Embark on an acclaimed citizen science venture designed for families and the future. Cultivate critical thinking, foster environmental bonds by keeping our islands' coasts clean, and nurture civic pride. Join the movement now!

WTM award winning

The Guardians of the Azores citizen science project clinched the Silver Award in the ‘Reduction of plastic waste in the environment’ category at the 2022 WTM Responsible Tourism Awards. Outshining numerous global contenders, Futurismo proudly emerged as one of the 21 finalists.

Notably, the initiative garnered attention and acclaim from Newsweek, further underscoring its importance on a global scale. This recognition highlights the project’s exceptional contribution to environmental stewardship, emphasizing its relevance and impact in the broader context of sustainability efforts. This dual acknowledgment from reputable sources underscores the project’s effectiveness in promoting responsible tourism and reducing plastic waste in the Azores.

EDITION 2025

Embrace the call to protect the Azores! Be a Guardian and make a positive impact on our precious ecosystem. Ready to safeguard the Azorean beauty? Register now and start organizing your own coastal cleanups and/or join ours, Your commitment matters – join us in preserving paradise!

Edition 2025

The project

Embark on our acclaimed citizen science initiative, tailored for families with children – shaping the minds of tomorrow. Cultivate their critical thinking and fortify their connection to the environment, fostering a reinforced and rewarded civic sense.

The Guardians of the Azores project, born in and for the Azores, envisions expanding its reach to families across all islands in the medium term, amplifying its impact throughout the archipelago.

This venture seamlessly merges citizen science with island exploration, outdoor family pursuits, citizenship, and environmental stewardship in a quest to protect the wonders of our cherished islands.

Who can join us?

We invite families with children to contribute to scientific knowledge through outdoor activities, fostering island awareness and preservation skills.

Families are supposed to organize independent coastal cleanups (citizen science) or join Futurismo Azores Adventures’ organized cleanups.

Each project edition, with specific durations, may launch based on evaluation. Families collecting the most trash during cleanups stand to win monthly and final prizes, enhancing environmental stewardship. A concise report on project outcomes is presented at the project’s end.

What do we expect?

The Guardians of the Azores project was born in the Azores and for the archipelago. We intend, in the medium term, to allow families from all islands to participate, maximizing the impact throughout the Azores.

2021: 21 800 kg of trash collected, 2 850 participants

What do we offer?

2021: €78 390,00 in experiences

2025: €84 922,50 in experiences

Why do we do it?

01. Nature is our working place. It’s what sustains our activity

02. For commitment to our community and, more specifically, to our children

03. Science and education go hand in hand with the tourism concept we stand for

04. Every day we go out to sea, we collect all the garbage we find during the tours

05. We have been carrying out cleaning, education, and environmental awareness actions for many years

06. Our children and grandchildren accompany us in those initiatives

07. Our team sees itself and is proud of these values and this purpose

How does it work?

Participate
– Motivate your family/team to coastal clean and sign up.
– Organise as many coastal cleanups as you want.

Impact!
– Choose a coastal area to clean and go on the adventure.
– Collect the garbage.
– Follow scientific procedures.

Be rewarded
– Deliver the collected garbage to Futurismo according to the regulations.
– Watch your story get published.
– Get a free experience.
– Qualify for the monthly and final prizes.

End Result

Online Publications
– Family stories will be published online.

A scientific report
– Treatment and publication of all information collected, with identification and photos of those who contributed.

Life IP Azores Natura
– Sharing the data with this project.

Students
– Provide the information to students who are proven to be developing master’s or doctoral theses in this area.

Communication partner

BlueMissionAA acts as a coordination hub to implement the mission of preserving and restoring coastal and marine ecosystems in the Atlantic and Arctic, promoting climate resilience. In partnership with Futurismo for the Guardians of the Azores, BlueMissionAA assumes the role of communication partner, helping to raise awareness and engage the community in sustainable practices and the protection of local biodiversity.

Partners for the final prize

Partners for the monthly prizes

United Nations Global Goals

The Guardians of the Azores project is an initiative of Futurismo Azores Adventures. For more than 30 years, the company has maintained the motto of “Love, Explore and Protect” the Azores, focusing on Sustainability in its broad sense.

In this sense, this and other activities promoted by us are fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).