The early morning air over the Venice Lagoon is crisp, carrying the briny scent of the sea as a small vaporetto (or water bus) quietly glides towards Le Vignole Island.

Dawn’s soft light reflects off the eager faces of preschoolers, each child ready to embark on a unique adventure. Far from a typical school day, it’s a journey into the heart of the Kindergarten of the Lagoon – where environmental stewardship and ocean literacy are woven into every lesson.

As the boat docks and the children step onto the lush paths of Venice’s Le Vignole, the conventional classroom quickly fades. The island’s rich natural environment becomes their new learning space, alive with fresh sensory experiences. Venice – a city defined by its relationship with the sea – offers an ideal backdrop for these lessons.

“This is not just water and land,” says Francesca Santoro, Senior Programme Manager for Ocean Literacy at UNESCO, observing the children as they explore.

“It’s a living classroom where every plant and animal offers a story of resilience and adaptation.” Santoro explains that this immersive approach connects children to the ocean in ways a textbook simply cannot.

The Kindergarten of the Lagoon is part of the SEA BEYOND initiative, a partnership between the Prada Group and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). Aligned with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), the programme aims to spark a worldwide movement supporting ocean preservation – starting with Venice’s youngest members of society.

As the children begin their exploration, the transformation from a standard classroom to a dynamic outdoor setting is striking. The island’s banks, dotted with vibrant flora and teeming with life, serve as the backdrop for a curriculum rooted in hands-on investigation. Here, the children crouch by the water’s edge, dipping their fingers into the cool lagoon and sketching the intricate patterns of mussel shells embedded in the sand. In one small group, a child excitedly points out a tiny hermit crab scuttling across the shore, eyes wide with fascination – a moment that shows how quickly curiosity can ignite real engagement.

These activities extend beyond biology or ecology lessons; they also develop fine motor skills and fuel creative expression, creating a holistic educational experience.

“Adults often think education needs to be structured and rigid,” says Alessia Tombolini, a clinical psychologist and UNESCO consultant who helped craft the programme’s outdoor experiences. “But we’ve found that when children are given the freedom to explore, they naturally display curiosity and a knack for discovery.”

Flexibility is one of the programme’s greatest strengths. Rather than following a rigid curriculum, educators adapt based on the children’s interests and questions. The approach blends structured learning with open-ended exploration, feeding their innate inquisitiveness and encouraging them to take ownership of what they learn.

In small groups of eight to ten, the children engage directly with nature – observing Venice’s wildlife, testing the lagoon’s waters, and participating in reading sessions tied to the day’s discoveries. They learn to approach the area’s fauna with wonder and respect, recognising each species’ ecological role in the lagoon.

“We’re not just teaching them facts about biology and sustainability,” says Michela Schenetti, an Associate Professor at the University of Bologna and an expert in educational pedagogy. “We’re embedding them in experiences that foster a lifelong connection with nature.”

Yet beyond scientific exploration, these children experience something more profound: a growing sense of community and responsibility. At the heart of Venice’s Kindergarten of the Lagoon is the belief that meaningful learning occurs when young students feel personally connected to their environment. Through “affective symbolisation,” they come to see the lagoon not merely as a body of water, but as a vibrant community they share.

When the programme began in 2022, educators noted varied levels of engagement among children from different parts of Venice. Early on, many students focused on individual tasks, showing minimal connection to the surroundings. Over time, with regular exploration of the lagoon, their perspective shifted. They started including themselves, their friends, and their families in drawings and stories – an unmistakable sign of a deepening bond with the lagoon and with each other.

As the programme evolved, so did the children’s social skills and sense of belonging. Tombolini recalls that only a handful of children – and fewer teachers – were keen to participate in daily rituals like greeting the lagoon or sharing reflections at day’s end. “By the end, everyone was eager to join,” she says. This growth from solitary to collaborative activities has been a key developmental milestone, building resilience, empathy, and a lasting sense of togetherness.

Local involvement is critical to the Kindergarten of the Lagoon’s success. Parents, educators, and environmentalists work together to reinforce the programme’s lessons. “Ongoing community engagement ensures that what we teach resonates beyond the classroom, embedding a commitment to environmental stewardship in our young learners,” Tombolini explains.

Patience and observation remain essential as adults guide these children. “We encourage people not to control every learning moment,” Schenetti adds. “Allowing children to explore leads to remarkable outcomes, including deeper awareness of their surroundings and stronger engagement.”

As the children continue investigating Le Vignole, the broader impact of this programme becomes clear. What’s happening on this small island could serve as a model for how early-stage environmental education fosters future conservationists worldwide.

This isn’t just about teaching children to value their local environment; it’s about instilling principles they can apply to any ecosystem. Through hands-on experiences – like small-scale clean-ups and wildlife monitoring – these young learners discover the delicate balance that supports our planet’s biodiversity.

“The potential for scalability is immense,” Santoro emphasises, highlighting the urgency and optimism fuelling the programme. She sees it as a catalyst for reimagining traditional education, integrating practical environmental skills with innovative teaching methods. “By challenging existing frameworks, we create a world where protecting our oceans becomes second nature.”

Parental trust has proven invaluable in bridging new educational strategies with traditional expectations. As families saw tangible benefits—improved focus, greater cooperation—initial hesitations became enthusiasm. “Active parental participation strengthens our communal spirit,” Schenetti notes. “When scientific knowledge aligns with children’s curiosity and is amplified by real-world experiences, the impact is profound.”

On a larger scale, Early Childhood Education for Sustainability (ECEfS) has gained momentum, particularly since the United Nations Decade for Education for Sustainable Development (2005–2014). By championing child-centred, experience-based approaches, ECEfS emphasises how empowering children to take action now lays crucial groundwork for their future roles in safeguarding our planet.

“Both frameworks underscore the importance of grassroots programmes like this one,” Schenetti adds. Collaborating with UNESCO, she ensures the initiative meets global educational standards and aligns with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “Ultimately, these efforts should reshape national and international policies, recognising children as active participants in creating a sustainable future.”

As the morning wanes and the sun’s warmth spreads across the Venice Lagoon, the young explorers of the Kindergarten of the Lagoon begin to gather their belongings. Their hands, still sandy from a morning of discovery, clutch tiny treasures – smooth shells, bits of sea glass, and twisted reeds – each a reminder of the wonders they’ve unearthed. Their laughter and chatter fill the air, each story a testament to the connections they’ve forged with the world around them.