The GreenPlay workshop was a creative, sport-inspired environmental education activity implemented on 14/08/2025 at the Centro Interpretativo de Educação Ambiental in Verim. Designed for an international group of young participants, the workshop explored sustainability and upcycling through theatrical performance, physical expression, and collaborative storytelling. By combining creativity, movement, and environmental reflection, GreenPlay offered an inclusive and engaging non-formal learning experience aligned with the objectives of the STELLA project.
Objectives:
The GreenPlay workshop aimed to help participants explore the concept of upcycling through a creative, sports-themed theatrical experience. It also intended to raise awareness about sustainability, encourage critical thinking, foster teamwork, and inspire young people to incorporate eco-friendly habits into both their everyday lives and sports practices. The workshop promoted active learning and physical expression as tools for environmental education.
Desired Outcomes:
The workshop sought to ensure that participants understood how upcycling can reduce waste and be fun and practical in creative settings. It also aimed for participants to leave with a deeper understanding of sustainability in sports, to express environmental concerns creatively, and to strengthen their collaboration, storytelling, and communication skills through theatrical performances.
Description and Implementation:
While the original concept from the Drop-in Project Erasmus+ was designed for informal youth group settings, our implementation in Verim was adapted to suit a diverse international group in an educational context. We slightly adjusted the language and structure of the brainstorming instructions to make them clearer for non-native speakers. Given the warm weather and outdoor space, we expanded the performance area to allow for more movement and physical expression. Additionally, we provided extra visual examples of upcycled props to support participants unfamiliar with crafting. More time was allocated for costume and prop creation due to the participants’ enthusiasm and creative energy.
Feedback:
Participants overwhelmingly praised the workshop’s originality and its blend of creativity, sustainability, and movement. Many shared that it was their first time doing a theatrical performance related to environmental topics. The hands-on element of crafting with waste materials made the concept of upcycling more tangible, and the performances were described as fun, collaborative, and educational. Some participants suggested extending the activity to allow for more complex storytelling or incorporating a jury-style element for added excitement. Others appreciated how the activity allowed everyone, regardless of language skills, to express themselves through movement and theatre.
Conclusion and Recommendations:
The GreenPlay workshop successfully demonstrated the potential of creative and participatory methods in environmental education. Participants showed high levels of engagement, collaboration, and emotional connection to sustainability themes, often exceeding expectations through innovative use of upcycled materials and expressive performances. For the wider STELLA project, this activity highlights the value of integrating arts, sport, and sustainability to foster both cognitive and emotional learning. Its adaptable structure makes it suitable for diverse groups and contexts, with strong potential for replication and further impact through digital documentation and dissemination.
