Asociación de Apoyo y Educación en Chiapas A.C.

Education beyond the classroom: visit to the Miguel Álvarez del Toro Zoo (ZOOMAT)

Last Friday, the children from AECH A.C.’s Education for All program visited the Miguel Álvarez del Toro Zoo (ZOOMAT) in Tuxtla Gutiérrez.

This activity is part of our holistic educational approach, which seeks to complement classroom learning with meaningful experiences in real-world environments. It allows children to learn while interacting and playing, encouraging their curiosity to guide them in discovering answers to questions about the world around them.

During the visit to the zoo, the children had the opportunity to observe various endemic and representative species of Chiapas’ wildlife, such as jaguars, howler monkeys, crocodiles, macaws, and quetzals. In addition to learning about their characteristics, they also discovered information about their habitats, diets, and the important role they play within the ecosystem.

Throughout the visit, the ZOOMAT professionals were always available to answer the many questions that arose along the way. They were incredibly kind and attentive, responding to each question from our curious children. Through their educational information tables, the children were able not only to learn more about crocodiles, insects, and other species, but also to interact closely with some of them.

One of the most special moments of the day was the mask workshop, where each child had the opportunity to use their imagination and paint their own jaguar mask, an important symbol of Chiapas’ wildlife and culture. This activity allowed them not only to express their creativity, but also to reflect on the importance of protecting all species, especially those that are endangered.

Without a doubt, the children left not only with the experience of getting to know the endemic animals and wildlife of Chiapas more closely, but also with a greater understanding of the importance of caring for animals and their environment, becoming more aware of the world around them.

We deeply thank the ZOOMAT staff for their collaboration, as well as the AECH A.C. educational team for accompanying the children and carefully coordinating every detail of this activity.

At AECH A.C., we remain committed to creating experiential learning opportunities while promoting respect for nature and the holistic development of children in Chiapas.