More than 160 people distributed in 64 teams participated this Sunday in the IV IbizaPreservation Family Gymkhana, held in the recreational area of Cala de Bou (Sant Josep) and dedicated this year to biodiversity and pollinators.
The event, organized by the environmental foundation IbizaPreservation with the collaboration of the Balearic Government, the Sant Josep de Sa Talaia City Council and several local entities -among them La Sirena, Trasmapi, OD Group, Fundación Julián Vilás Ferrer, Eléctrica Marí, Soul Water and Cebo-, combined fun, environmental learning and social commitment.
During the day, the teams – formed by groups of two or three people with at least one adult – toured the area solving twelve orienteering clues adapted to all ages and focused on environmental issues. The focus of this edition was the importance of pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, in Ibiza’s ecosystems.
“We want the gymkhana, besides being an educational and fun experience, to help discover the value of Ibiza’s nature and the essential role of pollinators, which unfortunately are not in a good situation,” explained Inma Saranova, director of IbizaPreservation.
A day of solidarity and participation
In addition to the educational component, the gymkhana had a solidarity purpose: for each team that completed the course, IbizaPreservation will make a donation to a local NGO that supports people affected by the recent floods on the island.
The fastest teams received prizes with local products related to the bees of Ibiza, and all participants who finished the race participated in a raffle of surprise gifts offered by the collaborating companies. Among them were a family voucher with car included for the ferry to Formentera (Trasmapi), a meal for two people at the OD Group’s 666 restaurant and a voucher for four people to enjoy fish & chips at Taberna Cebo.
“This family gymkhana has already established itself as an annual event that unites environmental education, leisure and solidarity action, bringing sustainability to families in a participatory and fun way,” said Juanjo Serra, from Ibiza Blue Challenge.
