As an incentive and recognition of academic performance, forty students from Colegio Los Llanos and Liceo de Machalí, along with twenty adults, enjoyed a recreational and educational day outdoors in Estero Los Leones, where they learned about identification and care of the native and endemic flora and fauna species that inhabit the sector, belonging to Codelco División El Teniente.

The visit was made possible thanks to the collaboration between the copper company and the Rancagua Andean Club, which organizes excursions to different places every year with students from municipal schools.

“From the Territory and Circular Economy Directorate we have begun to generate collaborative actions with the Andino Club, recognized for its historical trajectory linked to the practice of mountain sports and outdoor activities, with values that we share as a Division, in terms of the appreciation and care of the territory in relation to the mountains,” explains Milenka Gjakoni, an environmental specialist engineer at the Circular Economy Unit of El Teniente.

Fun and education outdoors

The Sustainability and External Affairs Department coordinated access to the sector with the Dams, Tailings and Water Resources Department and Minera Valle Central, in addition to ensuring support and guidance, both in terms of safety and education.

Franco Rodríguez, director of the Rancagua Andean Club, says that the day consisted of “a simple trek, where children, teachers and people from the Municipal Education Administration Department (DAEM) were able to share, laugh and also splash around in the stream. The idea is to bring young people closer to nature, to create this bond with the mountains and outdoor sports. Everyone was happy, seeing how they played and smiled leaves us very satisfied.”

Gjakoni supports this point: “We understand the importance of the student community knowing these places and the importance they have as natural heritage, in addition to encouraging the care of nature. Activities like these help children to socialize with their peers and care for the environment.”

“As the Rancagua Andean Club, we are very happy and satisfied with these initiatives that contribute to the community and even more so on this occasion, united with the El Teniente Division and the DAEM of Machalí,” added Rodríguez.