Luta SWCD Teaches Youth to Honor their Culture and Environment 03/10/2025
Luta Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in The Northern Mariana Islands created The Cultivating Roots project with support from a Friends of NACD district grant. This project immersed youth on Rota Island, NMI in a transformative experience that blended environmental education with the rich tapestry of Chamorro culture. The project evolved to align with the reemergence of the Luta Agricultural Fair and the annual Gilita Festival, held jointly in 2024. This strategic shift enabled collaboration with key community organizations and significantly broadened the program’s audience and impact.
Collaborations allowed Luta SWCD to expand the program’s reach to one that engaged all K-12 students on Rota Island. Activities at the fair included hands-on learning stations such as seed confetti crafting, forest collages, and mini-greenhouse building. Interactive games, such as “The Golden Mango Hunt” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll”. These activities were closely tied to NACD’s “May the Forest Be With You, Always” materials, creating a fun and educational experience for participants.
Through partnerships with the Northern Marianas College Cooperative, Research, Extension, and Education Services (CREES) and the Department of Lands and Natural Resources (DLNR), Luta SWCD successfully integrated environmental education into fair events. Additionally, the Gilita Festival’s committee, which included the Department of Community & Cultural Affairs, the Rota Mayor’s Office, the Rota Municipal Council, the Marianas Visitors Authority, and the Rota Chamber of Commerce, played a vital role in ensuring the events were well-coordinated and highlighted Chamorro culture.
Cultural booths at the festival showcased traditional Chamorro practices, including medicine-making, salt preparation, and cooking. These elements emphasized the interconnectedness of Rota’s cultural heritage and environmental conservation, leaving participants with a deeper appreciation for both.
Following the fair and festival, the district was able to utilize additional funds from the collaboration to partner with the Rota Mayor’s Office and the DLNR Rota Forestry to organize another field trip. This activity gave Rota’s youth a hands-on opportunity to plant nursery fruit trees in the community as part of the Rota Mayor’s 1,000 Trees Planting Initiative. By directly engaging students in environmental stewardship, the initiative reinforced lessons learned during the fair while instilling a sense of pride and ownership in contributing to the island’s sustainability.
The district shared collaboration and adaptability were key to the project’s success. They suggest other districts considering similar programs should partner with local agencies and align activities with existing community events to amplify impact and participation. By being flexible and responsive, districts can maximize their reach while staying true to their mission. Combining environmental education with cultural heritage and engaging students through hands-on experiences creates programs that leave a lasting legacy, inspiring youth to honor their traditions and safeguard their environment.
The Friends of NACD District Grants Program is a grassroots-funded program designed by conservation districts to conduct new activities and/or test novel approaches to their operations. Learn more about current and past projects on the Friends of NACD webpage.
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