Hawaii Wildfire hosted the Ocean Warriors after-school program, part of the Malama Kai Foundation, at the Waikoloa Dryland Wildfire Safety Park, as part of a series of fire lessons with the youth program for local middle school students. A group of seven students listened to and watched intently a "storyboard" lesson about Hawaii's wildfire issues taught by HWMO's Pablo Beimler and Elizabeth Pickett. Once the students gained a solid understanding of the impacts wildfires have on our natural resources and communities, Tom Loomis led the students through a scavenger hunt to learn the ins and outs of the Firewise demo garden. Students "interviewed" a variety of native plants and read about how to create defensible space and a hardened home using our Harden Your Home diorama. We had a great time with the students who were equally excited to spend time in the garden that they will become "stewards" of this coming year.
In April, we will be collaborating with the program for their end-of-the-year showcase where the students will present, in a creative fashion, what they'd learned this year (including about wildfire) to the community. Stay tuned for information on the exact date and time of the event!
Banner photo: Ocean Warrior students crowd around native plants to learn more about them.