Throughout the year, Global Brigades offers 7-day Environmental Brigades in east Panama. Environmental Brigades provide student volunteers with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in environmental management and education by empowering community members in rural communities. During brigades, volunteers spend time with environmental committees to better understand the region\'s pressing environmental concerns and potential for improvement. Through interactive workshops and the implementation of physical projects, student volunteers provide the education and physical assistance necessary for these families to sustain long-term behavioral change, which will benefit the well being of not only themselves, but their surrounding environment as well. As subsequent brigades build on each other, projects are continued through successive phases, year after year. Between brigades, our in-country team maintains relationships with our community leaders to ensure the continuation of projects started by brigades, and to provide follow-up on community members’ feedback as well as next steps.