Excerpt:
Aligned with the UN Decade of Ocean Science, the Kindergarden of the Lagoon initiative – a part of Prada Group and UNESCO’s Sea Beyond campaign – aims to spark a worldwide movement supporting ocean preservation, starting with Venice’s youngest members of society.

The early morning air over the Venice Lagoon is crisp, carrying the briny scent of the sea as a small vaporetto (or water bus) quietly glides towards Le Vignole Island.

Dawn’s soft light reflects off the eager faces of preschoolers, each child ready to embark on a unique adventure. Far from a typical school day, it’s a journey into the heart of the Kindergarten of the Lagoon – where environmental stewardship and ocean literacy are woven into every lesson.

As the boat docks and the children step onto the lush paths of Venice’s Le Vignole, the conventional classroom quickly fades. The island’s rich natural environment becomes their new learning space, alive with fresh sensory experiences. Venice – a city defined by its relationship with the sea – offers an ideal backdrop for these lessons.

“This is not just water and land,” says Francesca Santoro, Senior Programme Manager for Ocean Literacy at UNESCO, observing the children as they explore.

“It’s a living classroom where every plant and animal offers a story of resilience and adaptation.” Santoro explains that this immersive approach connects children to the ocean in ways a textbook simply cannot.

The Kindergarten of the Lagoon is part of the SEA BEYOND initiative, a partnership between the Prada Group and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). Aligned with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), the programme aims to spark a worldwide movement supporting ocean preservation – starting with Venice’s youngest members of society.

As the children begin their exploration, the transformation from a standard classroom to a dynamic outdoor setting is striking. The island’s banks, dotted with vibrant flora and teeming with life, serve as the backdrop for a curriculum rooted in hands-on investigation. Here, the children crouch by the water’s edge, dipping their fingers into the cool lagoon and sketching the intricate patterns of mussel shells embedded in the sand. In one small group, a child excitedly points out a tiny hermit crab scuttling across the shore, eyes wide with fascination – a moment that shows how quickly curiosity can ignite real engagement.

These activities extend beyond biology or ecology lessons; they also develop fine motor skills and fuel creative expression, creating a holistic educational experience.

“Adults often think education needs to be structured and rigid,” says Alessia Tombolini, a clinical psychologist and UNESCO consultant who helped craft the programme’s outdoor experiences. “But we’ve found that when children are given the freedom to explore, they naturally display curiosity and a knack for discovery.”

Flexibility is one of the programme’s greatest strengths. Rather than following a rigid curriculum, educators adapt based on the children’s interests and questions. The approach blends structured learning with open-ended exploration, feeding their innate inquisitiveness and encouraging them to take ownership of what they learn.

In small groups of eight to ten, the children engage directly with nature – observing Venice’s wildlife, testing the lagoon’s waters, and participating in reading sessions tied to the day’s discoveries. They learn to approach the area’s fauna with wonder and respect, recognising each species’ ecological role in the lagoon.

“We’re not just teaching them facts about biology and sustainability,” says Michela Schenetti, an Associate Professor at the University of Bologna and an expert in educational pedagogy. “We’re embedding them in experiences that foster a lifelong connection with nature…”