of the activity. Moreover, the participant's knowledge in the realm of nature conservation has significantly improved after they participated in the different activities of the environmental jamboree. Finally, the activities in the environmental jamboree have enabled the participants to realize that good ecosystem service only comes from a clean and healthy environment. Furthermore, this study reinforced another realization that environmental conservation efforts would be more successful if there is unity and coordination among people. Nevertheless, the participants were informed that such realizations could only materialize if there is determination and hard work among people involved in environmental conservation efforts.