Environmental valuation of the pampa biome through ecocaching practices in a Conservation Unit of the Caçapava Geopark (RS,Brazil)

Abstract

The Ecocaching activity was carried out at the Pedra do Segredo Municipal Natural Park, located in the municipality of Caçapava do Sul, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in celebration of Children's Day. The main objective was to promote environmental awareness in a playful way, encouraging direct contact between children and the Pampa biome, as well as the development of knowledge about local biodiversity. Approximately 40 children, aged between four and ten years, participated, accompanied by their guardians. The methodology was based on the adaptation of Geocaching, an international practice that uses geographic coordinates to find hidden objects, reinterpreted here with a focus on environmental education. Four checkpoints, called caches, were created, containing clues, information about native species, and challenges that guided participants along the trail to the “treasure,” symbolized by the park’s natural heritage itself. The children were divided into groups, each led by a child responsible for guiding the route using a map. During the activity, younger children showed greater enchantment with natural elements, while older children demonstrated a more competitive attitude, focused on solving challenges, highlighting different forms of engagement. The activity also fostered skills such as cooperation, logical reasoning, information interpretation, and environmental awareness. Despite some structural limitations, such as the small number of facilitators, the experience was successful in raising interest in the conservation of the Pampa biome, providing a meaningful and emotional experience. This activity reinforces the importance of participatory and interactive methodologies in non-formal environmental education, especially in protected areas that serve as spaces for learning, leisure, and the promotion of ecological citizenship.