Play Based Learning in Telaga Madiredo Ecotourism: Process and Challenges of Agricultural Learning for Children

Abstract

Agriculture became one of the primary economic modes of Madiredo Village. However, enthusiasm in farming among young generations and children has decreased dramatically. This is because children are unprepared to deal with agricultural failures. Furthermore, farming knowledge is not institutionalised in formal schools, but rather transmitted down orally. This concern also encourages the Madiredo Village society to build agricultural education at an early age through ecotourism in Telaga Madiredo. In this paper, we investigate  how the agricultural-based learning process for children in ecotourism in Telaga Madiredo? Furthermore, what are the challenges of developing agricultural-based tourism education in Telaga Madiredo? The study's findings reveal that as tourism develops, the community changes its fields into a learning spaces for children. Through ethnographic study, I investigate the concept of play-based learning, in which children learn not just about nature but also "with nature". Children in Madiredo Village participate directly in farming practices, from planting to harvesting crops. They learn about diverse plant species and the significance of regular plant care. In other words, learning on this educational tour focuses on the process and continuity. The challenge that then arises is the involvement of children in a series of farming processes that are still inconsistent. The community also has difficulty in expanding the reach of child tourists, especially in urban areas. Apart from that, adults in Madiredo Village continue to strive to provide play space for children while developing farming skills through educational tourism