Under the motto "Gronau cleans up", the municipal clean-up campaign is entering its 24th round this year. On March 20, 2026, all residents are invited to lend a hand from 10:00 to 14:00. We are looking for committed helpers from all areas - whether as private individuals, neighborhood groups, companies, associations or initiatives - to work together to keep Gronau and Epe cleaner.
On Friday, the third-graders were already hard at work as part of the campaign. Armed with bin bags, grabbing tongs and work gloves, the schoolchildren searched the area around their school building for garbage. The focus was on the educational idea of promoting environmental awareness among the youngsters and teaching them the value of intact nature. A big thank you goes to the dedicated parents who actively accompanied the groups on their foray.
The yield of the collection campaign was remarkable: in addition to paper waste, cigarette butts and empty glass bottles, the children even came across an old car tire and a shopping cart left in the countryside. The sheer amount of garbage carelessly thrown into the landscape caused great astonishment and downright horror among the pupils. Shaking their heads, they repeatedly asked why people don't simply dispose of their waste properly.
It is precisely this lack of understanding that shows the staff at Buterland School how crucial early environmental education is. Such practical projects are an important building block in teaching children to take responsibility for their habitat and to make a practical contribution to nature conservation.