Interdisciplinary Studies at DMA include environmental and nutritional education for students, along with our enrichment program.  We believe that these studies are an integral part of everything we do and are essential in providing our students with a well-rounded education.

Environmental Education

At Del Mar Academy, we believe that it is important to implement and integrate a comprehensive Environmental Education program from toddler through the 6th grade.  Our program focuses on understanding the relationship between the environment and all living things, the impact living things have on the planet Earth, and the ways in which we can help improve the environment.  At the core of all of our environmentally conscious efforts exist the virtues of beauty, kindness, respect, stewardship, and wonder towards the environment.  These core virtues guide us in the creation, organization, implementation and integration of the following individual yet interconnected perspectives at Del Mar Academy:

1. Blue Flag Program

Every year, Del Mar Academy participates in the Blue Flag Program. This program awards a highly respected and recognized national eco-label called the Blue Flag. Blue Flags are awarded to schools that meet strict criteria with regard to everything from water quality to environmental education programs. We currently hold a 3 STARS BLUE FLAG, which is the highest distinction possible.

2. Empowerment/Creation of Campaigns

We empower our students to take initiatives to address the urgent environmental concerns within the community. For example, students created the campaign “No seas un Bichín Basurín” (Don’t be a LitterBug) which is still used in our school and in neighboring schools today.  This ongoing campaign focuses on teaching children the importance of not littering and keeping their country clean. In an effort to promote the campaign’s message, the children and the Del Mar Academy’s active Environmental Committee, created a slogan, a mascot, a song and a play.  Further efforts are being made to bring our campaign’s message to schools and organizations across the country via the creation of a bilingual children’s book.  If you are interested in learning how you can make a difference, please make sure to sign up for the Environmental Committee.  The DMA environmental committee is currently helping  create a bilingual book based on this campaign which will be expanded countrywide. BICHIN BASURIN CAMPAIGN LINK.

3. Infusion across the curricula:

We introduce our students to the various facets of the sustainability paradigm throughout their education by integrating environmental literacy, social responsibility and sustainability materials into core and extracurricular subjects. Our goal is to reduce apathy, and instill attitudes and skills required to be positive change agents for the society. We want our students to develop an:

increased sense of responsibility and care for the future of society,
increased belief that they can make a difference, and an
increased willingness to participate in solving societal and environmental problems.

4. Celebration of World Environment Day

World Environment Day (June 5) is celebrated in a very special way at Del Mar Academy. Every school year we begin preparations  for this celebration on the first day of classes. We establish a theme for the year and hold an annual drawing contest to determine the logo for the year’s theme.  The winner’s design is printed on all of our World Environment Day paraphernalia, which includes t-shirts, bags, stickers, and cooking aprons. Our celebration includes games, a school-wide play, and food and entertainment.  LINK WITH DESIGN WINNERS

Themes by academic year:

• 
  2007-2008   Plant a Tree
• 2008-2009   Reduce, Reuse Recycle
• 2009-2010  Clean Water 

5. Community Service

DMA’s Community Service Program includes environmental projects performed by all grade levels. Tree planting, collection of recyclables within the Nosara community, preparing environmental education materials and activities for local schools, beach cleaning, as well as other projects are some of the activities and events in which our students participate during the school year.

6. Recycling and Organic Compost

A recycling program of plastic, aluminum and paper gives children first-hand experience with the importance of preserving the earth’s resources and proper disposal for re-use. Students produce organic compost with all the organic waste generated at our school and from our families’ homes.  In an effort to be as eco-friendly as possible, the school also attempts to purchase items that are made from recycled materials.

7. Animal Farm

Del Mar Academy students enjoy our small animal farm with chickens, ducks, turkeys and sheep. They volunteer for farm animal work during the mornings and enjoy seeing the animals roam  freely around the campus. The animal farm is not only a way to stress responsibility of all living things among our students, but it is also a way to remind our children that we co-exist with nature.

8. Field trips

Students take field trips within the Nosara District to learn about their immediate surroundings.  We take field trips to different protected areas within the Guanacaste province. One of our excursions is visiting the Ostional Wildlife Refuge where they see the turtle “arribadas” and egg hatchings.

9. Environmental Committee

Del Mar Academy’s   Environmental Committee is made up of parents, teachers and students who help with all the eco-activities planned for a given year. The Committee also raises funds to make our campus a more eco-friendly environment.

10. Packing food

Del Mar Academy teaches  students to be sensitive to the environment not only at school, but also at home.  We ask that children help pack their lunch and/or snack in a re-usable container to reduce trash and litter.