Karina Vargas Serrano, Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco / Q’alachaqui Association

Environmental education integrates knowledge, values, and actions across formal, non-formal, and informal contexts, while experiential programs in early education strengthen pro-environmental attitudes. Using charismatic species and immersive activities increases emotional engagement, knowledge retention, and lasting conservation behaviours among young learners. Paucartambo province located in Cusco region of Peru, is a key setting for Andean bear conservation, hosting diverse high-Andean and cloud forest ecosystems essential to the species’ ecological role. Although part of the Manu Biosphere Reserve and rich in cultural symbolism, limited public awareness persists, as traditional narratives and festivities do not consistently translate into ecological knowledge or conservation attitudes within local communities today. In response to local conservation needs, the program “Educating to Conserve the Ukuku” was implemented in Paucartambo province to promote Andean bear conservation through school-based education. During its first year at the San Luis Gonzaga Educational Center, ten sequential, playful, and experiential workshops were delivered to two lower school grades. Participation included 191 fifth- and sixth-grade students in each of the ten workshops. Key activities emphasized audiovisual resources, storytelling, games, creative art, and a field visit. Some of workshops stood out for enabling students to create models, masks, narratives, and representations addressing the bear’s ecology and cultural significance. Results showed high engagement, improved information retention, and progressive content appropriation, with the field visit producing the strongest impact by reinforcing emotional connection and learning. Identified challenges included pedagogical inclusion and institutional support.