Ernest – Junior Rangers
Growing Up Caring for Bonaire
For Ernest de Lanoy, caring for Bonaire comes naturally. He grew up on the island, surrounded by its nature. The sea. The land. The quiet spaces in between. It is where he feels at home, and where he feels a responsibility to give something back. That is what led him to the Junior Rangers program of STINAPA.
As a Junior Ranger, he learns by doing. Spending time outdoors. Paying attention. Understanding how small actions shape the island over time. Ernest has seen that change happen. Beaches becoming cleaner. Less litter along the roads. More people paying attention to what they leave behind. Small shifts that add up.
He is also part of hands-on projects that protect the island. Helping prepare collection bins for discarded fishing gear at dive sites. Simple PVC structures that keep fishing lines and hooks out of the sea. For Ernest, it all connects. Nature provides. It gives calm, space, and meaning. It is something he wants future generations to experience in the same way.
Caring for Bonaire is not something separate. It is something he chooses, every day.
Caring for Bonaire starts young
Ernest shows that caring for Bonaire can begin early. By learning outdoors, paying attention, and seeing how small actions help protect nature over time. Want to learn more about STINAPA or the Junior Rangers program? Read more about STINAPA on this website or go straight to their Junior Rangers page.
