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Mongabay Kids is the nature and conservation corner for kids (and their adults). Its mission is to inspire all kids to explore, celebrate, and conserve plants, animals, and ecosystems, wherever nature happens.
In 2021, Mongabay released the beta version of the educational website, with engaging and informative stories, news articles, and activities about animals, plants, and other wonders of nature geared toward specific age groups, from elementary to middle school. The site leverages content from Mongabay’s news site and our extensive library of nature photos.
Since January 2021, Mongabay Kids has received more than 95,000 visitors to its website, and it’s continuing to grow in popularity as a go-to nature and conservation resource for kids, parents and educators.
“I wish I had a subscription to this growing up!” Jess Mullins, PhD student in the Holway Lab at the University of California-San Diego, says of Mongabay Kids.
Aligning with the belief that access to information should be as accessible as possible, Mongabay Kids is free, with no subscription needed.
Behind the scenes at Mongabay Kids
Mongabay Kids was developed by biologists Megan Strauss and David Brown.
Strauss is an illustrator and wildlife biologist whose PhD examined factors driving giraffe population decline in the Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania.
“We’re pleased to offer a wide range of free, fun, and positive resources for kids (and their adults!) who love nature,” Strauss says. “We nurture conservation skills and share ideas to help kids take action to protect or restore their local environment.”
Working alongside Strauss is David Brown, who is also a biologist, wildlife conservationist, and environmental educator. As part of his career, Brown conducted research on giraffe population genetics, which helped contribute to the discovery of multiple giraffe species.
“Creating meaningful awareness about the conservation challenges that our favorite animals and habitats face, and engaging kids and their parents and educators to become involved in the conservation of these species, is a critical conservation action,” Brown says. “Helping kids find ways to help conserve their favorite animals and learn – and get excited about animals and plants they never knew existed – is why Mongabay Kids exists.”
What Mongabay Kids offers
Mongabay Kids offers a diversity of stimulating activities for children to learn about the environment and wildlife. Content is organized around two hosts, Doug Beetle and Sofia Ceiba.
Doug Beetle is a fun-loving dung beetle who loves to share his enthusiasm about nature. He explores the world by interviewing scientists, conservationists, and artists, taking Mongabay Kids users into the field with them to see them at work. Here’s where:
Doug’s Wild Library
Sofia is one of the world’s most curious trees. She conducts science experiments and creates art projects to answer these questions. She travels around the world talking to her fellow plants so that Mongabay Kids readers can learn how cool and important plants are:
Sofia’s Lab
Keep up with Mongabay Kids
Subscribe to the Mongabay Kids newsletter and every other week you’ll get a curated tour of the latest science plus nature fun with kid-friendly articles, videos, activities, and learning exercises.
Please subscribe or share Mongabay Kids with your network here.