Espira Husebyparken Preschool sits just outside the Alcoa Environmental Park in Farsund, in the southwest of Norway. Close to the forest and the beach, Espira Husebyparken is a new preschool that fosters curiosity and exploration among its students. Last year, the children began a kitchen garden at their school. This year, the entire preschool was invited to be part of "The Ocean Monster", an initiative by Farsund Secondary School.

Cooperation with Farsund Secondary School was the key to success. With the secondary students as role models, the Preschool’s Alcoa W5 project aimed to give the children experience of waste management through wonder, exploration, and active actions. Waste is an important topic to work on at any age, as it can help increase positive actions and a sense of responsibility. The children learnt about plastic in nature, decomposition time, and the danger to animals and birds, helping them develop a closer relationship with nature.

Like the students from Farsund Secondary School, who have used the whole municipality as their classroom and have contributed to keeping the sea, beach, and land litter-free, the 62 children (all under the age of six!) and 14 teachers at Espira Husebyparken Preschool were busy throughout the spring, going on many trips in the local area in search of waste in nature. They have cleaned up along paths, roads, the city centre, and beaches. On every trip, children brought gloves, grabbing sticks, and waste bags.

"Plastic is not good for the environment, so we must clean up waste on our trips, and we must also tell people that no one should throw waste in nature." – Student, Espira Husebyparken Preschool

This Alcoa W5 project gave the children at Espira Husebyparken Preschool the chance to not only play, wonder, and explore in nature, but also to learn about different types of waste. Children used their senses, observed different types of waste, and learned about where to dispose of different materials. As a result of this, and despite their young age, the children have begun to develop an understanding of why we must protect nature and keep it litter-free.

"It is inspiring to see that what we do has a positive effect. The students are eager to learn even more." – Teacher, Espira Husebyparken Preschool

In the long term, this understanding can help build action skills and a sense of responsibility for the environment and our planet.

The Alcoa W5 project of Espira Husebyparken Preschool supports the following SDGs: