Debrecen4U October 6, 2025

Debrecen is raising the conservationists of the future: A new educational program for schoolchildren has been launched

Today’s child is the animal protector of tomorrow—an educational program is being launched for schoolchildren by the local government, the school district center, and Debrecen Zoo. The initiative draws the attention of the youngest to the protection of animals and nature and does all this through experiences and in a playful way.

The thematic visits organized on the occasion of World Animal Day are now part of a new educational program. As part of this, Debrecen Zoo would like to address all age groups. Kindergarteners are invited to visit the zoo, while free nature conservation lectures will be held at Sziget-kék for first- and second-grade students from November on topics such as pollinators or the life of bats. A multi-round study competition has been announced for third- and fourth-grade students, as well as for fifth- and sixth-grade students.

“We will hold the grand finale before the winter break, in mid- or late December. I am confident that it will be a meaningful, exciting competition, with many interesting tasks. We are looking forward to children who are true nature lovers, interested in environmental knowledge, animal life, or even botany,” said Zoltán Váradi, the managing director of the Nagyerdei Kultúrpark, at a press conference on the subject held on October 3, 2025.

The complex educational program was created by the cooperation of Debrecen Zoo, the local government, and the school district. They want to educate 2,500 children about nature protection with lectures organized for the first and second graders alone.

“Children can get acquainted with the animal world and the basics of responsible animal husbandry. They gain special, experiential knowledge that they cannot get anywhere else,” emphasized Katalin Leiterné Tóth, head of department at the Debrecen School District Center.

“Debrecen is a caring city, and taking care of animals is also an important goal,” said Deputy Mayor Diána Széles, phrasing it as “children must be educated to do this from a young age, so we can be sure that they will protect their environment as adults.”

“Debrecen is a caring city, and caring for animals is an important part of this. If we plant the seeds of love and protection of nature in early childhood, these children will also protect their environment as adults. In today’s digital world, where everything is about screens, we consider it especially important for children to experience that there is life outside the screens. Through a community experience, looking into each other’s eyes, enriching themselves with experiences, and playing, you can gain truly valuable knowledge. This also helps them become better adults,” she emphasized.

They would also like to address secondary school students with the program. For them, the competition series “Aludj máskor!” (“Sleep Another Time!”) will include playful nature conservation questions and tasks.

Source and photo credit:debrecen.hu