According to the 2018 Ministry of Climate report, formal environmental education is not delivered in an effective and successful manner, which is affected by the didactic infrastructure and available means as well as by the quality of programmes and teachers’ environmental competencies. Our experience in the Śląskie province shows that most pupils know little about pro-environmental initiatives and about ecology associating them with just a point in the school curriculum and not an element of their daily lifestyle or leisure. We want to change it.
We will address these problems by inviting all primary schools in the Śląskie province to take part in a contest. We will select 10 schools at which we will set up eco-labs – interactive spaces for environmental education, co-created by children and teachers. We will organise workshops for ‘Eco Ambassadors’ – pupils participating in the project – on biodiversity, pollinators, health food, or the terms of lab use. Then ambassadors will hold workshops for other pupils in their schools. As a part of our promotional and educational campaign, we will shoot a film on the concept of the eco-lab. We will also prepare the eco toolbox – a guide on how to establish an eco-lab in schools, along with workshop agenda and best practices of eco education for children and youths.
Our partner in the project will be the Park Śląski foundation that has for 6 years been educating youths on ecology. The foundation will support us with their knowledge in workshop facilitation and with their network of contacts with Śląsk schools during the promotion.