New born Eco Generation 1

                During my school break (Oct 2014), I have a chance to join a voluntary activity called Pun Ruk Hai Pen Tua (Growing Love). The objectives of this activity are to spread the basic knowledge and love of nature to children and promote the love in family as well as encourage children to play outdoors. The volunteer assignment are to create and lead a one day activity to children from  6-10 years.

                Week 1/On September 28,2014 , I went to the first meeting and got to know other volunteers from different background. We talked and shared the ideas of activity then distributed roles and parts for each of us will participate. I was the leader of "art with Nature" and "story-telling" activities.

                Week 2, I made a plan to work out my part and prepared the materials. I decided to use dried leaves as media of art activity. Using the fallen leaves to make an "art with Nature" will promote the Environmental awareness of nature value and encourage children to play with nature. For story-telling activity: I planned with my mother and my sister to tell them the story related to nature animal and trees. We divided roles and rehearsed. Both activities will take us about an hour.

                Week3,The activity was held at Suan Santipap (The freedom Public Park) and Soi Pranang Public Library located at the center of Bangkok on October 19,2014, from 08.00am  to  03.00pm.  About 30 kids from local area were joining. The first activity was the basic ice breaking activity to get them to know each other.  Then they  were divided into smaller groups, 4-5 children leaded by a volunteer for an "exploring nature" activity. Children got to explore the park in certain area. I noticed that they were not much interested  in nature stuff since they have been here several times with their parents. To make them feel more comfortable, I asked them to act like a spider and frog ,clawing and jumping around to investigate trees and small animals. I also showed them how to use the magnifying glass. Then a little scientist started to talk. The first question I was asked was ?What are the cause of global warming?? and then ?Where does water come from?? ?What is the weight of the blue whale?? ?How does photosynthesis work?? ?How can we save environment??  I was so surprised by all questions from one little boy. He likes to read science books. He even helped me explain to group about bees and taught us how to catch bees without hurting them. I was so glad to know that the modern kids care about the nature. While getting back to the main group, I explained them about the importance of the nature. Then I performed a story-telling activity with my mom and my sister. The story is about the interdependence between animals and nature to create a balance relationship together. Before having lunch, I ran an "art with Nature" activity. The children picked the fallen leaves in the park and transform them into animals, cars, rocket, and so on.

                After lunch, We headed to the public library which located in the opposite the park to join the story telling activity from German and Austria volunteers. It was the story of "the giving tree" the famous children's picture book written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein. The last activity was the roles play from Thais volunteers to encourage kids to share and help each other.

                I have learnt so much through the activities. Children like young plants which can be grown in the way their parents guide them. May be their childhood is the right time to educate them about eco vision more than the complicated problems in math class. And it is the best time for them to play outdoors more than sit in a square room studying all day. To create the sustainable eco world is not only to solve the old problems created by older generation but also to eliminate the origin of problems from new generation. I wish that new born eco generation will start from here.