Citizens’ Soil Journey Brings 200 People Together in Scafati

Soil health became a shared community experience in Scafati, Italy, where 200 students, teachers, citizens, and experts came together to explore the relationship between soil, climate change, and local environmental action.

On 20 May 2026, Politecnico di Milano, acting as a SoilTribes Soil Lab Activator, organized the Citizens’ Soil Journey Soilathon together with Istituto Comprensivo T. Anardi.

Through participatory learning, innovative tools, and local data collection, the activity invited participants to examine soil-related challenges in their community and consider how collective knowledge can support healthier soils. 

Learning through participation and data

The activity used innovative tools to help participants engage with local soil conditions, collect information, and identify environmental challenges.

Rather than receiving information passively, participants became part of the learning process. Local data collection supported observation and reflection, helping participants connect broader environmental concerns with what is happening in their own surroundings.

Building soil literacy through community action

With 200 people involved, the Citizens’ Soil Journey demonstrated how participatory activities can bring soil knowledge closer to citizens and young people.

By connecting education, community experience, expert knowledge, and local data, the activity supported a deeper understanding of the links between soil health and climate change.

The initiative contributed to SoilTribes’ work on citizen engagement and soil literacy by creating an accessible, local, and action-oriented space for learning.