Barco Escola

Barco Escola da Natureza is a Brazilian nonprofit organization founded in 2000 to promote environmental education and support conservation, particularly around the Salto Grande Reservoir in Americana, São Paulo. Its flagship program, “Navegando nas Águas do Conhecimento” (“Navigating the Waters of Knowledge”), combines classroom learning with educational boat trips for children, young people, and adults. Participants explore local ecosystems and consider issues such as water-resource management, pollution, and the loss of riverside vegetation, while discussing practical ways to protect the environment.

The organization provides a supervised vessel with capacity for 42 passengers and two crew members, required life jackets, and safety equipment inspected annually by the Tietê-Paraná Port Authority. Its multidisciplinary team includes environmental educators and a biologist. Learning resources include “Navegando com Peixoto,” an activity-based logbook tailored to students’ age groups. Additional initiatives introduce visitors to native stingless bees, encourage plastic-cap collection for donation to APAE Americana, and host environmental events featuring workshops and native plant seedlings.