Laughter, excitement, and enthusiasm filled the faces of children participating in the Clean Tourism Action at Alun-Alun Kidul, Yogyakarta, on Sunday, 23 February 2025. The event was one of Insan Wisata Kids’ initiatives to foster environmental awareness among children from an early age.
Held in collaboration with Guru Bumi, Main Yuk, Kelana Kids, and Trash Hero Yogyakarta, the activity brought together 30 children, each accompanied by their parents, for a day of learning, play, and meaningful environmental action.
Playing and Learning with Guru Bumi
The event began with an interactive play session led by Guru Bumi. The children enjoyed a specially designed quartet card game that introduced them to Indonesia’s rich culture and geography in a fun and engaging way.
While waiting for the main activities to begin, the participants interacted with one another, learning through play in a cheerful atmosphere. Beyond strengthening their knowledge, the game also helped develop important social skills, encouraging children to communicate, take turns, and cooperate with their peers.
Learning About Waste and Its Impact with Trash Hero Yogyakarta
Shortly after the play session, Trash Hero Yogyakarta led an engaging educational activity about waste and its impact on the environment. Through interactive discussions, the children learned to identify different types of litter—including plastic waste, cigarette butts, and bamboo skewers—and discovered the environmental hazards they can cause.
The children were particularly surprised to learn that cigarette butts contain toxic chemicals that can contaminate soil and water. They also discovered that plastic waste carelessly discarded in nature poses a serious threat to wildlife, especially marine animals that may accidentally ingest it. Even bamboo skewers, often overlooked as harmless, can become dangerous if left on the ground or disposed of improperly, as they can cause injuries. These eye-opening lessons deepened the children’s awareness of the importance of protecting the environment.
Learning to Care for the Environment Through Clean Tourism Action
The highlight of the day soon began—the Clean Tourism Action. Equipped with garbage bags provided by the trip facilitators, the children and their parents explored Alun-Alun Kidul, searching for litter scattered throughout the area. Excitement filled the air as they discovered cigarette butts hidden among stones and grass, along with plastic wrappers that had been carelessly discarded.
With great enthusiasm, they picked up each piece of litter one by one while learning an important lesson: simple actions, such as disposing of waste properly, can make a meaningful difference in protecting the environment.
The Clean Tourism Action was more than just a community clean-up initiative—it became a meaningful learning experience that helped shape the participants’ character and strengthen their awareness of the importance of caring for the places they visit.
Parents who took part in the activity also gained new insights, experiencing firsthand how essential their role is in nurturing environmental responsibility in their children from an early age. Through direct, hands-on experiences, the children learned that keeping public spaces clean is not solely the responsibility of sanitation workers, but a shared responsibility that belongs to everyone.
A Journey Through History with Insan Wisata Kids
After spending time cleaning the surrounding area, the children embarked on a historical adventure. Filled with curiosity, they gathered to listen to stories shared by the Insan Wisata Kids facilitators—Adya, Alfi, and Dewi—who introduced them to the history of Alun-Alun Kidul and Sasana Hinggil Dwi Abad.
Through engaging storytelling, the children were transported back in time, learning about the important role these landmarks have played in the history of the Yogyakarta Sultanate. The interactive approach kept them captivated, turning history into an exciting and memorable experience.
To conclude the day, participants of the Clean Tourism Action were invited to experience Masangin, a traditional Yogyakarta game that challenges players to walk in a straight line between two banyan trees while blindfolded. The activity encouraged the children to develop focus, confidence, and trust in themselves, while giving them a unique cultural experience they would not soon forget.
The entire Insan Wisata Kids Clean Tourism Action program provided the children with a meaningful and memorable learning experience. Beyond teaching the importance of caring for the environment, it also introduced them to the cultural heritage and historical significance of the places they visited.
Parents who accompanied their children left the event feeling inspired, realizing that environmental education can begin with small, everyday actions shared as a family. By combining hands-on experiences with fun and interactive activities, the program became a meaningful step toward nurturing a generation that is more environmentally conscious and deeply appreciative of Indonesia’s local culture and heritage.
This initiative also demonstrates that environmental education does not have to be delivered in a rigid or monotonous way. Through an educational tourism approach, children become more enthusiastic about learning and are more likely to apply the values they gain in their everyday lives.
It is hoped that similar initiatives can be carried out in many more destinations, allowing more children to grow up with an awareness of the importance of keeping public spaces clean, appreciating history, and preserving local culture.
By instilling these values from an early age, Insan Wisata Kids, a child-friendly tour operator based in Yogyakarta, hopes to nurture a new generation of responsible travelers. After all, travel is not only about enjoying the beauty of a destination—it is also about caring for it, so that its natural and cultural heritage can be preserved for generations to come.
