Youth for Conservation
Madeleyn
Rediscovering Galápagos
Many of us don’t fully appreciate the importance of the Galápagos. But when you have the privilege of participating in activities like these, your perspective changes.
Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz
Many of us don’t fully appreciate the importance of the Galápagos. But when you have the privilege of participating in activities like these, your perspective changes.
Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz
Madeleyn lives in Santa Rosa, a rural community on Santa Cruz Island. Like most young people in Galápagos, she grew up surrounded by nature. However, it was not until she joined Guardians of Marine Life that she realized that being familiar with a place and truly understanding its value are not necessarily the same thing.
Although she was already involved in a local environmental club, joining Guardians of Marine Life gave her the opportunity to experience conservation from an entirely new perspective. The project is implemented by Fundación ECOS, in partnership with the Galápagos National Park Directorate, and funded by the Galápagos Life Fund. What began as an opportunity to learn soon became a transformative experience that deepened her commitment to protecting Galápagos.
From the moment she was invited to join the project, Madeleyn was especially excited about one experience: the sea turtle monitoring camps. She dreamed of witnessing turtles emerge from the ocean, watching them search for the right place to nest, and working alongside the people dedicated to studying and protecting them.
The experience exceeded all her expectations.
The camps were basic and physically demanding. Everyone helped prepare meals and had to be ready for several days of fieldwork in rustic conditions. For Madeleyn, however, that was all part of the adventure. At night, she patrolled the beaches with the team, watching the turtles come ashore, helping to measure and tag them, and protecting their nests to support the species’ conservation.
She also took part in monitoring mangroves and coastal lagoons. Of all the activities, this became her favorite.
“You learn so much about marine life in the mangroves. You begin to recognize different fish species and understand how everything is connected,” she says.
Beyond the monitoring techniques and scientific knowledge she gained, the experience sparked a much deeper change within her.
As someone who grew up in Galápagos, Madeleyn acknowledges that people who live on the islands often take their extraordinary surroundings for granted.
Many of us don’t fully appreciate just how important Galápagos is. But when you have the privilege of taking part in activities like these, your perspective changes. You begin to understand why so many people dedicate their lives to protecting these islands, and you think, ‘Wow! I live in a truly unique place where all of this is happening.
- Madeleyn
“Many of us don’t fully appreciate just how important Galápagos is. But when you have the privilege of taking part in activities like these, your perspective changes. You begin to understand why so many people dedicate their lives to conserving these islands, and you think, ‘Wow! I live in a unique place where all of this is happening.’”
This realization inspired a renewed sense of commitment. Madeleyn now hopes to remain involved in conservation initiatives, knowing that every experience offers an opportunity not only to learn, but also to contribute her time and energy to protecting the islands’ natural heritage.
