As the hustle and bustle of the city faded away, an encounter with ecology and culture quietly started in Suzhou. During September 13 to 14, the new leaders of Roots and Shoots Group from all over the country gathered in Xishan Island, explored local villages and wetlands, drawed green maps based on their own observations, exchanged ideas and inspired each other in team work.
On the first day, the students visited the East Village observing how native vegetation and human coexist in harmony, learnt the three-stage water interception and purification treatment in Xiaoxia Bay wetland, immersed in the tranquil atomosphere in the Anceint Camphoretree Park, and experieced the underground limestone environment in Linwu Cave. In the evening, the students finished the final touch on their green maps, exchanged their findings, feelings and take-aways in groups.
The next morning, the 2025 Shanghai Roots and Shoots National New Leaders Conference was held as scheduled. First was the training, including the history and core value of Roots & Shoots, school membership registration process, student club mamangement, activity plan and execution, as well as available resources. Then, the awards of "Outstanding Tutor" and "Green Pioneer" were awarded for teachers and school groups. Subsequently, outstanding groups shared their flagship cases. From the practice of campus garbage sorting to the action of community plant conservation, each action seed is a vivid embodiment of green power.
Looking into to the new school year, the rich and varied contents such as "Green Leadership Training", "Walking for Trees", "Trees for Bees" etc. were introduced, make the path for green activities in the community more and more clear. Finally, a sharing session was delivered around the theme of "World Clean Day". In the afternoon, students walked into the Wuzhong Museum to explore the resonance between cultural inheritance and ecological protection, understanding more about the concept that protecting ecology is also the foundation of protecting culture.
Although the two-day trip was short, it has planted a green seed in everyone's heart. In the future, we will jointly follow the value of Roots & Shoots and continue the environemntal protection work.
