THE LAST ECO PATROL WORKSHOP FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

On June 15, 2024, the sixth workshop within the project “Kornati – it is important to know about the sea 8” of Argonaut’s Eco-Patrol was held in the premises of Vodice Elementary School. The goal of the project and extracurricular educational workshops is to strengthen awareness of the values ​​of nature and the environment that surround us and to create a positive attitude towards sustainable development.

At the beginning of the “ERRRRRRRIZIZIRAJ se” workshop, an interactive lecture was held where the children were introduced to the basic terms and the importance of the “7R” principle. After that, the main activity was the recording of an educational video in which the children actively participated. Each child had the opportunity to present one of the “R” concepts and show concrete examples from everyday life.

Through the workshop, students developed environmental awareness, understanding the importance of reducing consumption and preserving natural resources and recognizing environmental problems caused by excessive consumption and waste. They also acquired practical skills, such as the ability to recycle and properly sort waste, repair and reuse skills, and basic knowledge about composting and its benefits for the environment.

Most importantly, children developed responsible behavior, encouraging a responsible and conscious approach to consumption and waste management. They increased awareness of social responsibility and personal contribution to environmental protection.

In the second activity, the students participated in making a poster about the Kornati National Park, which we visited in the last workshop. The goal of the activity was to introduce students to the natural beauty and biodiversity of the Kornati National Park and to develop their creative and research skills.

The workshop started with a short introduction about the Kornati National Park, during which the students learned basic information about the park and its biodiversity. Special attention is paid to 353 species of algae and 850 species of animals, including corals, molluscs, polychaetes, crustaceans, fish and echinoderms.

After the introduction, the students were divided into groups and given materials for making posters. The tasks included depicting the appearance of the island and drawing characteristic species. The students approached the task with enthusiasm, and the posters showed the diversity of the islands and various types of algae and animals.

During the workshop, the students acquired research skills, the ability to recognize different species, and developed their artistic skills. Working in groups enabled them to develop cooperation, communication and teamwork. They became more aware of the importance of preserving nature and biodiversity, and developed ecological awareness.

Creating a poster about the Kornati National Park was a successful activity that gave students the opportunity to learn about the importance of preserving natural resources and develop valuable skills for future education and life.

In the third activity, students participated in cleaning the school environment. During this action, the students acquired many valuable skills. They learned the importance of teamwork, as they worked in groups to clean the playground more efficiently. They also developed organizational and planning skills, as they had to divide tasks and set priorities. They also acquired practical skills in recycling, waste sorting and proper garbage disposal. In addition, they learned how to recognize and sort different types of waste. Through this action, the students also developed a sense of responsibility towards the community and the environment. Learning about the importance of nature conservation and sustainable development was integrated into all activities.

The fourth activity “What does a whale’s stomach contain?” started with a short introduction about whales, their diet and habitat, and an explanation of what microplastics are and how they get into the oceans. Through the game, students investigated how microplastics enter the food chain of whales. Divided into groups, students simulated feeding a whale using different materials representing food and microplastics. After the simulation, they analyzed their “catch” and found out how much microplastic ended up among the whale’s “food”. Through the conversation, they concluded that microplastics reach the organisms of marine animals imperceptibly.

In the final part of the activity, students discussed possible solutions to reduce plastic pollution and discussed responsible behavior and ways they can contribute to environmental protection. The activity successfully raised students’ awareness of the problem of microplastics in the oceans and its impact on whales, and the students learned important environmental knowledge in a fun way.

And how it was for us, look through the photos!

Follow us until the next workshop when we will carry out an afforestation campaign in our local community!

The project holder is the Association for the Protection of Nature and the Environment and the Promotion of Sustainable Development Argonaut, and the project partners are the Municipality of Murter-Kornati, JU NP Kornati, Kindergarten Spužvica Tisno, Center for Education Šubićevac, Association Aurora, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb and Elementary school Vodice. The project is co-financed by the Ministry of Science and Education.