Gozo Greyhounds collaborated with EcoGozo to take Qala Primary schoolchildren in Years 4 & 5 to Hondoq for a beach clean-up and then a fun nature scavenger hunt, on Tuesday.
In perfect weather, the children spent 30 minutes collecting five large bags full of recyclables, and then started a `Hondoq Adventure Hunt.' 
The students were in teams of four, together with an adult with a camera/phone and were asked find (not pick!), draw, and describe a purple flower, find a rock in the shape of an animal, take a photo of a yellow flower and identify it in the book, `Nature in Gozo,' to locate the life-saving ring on the beach, to find and take a photo of a caper plant, to take a picture of a lizard (a little more challenging!), to name at least three things they could do to help the environment (suggestions included putting rubbish in the bin, picking up after your dog, walking or riding a bike to school instead of going in a car, using a non-disposable water bottle, not picking wild flowers). 
The children were very enthusiastic and hard-working. After a break and a snack the groups then made beads from recycled magazines.
The organisers said that they are hoping this project and others like it will encourage local kids and families to get involved in taking care of this beautiful island. "It's a great thing when kids can see that they are making a difference!"
"We are also hoping that we will have lots of locals participate in the Gozo Rocks! Clean & Green Hikes when they resume in late October, Sunday afternoons at 1pm."
After returning to Qala Primary, Mr Victor Galea, Gozo College Principal, presented certificates to the children who participated and encouraged them to get involved in the clean-up hikes. He noted that the majority of participants in the hikes are foreigners.
Twenty-nine children from Qala participated in Tuesday's clean-up of Hondoq and 16 children and youth from other schools in Gozo participated in the Sunday hikes during scholastic year 2015-2016.
Head of School, Mr Marcellus Xuereb, stressed that in Qala, in addition to the daily rubbish (except Tuesdays, for recycling and Sundays), there are skips twice a week in Gozo (Tuesday and Saturday mornings, near the recycling bins at the small playground) where large items can be disposed of as well as the Civic Amenities Site in Xewkija.
Photographs: Joseph Piscopo/EcoGozo