It is easy to forget the fundamental role that new generations have, and will continue to have, in the future of our planet. Today’s children will be tomorrow’s adults and will take the place that is currently ours. For this reason, it is extremely important to educate them from an early age, providing them with contact with environmental issues so that they grow up aware, sensitive, and appreciative of nature and of all living beings.
Since its creation, Picos de Aventura has recognized the importance of children for our shared future. Thus, in 2013, Picoslogia was created. An activity that has evolved over the years, adapting to changes in the world and to a reality increasingly connected to the digital universe.
During the colder months of the year, Picos de Aventura visits several schools on São Miguel Island with a message of sustainability, also bringing to students the fascinating world of the great cetaceans (whales and dolphins) that pass through the Azores and that many have never had the opportunity to observe.
The adverse sea conditions typical of this season make this period especially suitable for working with younger students in the school context. Through presentations, videos, and playful activities, students learn about the extraordinary biodiversity found in the Azorean sea, as well as its fragility and the importance of its preservation.
School participation in this program has grown over the years, demonstrating an increasing interest in addressing these topics. The 2025/2026 season recorded the highest participation ever, with a total of 22 sessions held in just four months. We hope this number will continue to rise, reflecting a growing commitment among schools to raising students’ awareness of ocean-related issues.
Sessions are adapted to different age groups. For younger children, the activity is based on a video that provides a virtual journey in which children dive into an ocean filled with whales and dolphins, learning basic concepts about cetaceans and about our activity, also including moments of theatrical interaction. The session ends with an activity dedicated to the issue of litter and the importance of reducing it.
For older students, the session takes the form of a more in-depth presentation, with content about cetaceans that includes videos, images, and sounds, also addressing historical aspects and the main threats these animals currently face.
Picos de Aventura is proud to develop this initiative, helping make the young community of São Miguel Island more aware of the environment that surrounds them and more committed to its preservation, thus creating solid foundations for a more sustainable and promising future for the nature of the Azores.
Article written by Alexandre Branco, a biologist at Picos de Aventura.
