What can children do at an educational base in Yanchi, a town in western Beijing's Mentougou District? Fly kites, plant crops in spring, observe the starry sky in summer, learn outdoor-life skills, harvest sweet potatoes in autumn, and make dumplings in winter. Such colorful activities have been designed by Wang Yongli, a teacher who works at the base. Wang considers herself a diligent "gardener," who sows "green seeds" in her students' hearts, by encouraging the children to help protect the natural environment. 

Near the end of 2003, Wang, who had recently graduated from a normal university, was hired as a teacher at the educational base in Yanchi, located in a beautiful mountainous area in western Beijing. While working in the mountainous area, Wang has been paying particular attention to the inclusion of environmental-protection-related concepts in the courses she has been designing and teaching. 

Through the courses, aimed primarily at students between Grade 5 (in primary school) and the first year of junior high school in Mentougou District, the base encourages children to get close to nature. The courses help the children improve their understanding of safety, agriculture, and scientific and technological applications. 

Wang has designed courses that have promoted ecologically friendly concepts. She hopes studying natural science information and practicing a green (environmentally friendly) lifestyle will become part of the students' lives. 

"I have led my students outdoors, and I have let them feel the changes of the natural environment during different solar terms. I have led them in observing the growth of yulan (magnolia) buds, and in watching how a cicada sloughs. I have led them in cultivating tea on once-wasted land at our base, and in deepening their emotional bonds with the mountains, by growing and making local tea. We have developed science-based, garbage-sorting trash bins, and we have used waste materials to make pen containers, bookmarks, lanterns, flower vases and other items for daily use," Wang says. 

Every child enjoys his/ her childhood just once, she adds, so she does her best to enrich the students' childhoods, and to help them gain colorful experiences while they are studying at the base. 

During two-plus decades, Wang has taught tens of thousands of students. She has made tremendous efforts to support her students' sound development. She has also gained something precious while teaching the kids. 

"I have adhered firmly to my original aspiration, by continuously innovating approaches to enrich students' after-school activities. The best thing I have gained from my post, as a teacher, is that I have helped so many students find joy during their participation in the after-school activities organized in nature," Wang says. 

Wang's husband, Li Hongyu, also works at the educational base. They have had a positive influence on their daughter, Li Xuefeng, who has exceled in transforming waste materials into something useful. Li Xuefeng offers advice — often smart ideas — when her mother is designing courses. 

"My daughter is in her third year of junior high school. She has attended the trial courses I have designed since she was in Grade 5. She listened to the classes I planned to teach, and she helped me figure out what would be more suitable for students her age. She has obtained environmental-protection-related knowledge during my classes, at home. Therefore, she is willing to live a green life. I believe if I treat my child as a friend, and if I accompany her while she participates in meaningful activities, I will have a positive influence on her during her growth," Wang says.

Photos from Interviewee 

(Women of China English Monthly June 2024)

Editor: Wang Shasha