Schools and Young People
By taking part in National Spring Clean schools and young people – who often become the scapegoats when it comes to litter - can take part in a nation-wide campaign to demonstrate a zero tolerance approach towards litter in their local area.
A litter pick is a fun and effective way to educate young people about the consequences of dropping litter, when used in conjunction with other awareness-raising activities. It is also a good way to demonstrate to the local community that the issue is being taken seriously by your school or youth group.
Groups that have enjoyed taking part in community clean ups include children’s parliaments, brownies and cubs, guides and scouts, beavers and rainbows, girls and boys brigades, cadets, students, and church groups.
Our case studies show how young people have made the most of their spring clean in the past and we hope they will inspire even more to get involved in National Spring Clean in the future!
Litter Fun
Here's how some groups made their spring clean more enjoyable for their younger participants:
- Forthill Out of School Club turned their litter picking venture into a treasure hunt. At the end of the hunt they took their findings to the local recycling point and deposited them in the appropriate bins.
- St Stephen's Primary children and staff were encouraged to wear wacky wellies or boots to help clean up the school grounds, renaming their spring clean a ‘Welly Clean & Bootiful’ event.
- Dicks Hill Community Reference Group rewarded its litter pickers with a celebration BBQ. The children also received an Easter egg and certificate for taking part.
- Woodlands Primary School invited the council to bring its anti-graffiti van and street-sweeper along to their event. As well as having a demonstration of how the vehicles worked, the pupils also enjoyed a wheelie bin race.
- Small items of litter collected by the Children's Parliament for Uist & Barra were used to create an amazing art exhibit inspired by the legend of Fichead Eun.
For more inspiration from last year's National Spring Clean, please see our Case Studies.
Litter Activities
- Conducting a Litter Survey - Mapping litter hotspots and identifying litter types.
- Does Litter Decompose? - Determining how long it takes different litter types to decompose.
- Litter Assessment - Measuring and comparing the volume of litter in different areas.
- Designing a Poster - Getting the anti-litter message across.
- Gone with the Wind - Looking at how the weather effects litter.
- Litter Bin Assessment - Assessing the provision and use of litter bins in an area.
Litter Facts
- What is Litter? – The dangers of litter and how it can be avoided.
- Litter in School – The issue of litter in and around schools and its impact.
Case Studies
See the Eco-Schools Scotland Resource Finder for more on the topic of litter.