Young people across the Philippines are stepping up for the planet, and this year’s Eco-Camp showed just how ready they are to lead.
Organized by ChildFund Philippines and implemented with the support of seven local partners—REINA Parents Federation, XAESFI, SPUP, FACE Inc., ChildInitiative, HaUman, Solidaridad-IDP—as well as our team from the local foundation, ChildFund Philippines Foundation, Inc. based in Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte, the Eco-Camp reached children and youth from communities across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Each location hosted its own three-day gathering filled with hands-on learning, nature-based activities, and meaningful reflection.
What made this year’s camps even more special was the leadership of returning Eco-Scouts who had joined the 2025 Eco-Scout Summit. With fresh insights and a renewed sense of purpose, these youth leaders co-facilitated sessions, led discussions, and encouraged their peers to take action in their own communities. They turned the camps into spaces not only for learning but for building confidence and sparking change.
Each camp offered a thoughtful mix of fun and purpose, but more importantly, it served as an eye-opener for children and youth on the realities of climate change and their role in addressing it. Through interactive games, storytelling circles, waste-reduction workshops, community mapping, and tree-planting activities, participants gained a clearer understanding of how environmental degradation directly affects their homes, schools, and livelihoods.
They learned how everyday actions like burning trash, using plastics, or cutting trees have long-term consequences for their communities. During one mapping session, they identified vulnerable areas in their barangays and created simple but practical action plans such as starting backyard composting, leading clean-up drives, and encouraging their families to use reusable containers.
The tree-planting activity became more than just a symbolic gesture. With the guidance of local leaders and environmental officers, the children learned how native trees help prevent soil erosion, restore biodiversity, and cool the local environment. Each sapling planted served as a tangible reminder that caring for nature means investing in the future of their own communities.
For many, this was the first time they engaged with environmental issues in such an interactive and youth-led setting. With the support of adult mentors and fellow participants, they found their voice, shared ideas, and gained the courage to begin leading efforts at home and in their schools.
The Eco-Camp remains a key part of our work in strengthening youth leadership rooted in care for community and nature. Together with our dedicated local partners, we continue to support spaces where young people can learn, lead, and take action—starting with what’s right in front of them.
