‘Thanks to’ technology, many children today prefer staying indoors rather than going outside, but time spent outdoors is extremely important for their growth and development.
Children who regularly spend time outside are happier, more attentive, and less anxious than other children. Such children will develop respect for nature and the living beings within it. By incorporating education into this equation, children receive an excellent foundation for developing critical and creative thinking skills, which will encourage them to be more engaged in their communities in the future.
As part of the project Small Steps for a Sustainable Society – A journey towards environmental awareness, we organized an educational field trip into nature as the final workshop of the educational program Small Steps for a Sustainable Society.
– This time, the green field trip was organized for the children of the Kadujica Kindergarten, aiming to connect young participants with nature and develop a deeper understanding of it. The trip also aimed to introduce them to the basic functioning of natural processes and allow them to enjoy learning through socializing, – said Miranda Šimac, an Associate at Education and Information Department.
In addition to Sunce’s educators, the children were also taught by students from the Natural Sciences School Split and a student from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split. This provided, both children and young people, with an opportunity to strengthen their communication skills. It also enabled young people to practice their teaching skills.
STEM Activities for gifted students
We conducted two workshops at the Natural Sciences Schoolso that students could apply their acquired knowledge during the implementation of the educational program. In the workshops, we discussed and learned about STEM activities created as part of the project by Professor Ivana Carev, Ph.D.
– During the green field trip, students independently chose activities to conduct with the children. Those activities were related to identifying plants and insects in nature and assessing soil health. The emphases were on the importance of healthy soil for plant growth, food production, and ecosystem functioning, – said Tea Kuzmičić Rosandić, Head of Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Department.
Volunteer-educators for environmental protection and sustainable development
As part of the project, a volunteer-educator program was established for students in educational and teaching fields who are interested in volunteering in the education of children and youth about nature and environmental protection. Students from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split were involved in the project activities, as well as the implementation of the educational program Small Steps for a Sustainable Society.
Field trip can develop one’s respect for the environment
We began the green field trip with a walk to the mountain lodge, learning about behaviour and orientation in the mountains. The hiking trail led us to a meadow ideal for outdoor activities, where the most exciting part for the children was setting up tents and preparing for hiking.
To help them become more aware of the nature around them, we creatively explored the colours and textures of nature through activities, identified plants and insects in the area, and examined soil characteristics. As a keepsake, the children could take home ’My Nature Diary’. They filled out the diary during the trip which included drawings, flower and leaf prints from various trees, and records of recognized sounds from nature.
– We believe that from a young age, starting in kindergarten and continuing through school, we can and should develop children’s love and respect for nature and environmental preservation. We aim to foster their understanding of the spiritual and material aspects of preserved nature and the environment, which contribute to the quality of our lives, – concluded Martina Talajić, an Assistant in the Education and Information Department.