Experience Ambientalia

Experience Ambientalia is an international environmental education and leadership program co-organized by the Mono Lake Committee and Fundación Líderes de Ansenuza at Laguna Mar Chiquita, Argentina.

Experience Ambientalia is an exchange program between students at Mono Lake and Laguna Mar Chiquita in northern Argentina that aims to better connect young people with their home ecosystems, introduce them to saline lakes across the Western Hemisphere, and practice environmental stewardship.

The Mono Lake chapter of Experience Ambientalia parallels a much larger program and contingent of students in Argentina, where Experiencia Ambientalia was founded by Fundación Líderes de Ansenuza in 2021 to engage students in conserving Laguna Mar Chiquita. Mono Lake is a sister lake with Laguna Mar Chiquita within the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network because of the lakes’ combined role in providing critical habitat for the migratory shorebird, the Wilson’s Phalarope.

Connecting students to their home ecosystems

During the school year, students at both lakes learn about their home ecosystems through visits to their respective lakes for birding, canoeing and kayaking, and stewardship activities. They also connect with each other virtually through Zoom presentations and on focused projects, for example, a petition to list the Wilson’s Phalarope as an endangered species.

Connecting students to worldwide saline lakes

The exchange at Mono Lake

In June 2024, after a year of planning, organizing, and fundraising, students from Laguna Mar Chiquita and Mono Lake finally met each other and spent a week together at the Mono Basin Outdoor Education Center. Five students, one teacher, and four FLA staff members from Laguna Mar Chiquita came to Mono Lake and communed with six students, one teacher, and Mono Lake Committee staff members. During the week, students slept outside, cooked and ate meals together, learned about the natural and human history of the Mono Basin, saw stars in a dark night sky, played in the snow, and made real-life connections.

The Mono Lake and Laguna Mar Chiquita students also developed and delivered a bilingual presentation at the Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua to share their experience in the program, its importance, and its future. Reflecting about his experience, Lee Vining student David Velez said, “when I started doing Experience Ambientalia, I really honestly had no clue about Mono Lake. But having [Mono Lake Committee Education Director] Ryan teach us about Mono Lake and its history has made me really love living here.”

The exchange at Laguna Mar Chiquita

In July 2024the second part of the exchange occurred. Six students, one teacher, and two Mono Lake Committee staff members went to Laguna Mar Chiquita and communed with students, teachers, and FLA staff members in Miramar, Argentina, a town on the shore of Laguna Mar Chiquita. Over the course of a week, the students participated in activities and workshops and visited different communities in the region. During these events, students learned about the similarities and differences between Laguna Mar Chiquita and Mono Lake, the complexities of the issues facing the health of the streams in Argentina, and the commitment of young people who are dedicated to restoring and conserving their home lakes and streams.

The week culminated in the Mono Lake students attending an environmental leaders’ forum with Argentinian students where they collaborated on joint projects that could benefit their lakes and communications across the hemisphere, in particular, the conservation of Wilson’s Phalaropes. After sharing their projects, the students’ final act together was to sign a symbolic ratification agreement to continue the tripartite connection of Laguna Mar Chiquita, Mono Lake, and Great Salt Lake.

Experience Ambientalia is making a difference

Both at home and abroad, the Experience Ambientalia program is changing students’ lives. Lee Vining student Yessenia said, “This program has taught me a lot about the place I live that I didn’t know about, and it has made me feel empowered about doing something about challenges that might seem too big.” David said, “It has been amazing to see how much youth are wanting to be involved in protecting their environment.”

Heidi said, “Learning about Mono Lake’s and Laguna Mar Chiquita’s history and its current and past problems has been a huge eye opener for me. We should be doing more and the first step in doing that is making a difference in the world.” Julian said, “This program is not only about helping us become leaders and teach us how to save the wilderness around us, but it also encourages us to encourage other youth to tag along and create a bigger group.”

For more reflections about Experience Ambientalia, click below to read what Lee Vining students Diego and Alden thought of the program:

Diego’s Ambientalia experience

Alden’s Ambientalia experience

Many thanks

The Experience Ambientalia program would not be possible without Mammoth Lakes Rotary, Bishop Sunrise Rotary, DeChambeau Creek Foundation, June Lake Women’s Club, Eastern Sierra Audubon Society, and Mono Lake Committee members supporting our students. And just as important, it would not be possible without Marina Castellino, co-director of Experiencia Ambientalia, and her amazing team at Fundación Líderes de Ansenuza. Their ability to host the Lee Vining crew in Argentina in 2024 was made possible by the United States Forest Service and Manomet Conservation Sciences.

Support

We are seeking support to cover essential expenses and educational materials to provide these life-changing opportunities to students. If you are interested in supporting the Experience Ambientalia program, you can do that here:

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