Through the Seasons…
As part of fostering environmental awareness and cultivating experiential connections with the natural world – aligned with pedagogical and cognitive goals – the educational programs of the Philodassiki Society of Athens, designed for primary and secondary school students, are offered throughout the year, following the rhythm of the four seasons. The themes of the programs are shaped by the flow and characteristics of each season, giving students the opportunity to:
- Discover the life cycle of plants
- Become familiar with key species of Mediterranean flora and fauna and understand their interconnected relationships
- Understand the natural food chain and the cycle of nutrients in the environment
- Comprehend the healthy relationship between flora, fauna, and humans, and adopt environmentally responsible behaviors toward the forest and its inhabitants
Through these programs, students learn in a hands-on and effortless way about the creation, care, and protection of the forest, its diverse ecosystems, and the living beings that inhabit it—bridging theoretical curriculum objectives with real-life experience.
The programs’ goals are achieved through specially designed original games and experiential activities that invite students to engage their senses, move, explore, take initiative, discover, and draw conclusions based on their own experiences. Activities are adapted according to seasonal stimuli, the age of the children, and the unique dynamics of each group.
Each season brings its own characteristics and distinct qualities, expressed in the landscape, colors, shapes, sounds, scents, weather conditions, and atmosphere. These seasonal shifts influence both the cycles of nature and the lives of all living beings, including humans - on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels.
Autumn – A season of preparation, planning, and organization
At the start of the school year, students engage with the world of deciduous trees, learning how they prepare for winter. Activities include collecting, identifying, and planting seeds, and exploring the processes of decomposition and composting, which ensure the functioning of the nutrient cycle (e.g., carbon and nitrogen) in nature.
Winter – A season of rest, reflection, and introspection
Students focus on the processes of leaf fall, hibernation, and migration. They listen to the sounds—and silence—of the forest, mimicking its inhabitants. They also participate in the traditional olive harvest, reviving an ancient Greek custom with tools and methods passed down through generations.
Spring – The season of renewal (our current season)
Students experience nature's rebirth and the reproductive cycle by observing seed sprouting, flowering, and the growth of new leaves. They get to know birds and their behaviors, and familiarize themselves with herbaceous plants and insects. By uncovering the secret of flower–insect cooperation—pollination—and its critical role in the continuation of life on Earth, they begin to understand why it is so important to protect wild herbaceous plants and refrain from picking their flowers, especially in a country like Greece, which has one of the highest levels of biodiversity of herbaceous plants in the world. Many of these species are endemic, meaning they exist nowhere else in Greece—or on the planet.
Summer – A season of fruitfulness, enjoyment, and relaxation after spring's intensity
Students explore the lives of tortoises and the social structure of ant colonies, while investigating the life-giving energy of the sun and its importance to forest life. They come to appreciate the deep interconnection and interdependence of all organisms on the planet.
In addition to these seasonal programs, we also offer year-round educational programs, where students engage with evergreen trees such as pines and cypresses, discover nature’s medicine cabinet and the healing properties of herbs, and learn about the creation of the Mt. Hymettus Aesthetic Forest—a positive example of thoughtful human intervention in nature, worthy of emulation.
Through years of experience, we have seen that regular participation in nature-based educational programs throughout the seasons brings tremendous benefits. These include holistic development – physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and spiritual – as well as the cultivation of a deep environmental consciousness.
Such experiences help children grow into true guardians of the Earth: peaceful warriors for nature, the planet, and humanity.
Roza Triantafyllidi | Educator - Forest School Leader, Head of Educational Programs at Philodassiki
