Mobilizing Green Gen Z: Decoding Doi Inthanon's Watershed with the 62nd EGCO Thai Forest Conservation Youth Camp
EGCO Group and the Thai Forest Conservation Foundation successfully completed the 62nd EGCO Thai Forest Conservation Youth Camp, bringing together 70 high school students from across Thailand to explore Doi Inthanon National Park. Through hands-on activities and nature walks, participants learned about watershed ecosystems and developed environmental consciousness, contributing to a network that has already trained over 3,600 young forest conservationists across Thailand over 28 years.
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.