Insect hotel building workshops at School Complex No. 20 in Wrocław – November 7, 2025
Insect hotel building workshops at School Complex No. 20 in Wrocław – November 7, 2025
On November 7, 2025, we organized environmental workshops at School Complex No. 20 in Wrocław (Primary School No. 65), during which students built their own insect hotels. The constructed houses were then placed in the schoolyard, where they will now support local pollinators and other beneficial insect species. This activity not only enriched the school’s surroundings but also allowed students to step into the role of caretakers of nature.
The workshops combined hands-on work with learning about natural processes and ecological relationships, giving young participants the chance to understand why the presence of insects in the city is so important and how we can support them in simple, meaningful ways. This blend of practical activity and educational content turned the session into an inspiring experience, showing that caring for the environment begins with small, everyday actions.
Why does building insect hotels matter?
Pollinating insects play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. Thanks to them, plants can produce fruits and seeds, which form the basis of many food chains. Unfortunately, their populations are decreasing every year due to habitat loss, air pollution, and climate change. Creating shelters for insects is one of the simplest yet highly effective ways to support biodiversity — especially in urban spaces.
During the workshops, students could not only build insect hotels but also understand how significantly such actions influence the local ecosystem. Seeing the finished houses placed around the schoolyard became a source of pride and a clear demonstration that even small initiatives can have a meaningful impact. This experience teaches responsibility, mindfulness, and awareness of the natural world around us.
Education through action
We believe that the most effective environmental education comes from direct experience. Working with natural materials, spending time outdoors, and observing the effects of one’s actions help build lasting ecological awareness. By building insect hotels, students developed both manual skills and knowledge about nature — learning how vital even the smallest organisms living near us really are.
Such workshops show that ecology is not an abstract concept but a set of concrete actions taken together. Thanks to this practical approach, participants could feel that they genuinely contribute to the environment, and building insect hotels became more than just an activity — it became an opportunity to reflect on how we can support nature in everyday life.
Long-term impact of such initiatives
Our work in Wrocław demonstrates that environmental education can be engaging, inspiring, and full of valuable experiences. Each workshop increases young people’s awareness, encourages them to observe nature, and shows that caring for the environment does not require grand gestures — often, a small initiative carried out together is enough.
Building insect hotels is also a symbol of care for the future — for the stability of ecosystems, the quality of urban greenery, and the presence of species that significantly influence the functioning of nature. Thanks to such actions, spaces become not only more visually appealing but also more friendly to nature. Working with students and seeing their engagement shows that collective initiatives truly have the power to make a difference.
A joint initiative
The workshops were organized together with the informal group “Mali Wielcy Ekolodzy” and the Mały Wielki Świat Association.
The project “Let’s Build It Together – Environmental Workshops for Children and Seniors in Wrocław” is co-funded by the Marshal’s Office of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship as part of the Dolnośląskie Małe Granty program.
