On 31st May 2025, at Ponikva – Osogovo Mountains, educational outdoor classes were held as part of the project “Children for a Cleaner Environment”, organised by the Association for Ecology and Environmental Protection “Eco Team East” – Kochani and the Association “Detelina” – Vinica.
Face-to-face education offers an effective approach to teaching, where the natural environment and community become teaching material. Instead of learning in a closed classroom, students were given the opportunity to directly explore nature, observe processes in the living world and become part of the ecosystem that surrounds them.
Teachers who apply this approach witness significant positive changes in students – greater motivation, concentration and development of critical thinking.
“It was a great pleasure to stand in front of the students in the amphitheater – the forest and talk about it as an ecosystem. To encourage them to think about their role in nature and the importance of its preservation,” said Ljubica Teodosieva, a teacher and trainer who was part of this project.
The event was interactive, allowing students to actively engage in discussions with their own thoughts and ideas. Topics included ecosystems, animals and plants, as well as their interconnectedness.
At a time when children spend more than seven hours a day in front of screens, outdoor teaching is a fresh approach, allowing them to draw real inspiration from nature. The sun, fresh air and greenery have shown that they can stimulate creativity, relaxation and authentic curiosity in students.
This initiative opens new perspectives in education, showing that school is not just a building, desks and blackboards. The world outside the classroom is just as much a part of it – and perhaps the most important teacher.
“Children for a Cleaner Environment” is a project implemented by the “Eco Team East” Association – Kocani in partnership with the “Detelina” Association – Vinica. This project is a sub-grant received under the “EU Support for the Civil Society Resource Centre – Phase 2” funded by the European Union.
