Children attending Edinburgh Zoo’s Summer School are set to learn about the importance of Fairtrade during their studies on the rainforest, thanks to support from Scotmid Co-operative.
Scotmid has donated £800 worth of food vouchers to buy Fairtrade fruit, healthy snacks and drinks for the children to enjoy during their jungle-themed lessons.
Around 400 children aged five to 15 are expected to attend the Down in the Jungle Summer School during the school holidays. Running the weeks commencing 30th June and the 7th, 14th and 21st July 2014, kids will discover the animals, habitats and culture of rainforests around the world, with zoo trails and animal handling planned to bring the lessons to life. The children will also find out about the Fairtrade products that come from rainforest areas, such as bananas, chocolate and coffee. Pupils will learn how Fairtrade not only protects the livelihoods of farmers and producers in the developing world, but also the rainforest, as Fairtrade certification enforces strict environmental standards for farming.
Protecting the rainforest from the threat of deforestation, poaching and palm oil plantations will be another key part the Summer School’s curriculum.
Stephen Woollard, Head of Discovery and Learning for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, who own and manage Edinburgh Zoo, said:
“As an unfunded conservation charity, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is extremely grateful to receive donations of this kind. Education is one of the founding principles of our Society and we are delighted Scotmid Co-operative is able to help us in achieving this aim.
“The yearly Summer Schools’ at Edinburgh Zoo are enormously popular, with all spaces for Down in the Jungle being snapped up within a matter of hours after tickets were released online. Run by a dedicated team of education officers that teach in line with the Curriculum for Excellence, children at our Summer School learn about the wonder of living nature in an interesting and enjoyable way. Great fun for all, Edinburgh Zoo has been running Summer Schools for around 16 years and children come back time and time again to spend a week of their summer holidays with us.”
Patricia Edington, Membership and Community Manager for Scotmid Co-operative, said: “As a passionate supporter of Fairtrade for many years, Scotmid is delighted to support Edinburgh Zoo’s Down in the Jungle Summer School. Many Fairtrade products come from the rainforest, and Fairtrade helps to protect these areas by enforcing environmentally sound agricultural practices. We hope the kids enjoy their Summer School and learning about the difference Fairtrade can make.”