Mobilizing Green Gen Z: Decoding Doi Inthanon's Watershed with the 62nd EGCO Thai Forest Conservation Youth Camp
EGCO Group brought 70 Thai high school students to Doi Inthanon National Park for a week-long forest conservation camp aimed at helping youth understand watersheds and their vital connection to everyday life.
EGCO Group and the Thai Forest Conservation Foundation, believing that "good sources create good outcomes," successfully executed the 62nd EGCO Thai Forest Conservation Youth Camp under the concept "Nature Decoded: Unlocking Doi Inthanon Watershed." The program brought 70 high school students from across Thailand to uncover nature's secrets at Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest source forest, which maintains rich biodiversity including flora, fauna, and unique ecosystems. The initiative aimed to help young people understand the value of watersheds and their connection to daily life, fostering environmental consciousness and eco-friendly behavior while building a strong network of forest conservationists.
Nature's Classroom Beyond Textbooks
During a seven-day, six-night camp in late March 2025 at Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai, selected youth transformed from classroom students into "nature detectives" through hands-on activities emphasizing direct experience and observation. They learned to understand the interconnectedness of living organisms and forest ecosystems firsthand.
Manee Pathachiwa, Secretary of the Thai Forest Conservation Foundation, explained that the EGCO Thai Forest Conservation Youth Camp has been held continuously since 1997, with a different theme each year. This year's focus on "decoding Doi Inthanon watershed" encourages youth to discover how nature sustains us and how we are the key to its sustainable future. The metaphor of "decoding" helps young people see nature's relevance even outside forests—through simple actions like environmental care and energy conservation. Participants engaged in actual forest walks along several nature study trails featuring diverse geography, geology, and vegetation, while exploring unique freshwater forest ecosystems and understanding relationships within these environments. They also took on the role of "water detectives" investigating the interconnected web of forest ecosystems.
