Tree Reforestation: An Activity to Connect

Early in the morning, the entire team based in Costa Rica was ready to begin the mission of the day: planting trees. We started off by warming up with some conversations and laughter while the rest of the team arrived on site. Once all participants were present, we kicked off the mission and walked down to the designated planting area. In this case, we had to go down a small concrete slope that led us to the spot.

Upon arrival, we gathered in a semicircle, where Melvin shared a bit about the history of Planta Mi Árbol, the different tree species found on the property, and the role each one plays in the ecosystem. He also explained the difference between a reforestation plantation and tree planting aimed at creating a forest.

For those wondering what that difference is, here’s what we learned: basically, in a reforestation plantation or one with commercial purposes —as Melvin explained— there must be a specific distance between each tree. In contrast, when the goal is to create a forest, what’s encouraged is variety, spontaneity, and planting techniques that allow for the proliferation of diverse species that together form a more natural and balanced ecosystem.

Once the brief explanation and introduction to the world of responsible planting was over, we grabbed our shovels and got to work. We split into pairs, and each participant was assigned a sign with a name, representing and planting on behalf of a teacher through our “Planting Buddy System.”

Some people showed a natural talent for planting trees, while others did the best we could to dig into the earth. In the end, we successfully planted the 75 trees we had set as our goal, contributing our small grain of sand to the creation of this ecosystem.

Just as we were about to finish the activity, it started to rain. But that didn’t dampen the team’s spirit; we ran to a terrace on the property to share and enjoy a snack organized by the Idioma Cares committee. We also had a fun trivia session, where we tested our knowledge about nature.

Now, a few words from the Idioma Internacional team about how they experienced this activity: