Environmental Learning Travel
A Travel Itinerary focused on environmental learning a WikiExplorers Field Guide you can use on the ground. All rooted in Saint-Louis and its surrounding ecosystems.
PART 1: Environmental Learning Travel Itinerary (4–5 Days)
[Do What You Can]
Day 1: Arrival + Orientation — “Meeting the Water”
Explore the Island of Saint-Louis
Walk the historic island and observe:
Narrow streets and colonial architecture
How close buildings are to water levels
Visit Faidherbe Bridge
Stand and observe:
Flow of the Senegal River
Tidal movement
Boats, fishing activity
Reflection Prompt:
Where does the city end and the water begin?
Day 2: Coastal Reality — “Where the Ocean Advances”
Visit Guet Ndar
Walk through the fishing community
Observe:
Housing density
Proximity to ocean
Signs of erosion
If possible, speak with local residents or guides
Continue to Langue de Barbarie National Park
Explore:
Sand dunes
Coastal vegetation
Bird habitats
Reflection:
What is protecting the land?
What is disappearing?
Day 3: Ecosystems & Restoration — “Nature as Protection”
Senegal River Delta (guided visit recommended)
Observe:
Wetlands and water channels
Plant life and biodiversity
Areas of restoration
Optional Connection
Reflection Prompt:
What does restoration look like when it is working?
Day 4: Knowledge & Learning —
“Understanding the System”
Visit Université Gaston Berger
Explore campus or connect with:
Environmental science departments
Students or faculty
Urban Observation Walk
Focus on:
Waste patterns
Drainage systems
Flood-prone areas
Reflection Prompt:
How does human behavior affect environmental outcomes?
Day 5 (Optional): “Becoming Part of the Story”
Visit a school or community center
Sit by the water and write your observations
PART 2: WikiExplorers Field Guide
“Learning From the Edges: Saint-Louis”
This is your on-the-ground tool—part journal, part research guide, part creative workbook.
FIELD MISSION
“Observe, document, and understand how water, land, and people interact.”
SECTION 1: Observe the Environment
Water
Where is water present? (river, ocean, flooding areas)
Is it calm, moving, rising?
Notes:
Land
Is the land stable, sandy, eroding?
Are there plants holding the soil?
Notes:
Human Structures
How close are buildings to water?
Are there protections (walls, barriers)?
Notes:
SECTION 2: Ask Questions
Talk to people if possible:
“Has the water changed over time?”
“What happens during flooding?”
“What do you do to protect your home?”
Record responses:
SECTION 3: Track Waste
Pick one item (plastic bottle, bag, etc.)
Where did you find it?
Where might it go next?
Reflection:
SECTION 4: Ecosystem Study (Mangroves / Wetlands)
If visiting coastal or delta areas:
What plants do you see?
Are roots visible?
Is wildlife present?
Draw what you see:
SECTION 5: Reflection
Complete these sentences:
“I noticed that…”
“I was surprised by…”
“I learned that…”
SECTION 6: Creative Expression
Choose one:
Write a short story: “If the water could speak…”
Create a poem: “We Grow Beneath…”
Draw a map of what you experienced
It is about learning to see systems:
Water as movement
Land as memory
People as participants
And realizing:
Restoration is not something happening there.
It is something we learn to practice everywhere.
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