Eco-Wednesday – Argonauta's summer educational program for children
Since 2007, the Argonauta Association has been organizing its longest-running and most recognizable educational program for children aged 5 to 8 every summer – Eco-Wednesday. The program is implemented in the form of one-hour educational workshops that connect the themes of the sea, summer, ecology and sustainability. The goal is for children to develop creativity and critical thinking about the coexistence of humans and nature through play and informal learning methods, using concepts that are familiar and understandable to them.
In addition to the summer version, the program also has a winter version, which is attended by children from the Spužvica Kindergarten and its branch facilities in Murter and Betina.
Program goals
The main goal of Eco-Wednesday is to awaken in children a sense of admiration for the natural beauty of our part of the Mediterranean, but also to develop awareness of the need to reduce our ecological footprint. During July and August, every Wednesday from 10:00 to 11:00, we cover the following topics through fun and interactive workshops:
- nature and environment protection
- biodiversity
- recycling and waste reduction
- repurposing and extending the life of discarded objects
- renewable energy sources
- the connection between music and nature and many others.
In recent years, the program has been held in the natural surroundings of Čigrađa Bay on Murter, in a pine forest within the Lantana catering facility, which gives children additional inspiration for exploration and play.
Each module can be used in schools, youth associations or NGOs, making it a flexible tool for teachers, youth workers and educators. The program is available in 6 languages (English, Croatian, Macedonian, Serbian, Hungarian and Italian) and can be downloaded for free here.
Broader dimension and partnerships
Eco-Wednesday will become part of the wider project "Eco-Wednesday is every day!", which focuses on education for sustainable development for preschool and early school age. The project will include continued cooperation with partners such as the Spužvica Kindergarten, Murterski Škoji Elementary School and Vjekoslav Kaleb Elementary School (Tisno), and the Swiss organization J’aime ma Planète, which brings international experience and innovative working methods.
The program is also enriched by international volunteers from the European Solidarity Corps, who pass on their knowledge to the children and bring a multicultural dimension.
After each summer, the workshop contents are documented in the form of a PDF booklet available on the Argonaute website, as an open educational resource for parents, educators, and schools.
Why include children?
Children of preschool age are naturally curious and sensitive to nature. Through Eco-Wednesday, we encourage them to develop environmental literacy and sustainability values from an early age. In this way, the program contributes not only to the education and entertainment of children, but also to raising the awareness of parents and the wider local community about the importance of a sustainable lifestyle.
Join in!
Bring your children and give them an hour of educational fun in Čigrađa Bay in Murter, every Wednesday during July and August from 10:00 to 11:00.
Participation is free. Donations for the efforts of the volunteers and leaders are welcome but not required.
For additional information:
Follow us on social media – see you on Eco-Wednesday!
