In the last months of the school year, the first stage of activities enriching educational activities in schools took place, which was carried out as part of the project entitled „Investments in green-blue infrastructure in Grodzisk Mazowiecki”. The aim of lectures, workshops, and competitions in educational institutions was to increase pupils’ ecological awareness. Further activities will be carried out from September 2022 until the end of June 2023.

Knowledge about climate change, its mitigation, and adaptation to them is important in building pro-ecological attitudes. This time, a series of workshops were addressed to children and youth from schools in Grodzisk. During lectures organized by Foundation “W Podróży” pupils learned about how to care for the Earth, what the work of scientists and nature enthusiasts is all about, and what are the relationships between man and the surrounding environment.

Biodiversity – migrating birds and bees

Due to World Migratory Birds Day, an exhibition of colorful photos of birds was presented, and a meeting with a bird expert, Jacek Wierzejski, was organized. The heroes of his stories were rails, water birds, owls, and many other species of birds. The participants of the meeting got to know what the equipment of a bird photographer looks like and learned interesting facts about the life of birds – those that we can meet in the home garden and the rarer ones known thanks to photographs.

As part of educational activities connected with Bee Day, a meeting with a beekeeper was organized. During this event, children learned about the behavior and habits of bees, they searched for the queen in the swarm and heard many interesting facts about these useful insects. Participants of the workshops made wax candles, and volunteers took part in the „Bee Meetings” competition.

Lectures not only about water

As part of the lecture „Water – an African expedition to the Nile”, Paweł Szustakiewicz from the Foundation “W Podróży” presented climate change, and human rights and „took” children on a film journey to Africa. Afterward, there was a discussion about how life thrives on this dry continent thanks to the rainy season. Participants learned interesting facts about water ecosystems. Children improved their skills in the field of observation of climate change and its impact on selected species of animals and developed cognitive activity and natural interests.

Inter-school event „Ekosprinter”

During the inter-school ecological event „Ekosprinter – climate change” a lecture was held entitled „Get involved – protect endangered species.” It aimed to arouse interest among pupils about the work of scientists and nature enthusiasts on different continents and in Poland, the work of volunteers, as well as young discoverers of knowledge about endangered species. Examples of several organizations saving endangered species and possible forms of cooperation with them from the pupils’ perspective were also discussed.

Lectures and events were financed from external funds obtained by Grodzisk Mazowiecki. During the project, many actions will be carried out, which will increase the number of green areas and reduce the area of ​​the so-called heat islands in the city itself. These investments include the revitalization of Pl. Wolności and Pl. Zygmunt Stary.

The project “Investments in the field of green-blue infrastructure in Grodzisk Mazowiecki” is realized as part of the Environment, Energy, and Climate Change Programme. It has been co-financed by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEA) and by the state budget and it also benefits from the funding of PLN 4.6 million received from Norway. The commune’s contribution is PLN 1,671,619.73. The project will be carried out in the period from April 1, 2021, to April 30, 2024. The project aims to mitigate climate change and adapt to its effects.

Project „Investments in the field of green and blue infrastructure in Grodzisk Mazowiecki” co-financed by the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 under the program: „Environment, Energy and Climate Change”
(Agreement No. MFEOG.07.03.0-07-0025/21-00). The activities are co-financed 85% from Norwegian funds).