Rio vai à escola: análise do projeto de educação ambiental do Parque da Água Vermelha - Sorocaba - SP

Abstract

Environmental education promoted by green spaces is characterised as a form of non-formal education and this educational approach goes beyond the confines of the classroom, offering students the opportunity to experience practical and interactive experiences. In this sense, it doesn't have to be restricted to parks and natural areas; it can be incorporated into the school environment through projects and actions that bring more of nature into students' daily lives. In the city of Sorocaba, the natural parks have a project subsidised by the Department of the Environment, Animal Protection and Welfare (SEMA) that seeks to bring park activities closer to the municipality's schools. Entitled ‘Park goes to School’, this initiative aims to bring the environmental richness and agendas of each park to the school environment, creating a bridge between nature and the learning process. This project opens up a range of activities, visits and workshops that replicate the typical experiences of municipal parks in the school environment, while encouraging the use of green areas. The ‘Rio goes to School’ project is part of the programme of environmental education activities promoted by the Água Vermelha Park (PAV), in partnership with the Autonomous Water and Sewage Service (SAAE). Its aim is to sensitise the school community to environmental conservation, addressing issues such as biodiversity, ecological interactions, sanitation and the threats to the Sorocaba River in primary schools, with an emphasis on the importance of conserving water resources and their impact on the the lives of students and the community. The research included an evaluation of the editions of the project developed in the second half of 2023, with the aim of identifying ‘evidence of learning’ and assessing the effectiveness of the pedagogical strategies employed, with a view to subsidising methodological adjustments. The evaluations analysed are compiled in the internal PAV reports, which allowed a critical analysis of the actions carried out, which infer that the ‘Rio Goes to School’ project can be a strong ally in promoting reflection and engagement with environmental issues in the school environment.