I’m in 5th grade now. We study the usual subjects -- math, history, science and Spanish. My favorite course is science. Sometimes biologists from SalvaNatura visit our school to give us special science classes. They teach us about the plants and animals in El Imposible National Park, or the importance of conserving nature. SalvaNatura is Spanish for “SaveNature.”

It’s an important organization around here -- they run the national park and do things to help the people of San Miguelito. My sister took SalvaNatura courses to become a nature guide, and my aunt took a course that taught her to make souvenirs to sell to tourists. My dad joined a SalvaNatura program to grow coffee in a way that won’t harm the environment. For example, we have to be careful not to dump any waste from our farm into the stream down the hill, and we’re planting more shade trees so the birds have plenty of food and places to perch.

Life in San Miguelito