A small garden, a great adventure: Children’s Day in harmony with nature

Can the best lesson about nature take place outside the classroom, in a school garden and a nearby forest? During the event 'Children’s Day in harmony with nature', students from grades 1 to 3 of the primary school in Iwanowice Duże discover that nature can be the best teacher and that caring for the environment begins with what ends up on our plates.

The event begins in the school vegetable garden, where children take part in workshops led by an eco-manager. Participants learn the basic principles of ecological plant cultivation and discover how natural fertilisers and compost support plant growth without the use of chemicals. Children observe how compost is created and understand why it is essential for healthy soil and natural cycles in ecosystems.

The workshop also addresses the relationship between air quality and food production. Students learn how air pollution can affect plants and crops and why clean air is essential not only for human health but also for the quality of the food we grow and consume.

The next part of the event involves harvesting fresh vegetables from the school garden. The collected produce is used to prepare simple and healthy snacks and sandwiches that the children take with them for a picnic. This hands-on experience shows that fresh, locally grown food can be both delicious and environmentally friendly.

After working in the garden, participants take a short nature walk to a nearby forest, where they choose a place for their picnic. Blankets and baskets filled with prepared food are spread out on a clearing. Surrounded by nature, children enjoy a shared meal, relax and talk about the plants and animals that live in the forest.

Children’s Day in harmony with nature demonstrates that investing in nature begins with educating the youngest generations and building a connection with the natural world through direct experience. Activities like this help children understand that the natural environment, healthy food and air quality are closely connected, and that caring for nature can be an adventure full of discovery and shared experiences.

The event is implemented as part of the project “Silesia. Blue Sky Restored”.

Hosts: Monika Cipcińska, Eco-Manager of the Opatów Municipality, and the Head of the Primary School in Iwanowice Duże.