Objectives of the project
The project aimed to raise awareness about marine and aquatic ecosystem conservation among inland students and to demonstrate that environmental education is possible and impactful even far from the coast. It focused on empowering students to understand the environmental footprints of their actions and to promote sustainable behaviour. A key objective was to establish Spain’s first inland Blue Schools network through Service-Learning and Cooperative Learning approaches, fostering collaboration across several schools in Madrid and Castilla-La Mancha.
Activities
The project implemented a wide range of workshops and awareness-raising actions under the motto “The sea starts here.” Classroom activities included waste categorisation, monitoring the water quality of a local river, experiments on microplastics and ocean acidification, and explorations of the circular and blue economy. Schools created songs, murals, podcasts, and educational games for their communities.
A formative trip to Mallorca allowed students to monitor beaches, visit sustainable ports, meet local fishermen, and exchange experiences with Blue Schools on the island during Blue Day celebrations. These activities enabled inland schools to earn Blue School certification and formed the basis for a network of sister schools. Marine sustainability has since become a cross-curricular competence within participating institutions.
Expected outputs
The project produced a variety of resources, including awareness campaigns, songs, murals, podcasts, and classroom materials. Its main educational output is the Sea-Land Awareness Guide, designed for inland schools seeking low-cost, easy-to-implement activities that bring marine issues into their curricula. Although the coastal trip did not generate traditional materials, it provided experiential learning that students shared with their families and peers, expanding the project’s reach.
Impact
Sixty-five students from the school participated directly or indirectly, and the awareness campaign reached the entire school community. Three additional schools contributed 161 students, with a further 80 students involved indirectly through exchanges with Blue Schools in Mallorca. Collaboration with NGOs, companies linked to the circular economy, fishermen’s associations, port authorities, and the Mallorca Maritime Museum enriched the learning experience. The project successfully built Spain’s first inland Blue Schools network and deepened environmental awareness across participating communities.
