HIGHLIGHTS
Participants: 2000
School Groups: 13 school groups – 300 students
Teacher Workshops: 3 workshops – 70 participants
Volunteers: 80
MEDIA COVERAGE
Radio & TV Spots: 10
News Articles: 7
Media Websites: 3
| Social Media Statistics | |
| Social media views* | |
| STRI Facebook page | 19,717(18 posts) |
| Punta Culebra Facebook page
PARC Facebook page |
4,131(16 posts)
60,898 (41 Posts) |
| Festival event page | 214 likes |
| Twitter hashtag used
Youtube video views |
29
1023(7 videos) |
| *Total # of views for all posts about festival |
Youtube videos released to promote Golden Frog Festival
| Name of Video | # of Views | # of Subscriptions driven | # of shares |
| I love frogs | 92 | 0 | 2 |
| There’s a fungus among us | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| The Golden Frog | 302 | 1 | 1 |
| PARC Project | 38 | 0 | 0 |
| How can you help? | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Frogs in culture | 194 | 1 | 3 |
| Why frogs matter | 359 | 3 | 6 |
| Total | 1023 | 5 | 12 |
In August the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and partners celebrated the fourth annual Golden Frog Festival. The festival, consisting of various events held throughout Panama, calls local and global attention to the ecological and cultural value of the Panamanian golden frog and global amphibian declines. A major highlight of the festival was the opening of Fabulous Frogs of Panama, a new exhibit at Punta Culebra Nature Center featuring some of the world’s most beautiful, and endangered, frog species.
The festival kicked off on August 4 with a series of teacher workshops in El Valle de Anton led by Smithsonian Education Specialist Lidia Valencia and Peace Corps Response Volunteer Hannah Arney. Seventy teachers attended three workshop to learn about the new curriculum “Fabulous Frogs of Panama, which provides educational activities for use in teaching their students about amphibian biodiversity and conservation.
“Congratulations on this workshop that offered us greater knowledge of nature and science. The workshop was practical and easy to apply to any grade level.” ~ workshop participant
PARC scientists Jorge Guerrel and Rigoberto Diaz introduced the festival on the Panamanian national lottery highlighting the importance of the golden frog and encouraging Panamanians to help conserve amphibians.
Later that evening, the first Science in the City public talk was held at the Rana Dorada Pub. The event, held at one of our main sponsor’s venues, featured PARC scientist Jorge Guerrel and indigenous artisian Lanky Cheucarama. The pub talk was a vibrant mix of indigenous culture, conservation, education, and superb food & drinks!
Punta Culebra Nature Center held its soft opening of the new exhibit, “Fabulous Frogs of Panama.” Sharon Ryan, public programs director at STRI, Matthew Larsen, STRI director, and Sylvia Cesaratto, the Canadian Ambassador for Panama, spoke about the importance of amphibians as national, cultural and biological treasures before inviting participants to visit the new exhibit.
The second Science in the City talk was held in the historic district of Casco Antiguo at the American Trade Hotel. Sharon Ryan, STRI’s director of public programs, and Brian Gratwicke, lead conservation biologist for the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, talked about the PARC ‘s amphibian research, rescue and education programs.
La Tribu finalized their performance by inviting a group of local school children to make an oath to live in harmony with the amphibians.
Performance by La Tribu
Throughout the day many people also contributed to a collective mural with the art & design studio La Tienda De Remedios
The weekend was jam-packed with events and activities for families and frog enthusiasts. On Saturday, August 16, El Valle de Anton, the community where the PARC project began, held a family day to promote golden frog conservation. Local businesses and community groups supported the events – which included a performance by acrobatic group La Tribu, and a variety of fund and educational activities. An estimated 500 people, mostly children, attended the event.
On Sunday August 17th, the Punta Culebra Nature Center hosted a frog themed family day to celebrate the launch of their new exhibit. The day’s events included face painting, informational presentations by STRI scientists, and frog themed games. The Rana Dorada food truck also came out to sell their delicious hamburgers and tacos. La Tribu reprised their presentation from El Valle, and taught visitors about the importance of taking care of frogs and their habitat.
The final event of the 2014 Golden Frog Festival was a 5K/15K walk/race held in El Valle de Anton. This was the first trail walk/run race in Panama focused on raising awareness about wildlife conservation. Participants went through trails surrounding the beautiful Hotel Campestre while spectators, families, and children all watched in support.
Golden frog saving a life at the race in El Valle
Special thanks to:
- The Festival Planning Committee (Sharon Ryan, Roberto Ibañez, Jorge Aleman, Nelly Florez, Sonia Tejada, Alvaro Gonzalez, Hannah Arney, Rigoberto Diaz, Lidia Valencia, Adrian Benedetti, Ana Matilde Ruiz, Ana Endara, Sean Mattson, Carlos Celis, Ana Lucrecia Arosemena, Heidi Ross, Dayra Navarro, Lanky Cheucarama, Dara Wilson)
- Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project
- Culebra guides
- All volunteers that contributed to the events
- Brian Gratwicke
- Stratego Communications
Sponsors:
- El Rey
- Caminando Panama
- APRADAP
- The North Face
- Sportshealth
- Suunto
- Purissima
- Organica
- Tacfit Panama
- The TRI Store
- Deka Music Group
Post by Dara Wilson, Media and Outreach Volunteer, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute