Environment

Careyes is surrounded by a network of protected areas that feature high biodiversity and endemism. No conservation initiative can be successful without involving the local community, which is why environmental education has always been a core part of our mission.

Environmental Education

Children who spend time in nature become more environmentally responsible adults. This is the mission of our Environmental Education Program: we provide hands-on, immersive conservation experiences, and engage students in their natural environment to inspire them to become environmental stewards and advocates for sustainable development in their communities.

In-school workshops allow us to reach children of all backgrounds, who are then invited on free educational field trips. Throughout the school year, we focus on three key topics:

  • Sea turtles and the marine environment

    Healthy sea turtle populations are key to a resilient and economically productive marine environment. We teach this through classes, puppet theater, songs, games, and stories, along with the invitation to participate in releasing hatchlings at the Teopa Beach Sanctuary.

  • Tropical dry forest and ecosystem services

    Students visit the UNAM’s Biological Research Station in the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve to learn how the surrounding tropical dry forest facilitates effective rain capture and infiltration, providing important protection against erosion in an area that receives intense rainfall from tropical storms among other important ecosystem services. In 2024 we developed a quick tree guide for participants to take home and continue their learning.

  • Local birdlife

    In the classroom, students explore the diversity of bird species in our region, learning about their habitats and their important role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. We invite students to discover local avifauna through birdwatching and offer free didactic materials such as our Quick Bird Guide.

Community-based Environmental Action

We support community leaders in adopting best practices for resilient and healthy surroundings through local actions such as clean-ups, reforestations, and replacing single-use plastics with reusable alternatives.

Sea Turtle Protection and Conservation Center at Teopa Beach Sanctuary

When the Sea Turtle Protection & Conservation Center was established in 1983, biologist Alejandro Peña found just ten nests on the Careyes coast, laid by just 3 or 4 individual sea turtles. Thanks to our conservation efforts, nesting has increased 20,000%, with approximately 2,000 nests protected at the Playa Teopa Sanctuary annually. To date, we have released over 2.2 million hatchlings of four vulnerable or critically endangered species (Olive Ridley, Black, Hawksbill, and Leatherback) safely into the ocean.

Donate Today

Your tax-deductible donations to the Careyes Foundation drive impactful change in education, environment, development, and the arts along Costa Alegre in Mexico. 

Your support delivers quality and unique educational materials, inspiring field trips, music, art, and cultural opportunities to rural communities with limited access to these services. Join us by volunteering or contributing to make a meaningful difference in the daily lives of the communities we serve. 

Thank you for helping us thrive!

The Careyes Foundation is a recognized 501(C)(3) public charity.
Federal ID Number: 46-0759245