The world is battling various crises in the 21st century, with climate change being one of the most significant issues making daily headlines and being a hot topic of discussion in global forums. With more awareness around this topic, everyone is contributing their bit to save Planet Earth from the perils of environmental issues.
Educational institutes are on a mission to create green campuses. These campuses are home to abundant greenery and enable energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste management, among other initiatives. In the process, students benefit in many different ways, the positive effects of which can last a lifetime. Today, let’s look at the five advantages of a green campus for students.
Positive learning environment
When the academic buildings are nestled among dense woodland, the classrooms receive fresh, oxygenated air, a cool breeze, and ample natural lighting. It creates a positive atmosphere that helps students stay focused during class hours, understand the lessons and instructions, and complete their tasks. Plus, with no air pollution and excessive heat, students can remain healthy and happy, reducing the chances of frequent absenteeism.
Trees also attract a variety of birds, whose melodious birdsong can calm children. Being away from traffic noise also contributes to fewer behavioural issues in children. Green campuses promise a distraction-free and visually pleasant setting, essential for students to enjoy the learning process thoroughly. It has a direct impact on students’ motivation to attend school regularly.
Enhanced overall health
Nowadays, most children are buried in digital devices in their free time, watching videos or playing games. While it’s easy to complain and worry about their excessive screen time, they are not entirely to blame. The lack of neighbourhood parks and playgrounds is one of the main reasons why children are addicted to screens. Without spaces to engage in outdoor activities, children miss opportunities to make real friends and enjoy physical games like hopscotch, hide and seek, or badminton. As a result, they sit at home and find happiness in their virtual world.
Schools with green campuses reverse the modern-day issue and provide students with open spaces to run, play, and have fun with their peers. Being physically active benefits their physical, social, and cognitive development. It strengthens bones, improves coordination, boosts heart and lung health, and reduces the risk of chronic diseases like obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Daily exposure to greenery is also known to improve children’s attention, memory, and creativity, helping them excel academically.
Improved mental well-being
Being close to nature is known to have a positive effect on the mental health of students. Research shows that it significantly reduces the stress and anxiety that children face today due to demanding academics and extracurricular activities. Exposure to the natural green colour is known to have a soothing effect on young minds, reducing behavioural problems such as aggression, hyperactivity, and irritability. As discussed earlier, outdoor spaces also give children a chance to spend quality time with buddies, reducing feelings of loneliness and depression.
Deeper connection with nature
When students spend time in nature, they learn to explore it using all their senses and appreciate its beauty. Walking barefoot on fresh grass, smelling flowers, feeling the tree barks, identifying birds and listening to their song, watching squirrels play around, and observing different insects allows children to develop a closer connection to the flora and fauna around them. Becoming one with the natural world encourages positive behaviour among the young ones. They feel motivated to keep the surrounding environment clean, protect trees, plant saplings, provide water for birds, and be sensitive to animals.
Environmental awareness
Schools with green campuses are a starting point in a student’s journey towards environmental protection. Experts routinely conduct guided nature walks and tell intriguing facts about different types of plants, flowers, trees, birds, animals, and insects to students that help them value the nature around them more. Similarly, initiatives such as tree plantation and cleanliness drives around campus cultivate good environmental habits among students.
Classroom projects like recycling waste, writing nature poems, and repurposing paper are creative ways to motivate students towards conservation and sustainability. Teachers also educate students on water and energy conservation practices, ways to reduce food wastage, and better alternatives to plastic. Students who get exposure to nature education in their childhood are more likely to continue environmentally responsible behaviour in the future, too.
A sneak peek into the green campus at Somaiya Vidya Mandir, Laxmiwadi
Somaiya Vidya Mandir, Laxmiwadi, is spread across a vast area of 10 acres in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. The campus has many plants and trees, making the school surroundings beautiful and pleasant for learning. Students have abundant space to play kabaddi, kho-kho, volleyball, cricket, and other games. The green campus allows students to connect with nature, appreciate it, and learn ways to protect it.
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