U.S. Forest Service and CONAFOR celebrate 3rd Annual Binational Environmental Education Camp
By Anabele Cornejo, Forest Service-Cleveland National Forest

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On May 2005, in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico, multiple fire agencies from the U.S. and Mexico, hosted the 3rd Annual Binational Environmental Education Camp. The Camp is a one day environmental education "learn by doing" event for the children that live along the Mexican/U.S. Border. The U.S. Forest Service; Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock of Mexico, Baja California Department of Forestry; National Forestry Commission of Mexico; and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection worked for months to ensure a safe, fun, and educational event for over 150 children.

The children that participated came from Mexicali (Mexico) and San Diego (U.S.). They learned about trees by listening to Tom Gillette, District Ranger on the Cleveland National Forest, explain how to plant a tree, and they actually had a chance to plant one. The other agencies added to the fun by singing a song about the environment and how one's actions play a part in taking care of our natural resources, especially the importance of our shared watershed. The Forest Service reminded the kids of the importance of fire prevention and this message was reaffirmed by Smokey the Bear and Mapy, Mexico's fire prevention mascot. Smokey the Bear and Mapy were on hand to take pictures and give hugs. The event reflected how the U.S. and Mexican agencies can be partners and maybe, in the eyes of the children, "friends". On that day we were all friends having fun and learning together.