The puppet: communication to promote understanding and conservation
Date
2014-09
Authors
Griego, Jeri, speaker
Stratton, David, speaker
Calderazzo, John, moderator
International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, producer
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Baba Dioum, an African environmental champion said: "In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught." How do we teach, help persons to understand, and to practice conservation? Puppetry is a communication and art form from many regions of the world including eastern and western cultures, Native Americans, and on Sesame Street. Radical puppets are used with adults for social change. Puppets entertain, communicate, and people relate to them with less intimidation. Puppet Jedediah Johnston, a historical mountain man, tells stories of the Congress and area bridging history, the present, and future together better than humans because he has no temporal or spatial limits. He can discuss balancing wildlife management and landowner livelihoods without biases that could be associated with humans. Children build unique relationships with puppets and communicate through them. Through the use of puppets and role-playing, children express points of view that are not necessarily their own. This process develops a deeper understanding of their issues, provides an opportunity for reasoning rather than recall, and allows learners to share authority and to assume responsibility for their learning. Research indicates puppets have positive effects on children's motivation and engagement in learning. This offers hope that children and adults can be motivated to develop environmental values and to become stewards who will manage the diversity and wonders of nature. Puppets are tools to broaden understanding. With understanding, there can be more effective actions.
Description
Moderator: John Calderazzo.
Presented at the 8th international congress for wildlife and livelihoods on private and communal lands: livestock, tourism, and spirit, that was held on September 7-12, 2014 in Estes Park, Colorado.
Video presenter: Jed the Puppet.
Presented at the 8th international congress for wildlife and livelihoods on private and communal lands: livestock, tourism, and spirit, that was held on September 7-12, 2014 in Estes Park, Colorado.
Video presenter: Jed the Puppet.
Rights Access
Subject
Wildlife management -- Congresses
Range management -- Congresses