HOW TO TREASURE ENVIRONMENT AND EDUCATE ABOUT TREE GROWTH TO CHILDREN
🌍 What Should We Really Do on World Environment Day?
Every year, we celebrate World Environment Day by planting saplings, writing blogs, conducting environmental quizzes, or organizing painting competitions. These activities are important — but are they enough?
What do we do for the environment the rest of the year?
And more importantly, how do we teach our children the real value of trees and sustainable living?
Watching nature documentaries or listening to lectures may create momentary awareness, but do they leave a lasting impact?
🌱 A Real-Life Environmental Education Example from Bhutan
My son recently shared a simple yet eye-opening anecdote his teacher told him — one that made me rethink how we approach environmental education.
In Bhutan, young students are each given a tree sapling to plant and care for. This isn’t a one-day activity — students are responsible for the tree’s growth throughout their school years, sometimes up to 10th grade. Their academic performance is partly evaluated based on the tree’s growth and health.
🌳 Think about the impact of such a program:
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Children learn the life cycle of a plant firsthand
 
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They face and solve real-world plant growth challenges
 
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They gain practical environmental knowledge — not just textbook theory
 
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They form a deep connection with nature through daily involvement
 
Children learn the life cycle of a plant firsthand
They face and solve real-world plant growth challenges
They gain practical environmental knowledge — not just textbook theory
They form a deep connection with nature through daily involvement
No rote learning. No cramming for exams. Just authentic, experience-based learning.
And the best part? A new tree is planted, nurtured, and sustained — contributing to the health of the planet.
👩🏫 Why This Is a Model for Sustainable Environmental Education
Bhutan’s system is not just about growing trees — it’s about growing responsible citizens who understand sustainability from the ground up. It's a powerful reminder that environmental protection should be a year-round commitment, not a once-a-year event.
✅ Key Benefits:
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Promotes eco-friendly habits in children
 
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Encourages hands-on learning over passive observation
 
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Supports long-term environmental conservation
 
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Instills personal responsibility and ecological awareness
 
Promotes eco-friendly habits in children
Encourages hands-on learning over passive observation
Supports long-term environmental conservation
Instills personal responsibility and ecological awareness
🌿 What Can We Learn from Bhutan?
If every school adopted a similar model, imagine the forest we could grow — and the environmentally conscious generation we could raise.
Let’s go beyond symbolic gestures. Let’s teach our children to love, care for, and live with nature — not just read about it.
📌 Final Thoughts
World Environment Day is a great starting point. But the real impact lies in what we do the rest of the year.
Education rooted in action — like Bhutan’s tree-planting program — is the key to long-term environmental sustainability.
Let’s rethink how we teach, and how we act — for the sake of our children and our planet.
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