At Africam Safari, children are at the heart of wonder, discovery, and care. A long-term commitment to working with the sons, daughters, and grandchildren of staff members between the ages of 6 and 11 is a key priority. Since November 2024, the Escuadrón Jabato (Wild Boar Squad) has positively impacted participants’ holistic development by creating meaningful learning experiences that strengthen both their social and educational growth.

Grounded in the principles of care-based pedagogy, environmental education, and active learning, Escuadrón Jabato promotes collaborative learning and has successfully built a “sounder” of 30 participants. Sessions are held every two weeks at Africam Safari and are scheduled to align with the working hours of parents and grandparents. The program has also established partnerships with professionals who contribute to the children’s learning and exploration process.

Each session includes two key components: (1) discovering different areas of the park as living classrooms, where participants learn about animal welfare and engage with conservation programs; and (2) using play as a pedagogical tool to encourage meaningful, participatory, and contextualized learning.

Consistent engagement with children in informal learning environments such as zoological institutions fosters profound personal growth and creates lasting positive impacts at both the social and environmental levels.