Project “Let’s Measure Our Trees” – Children and Young People Contribute and Win with the Nature of Aruba
ORANJESTAD – The educational and environmentally friendly Aruban project “Let’s Measure Our Trees”, organized by the Department of Nature and Environment (DNM), the Department of Culture (DCA), and the Ministry of General Affairs, Environment, Nature and Culture in collaboration with the National Library as part of the October holiday program, was a great success!
With strong participation from the community—especially our children and young people—the campaign raised awareness and collected valuable data about Aruba’s trees.
The main goal of the project was to encourage families to actively participate by going outdoors to find and register trees, measure their trunks at 1.50 meters from the ground, and upload the information through an online survey. This effort yielded meaningful results, with every registered tree contributing to the protection and understanding of our natural environment. Today, we are pleased to announce the winners of this inspiring project.
Announcement of the Winners
After the registration period, which took place from 10 to 19 October 2025, during which participants showed dedication in measuring and recording trees, the organizers are proud to announce the two (2) well-deserving winners of the “Let’s Measure Our Trees” project:
1. Group/Organization Category
- Winner: Daycare Smiling Kids Center, located in San Nicolas
Daycare Smiling Kids Center demonstrated an impressive collective effort and registered a large Kwihi tree, fostering a love and appreciation of nature among children from an early age.
2. Individual Entrant Category
- Winner: Danique Croes, of Tanki Flip
Together with her grandmother, Danique Croes recorded the highest-quality individual data, making an exceptional contribution to the project’s database.
The organizers extend their sincere congratulations to the winners and a heartfelt thank-you to all participants who joined the search and helped make this project a success. Your commitment represents an important contribution to the conservation and study of Aruba’s flora.
We encourage everyone to continue measuring trees. The survey remains available on our website and through the link on our Facebook page. DNM’s work continues, with the aim of promoting community involvement in citizen-science initiatives that help us monitor more trees across the island.
The data collected through this survey provides an important tool for DNM to monitor the health and structure of Aruba’s ecosystems. The project highlighted the importance of connecting with our trees by “embracing the tree and measuring its girth,” helping us better understand their growth and condition.
DNM, DCA, and the Government of Aruba thank all partners who contributed to the project, including the National Library, Aruba Conservation Foundation, Setar, and Top One Toys for the prizes. The organizers hope that the success of this first edition of “Let’s Measure Our Trees” will inspire more individuals and organizations to take an active role in protecting Aruba’s beautiful natural environment.
