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Environmental education for schoolchildren in Tres Cantos
This January, schools in Tres Cantos are hosting an educational activity promoted by SIGAUS whose objective is to teach sixth graders the importance of industrial waste oil management and promote greater awareness of caring for the environment. This initiative is part of a collaboration with the Tres Cantos City Council within the ‘SIGAUS Forests’ project framework. In addition to planting an urban forest of 1,000 trees, a drawing contest was held so schoolchildren could name these trees, as well as a fun educational activity being offered to all schools in which students become more aware of the recycling process of this hazardous waste through a game of clues.
17-01-2025
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A commitment to recycling and sustainability reaches the classrooms of Tres Cantos with the help SIGAUS, which this month has started an innovative educational programme to raise awareness among students about managing industrial waste oil, a potentially highly polluting waste that is collected and recycled in Spain thanks to this non-profit organisation. These trainings, conceived under an ‘escape room’ style talk, combine learning and entertainment to involve children in the importance of caring for the environment from an early age.
On 9 January, the Humanitas B.S. charter school was the first to host this initiative, with the participation of 101 sixth-graders over two sessions. The following day, fifth graders at the Tierno Galván public school were able to participate in this educational game. The activity is designed as a group challenge where students must solve different challenges, both competing and collaborating with each other. The game’s winning group is rewarded with a final prize for all its members. In addition, all participants are presented with a SIGAUS T-shirt, which reinforces the organisation’s environmental message. As part of the game and group reflection, students learn about the harmful effects of waste oil if it is not properly recycled, and the benefits derived from its proper management.
During the months of January and February, these talks will be extended to all the schools in Tres Cantos and to a total of nearly 600 schoolchildren, consolidating the scope of an environmental education programme seeking to leave its mark on the new generations.
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Through a programme of ‘escape room’ style talks for almost 600 students in Tres Cantos, SIGAUS promotes greater environmental awareness from an early age.
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Green areas and environmental education
These trainings are part of the ‘SIGAUS Forests’ project, a historical initiative of the organisation that this year adds an even more meaningful aspect. Throughout the project’s 13 years of existence, SIGAUS has planted 13,000 trees in various locations around Madrid and Toledo, creating urban forests that contribute to combating climate change, improving air quality and increasing the offer of green spaces for leisure and enjoyment for the residents of these municipalities. The last SIGAUS forest, the fruit of a collaboration agreement signed with the Tres Cantos town council, is located in the Parque Sur park of the town and is composed of 1,000 trees from 3 species (500 stone pines, 250 holm oaks and 250 cork oaks).
As an added value for this instance, the thirteenth SIGAUS Forest has been linked to the schoolchildren of Tres Cantos. In addition to offering these talks aiming to increase a commitment to the environment from childhood, a contest was held in which each of the municipality’s sixth graders has the opportunity to name a tree of the new forest with the name of their choice.
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Each specimen will be geolocated and its exact coordinates will be available on the website www.hacesmasdeloquecrees.org. The trees will also have a cork label with their name, so the children and their families can follow their growth and evolution over time. This gesture not only strengthens the emotional bond between the municipality and its surroundings, but also emphasises the importance of individual actions in protecting the environment.
‘The impact of education goes beyond what is learned in the classroom. It is exciting to see how children get involved and understand that small actions can have big consequences for the environment. Our goal is to contribute to shaping more responsible citizens, through information and a greater awareness of respect for the environment,’ said Ainhöa Lizarbe, Director of Institutional Relations and Communication at SIGAUS.