Environmental lessons at schools and secondary and higher educational institutions of the Leningrad Region

Environmental Campaigns

22 January – 8 July 2026

The programme featured a wide range of formats, including thematic lessons and discussions on the work of the Leningrad Region State Environmental Oversight Committee and the ‘Eco-Militia’ (environmental enforcement unit), as well as hands-on workshops on waste sorting and tours of a testing laboratory and a specialized vehicle impound lot. Interactive quizzes and board games were actively used to reinforce the material. The creative component included theatrical performances, drawing and recitation contests, concert programmes, and exhibitions of specialized equipment. There was special emphasis on official awards ceremonies, expert evaluations of student projects, and direct dialogues between participants, committee leaders, and the deputy governor of the Leningrad Region.

The events were attended by senior leadership and specialists from the Leningrad Region State Environmental Oversight Committee, including Chairperson Ramila Agayeva, Director of the Eastern Interdistrict Department Yelena Stepanova, Anton Buchnev, Natalya Kalyagina, and members of the ‘Eco-Militia’, Deputy Governor of the Leningrad Region for Control and Supervisory Activities Mikhail Ilyin, ecology and hydrometeorology experts, and representatives of the regional executive authorities.

A diverse range of activities ensured the programme was a success. The educational component featured eco-lessons, lectures, and meetings, including sessions held as part of the Leningrad Region’s inaugural Children’s Law Forum. There was a strong emphasis on hands-on engagement: a training and methodology centre was opened, and tours of a testing laboratory were organized, which allowed students to take part in actual scientific research. Participants also toured the ‘Eco-Militia’ headquarters and specialized impoundment lot, and students were given the opportunity to complete professional internships. A large-scale accelerator programme was used to facilitate project-based work, which involved over 300 participants organized into 40 teams and their projects evaluated by a panel of experts. Themed festival sites, family-oriented celebrations, the 3rd Bravo theatre competition, a recitation contest, eco-quizzes, and practical workshops on waste sorting all contributed to broad public engagement.

The events generated tangible results for both education and human resources. One key achievement was the formalization of agreements for students to complete their pre-graduation internships with the ‘Eco-Militia’, with subsequent employment planned for the summer of 2026, which underscores the long-term nature of the committee’s collaboration with educational institutions. The participants (ranging from preschoolers to university students) not only reinforced their theoretical knowledge through quizzes and trivia (including an induction ceremony into the Ecolyata (Eco-Kids) programme), but also acquired tangible, practical skills in laboratory work, waste sorting, and recycling. Students presented projects with real-world applications, while the large-scale events recognized and rewarded both the committee’s top-performing staff and the winners of children’s creative contests.