Blue Pioneer camp gives students lessons in marine life, mapping, environmental protection
KUWAIT: A new summer camp launched in Kuwait aims to raise environmental awareness among high school students across the region through a packed schedule of hands-on learning, field visits, and interactive workshops.
The Blue Pioneer camp, organized by the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME), brings together young participants and a range of local institutions, including the Environment Public Authority (EPA), Kuwait University, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, and the Kuwait Coast Guard.
The initiative aimed at educating high school students on key environmental challenges and laws in Kuwait. “The camp is designed to raise awareness and educate secondary school students about environmental issues,” said Sheikha Al-Ibrahim, Director of Public Relations and Media at the EPA, in a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
Organized in collaboration with the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME), the EPA’s participation reflects its ongoing efforts to empower youth and promote their role in environmental protection. “This collaboration stems from our belief in the importance of empowering young people and strengthening their role in preserving the environment,” Al-Ibrahim said. “It’s part of our continuous efforts to boost environmental cooperation and help build a generation that’s aware of environmental issues.”
Hands-on training
As part of the program, the EPA will host hands-on field activities at its headquarters over the next two days. Students will explore Kuwait’s biodiversity and learn how the country’s environmental laws are enforced. “The activities also include an introduction to the role of judicial officers in enforcing the Environmental Protection Law, including how violations are recorded and the common types of infractions,” Al-Ibrahim explained.
She stressed the importance of familiarizing students with the Environmental Protection Law, saying it helps increase environmental awareness and gives participants the knowledge to apply these principles in real life.
Marwa Abul, head of the Capacity Building Unit at ROPME, told KUNA that the camp is designed to “educate and inspire future environmental leaders from high school students across all member countries.” She said the program combines interactive lectures, field visits, and hands-on training across various institutions and coastal sites. Students will tour EPA laboratories to learn how to collect and analyze water and marine samples using scientific methods. They’ll also get hands-on experience with coral farming and fish feeding in aquariums.
Other highlights include mapping training with the Coast Guard, workshops at the fish market on identifying healthy fish and collecting samples, and a visit to a fish farming facility in Wafra that introduces aquaponics techniques. Students will also tour the Ahmad Al-Jaber Oil and Gas Exhibition and take part in a marine pollution response workshop. To top it off, the program includes scuba diving sessions and educational film screenings at the Scientific Center’s IMAX theater. Abul said the program aims to connect what students learn with real-world environmental challenges and prepare them to apply their knowledge “in practical life.”— KUNA
