Roxana Dumitrache / Școala Gimnazială, Comuna Puchenii Mari, Romania

Student: Mario M.

A soft breeze rustled through the tall pines as Evan, a curious second‑grader with a backpack full of notebooks, wandered along the forest path near his home. Lately, he couldn’t stop thinking about the wildfires he kept hearing about on the news—how they started, why they spread so fast, and what someone his age could possibly do to help. As he watched a patch of sunlight flicker across the forest floor, Evan wondered whether fallen branches, lightning, or even careless people were to blame. He imagined himself as a tiny forest guardian, taking notes, asking questions, and dreaming up clever ways to protect the woods he loved so much. Maybe, he thought, even a kid could make a difference if he understood the forest’s secrets well enough.

Nurcan Okur/Şehit Tahir Çakmak İlkokulu Ankara, Türkiye

Student: Belinay A.

Evan looked carefully at the dry leaves and  on the ground. “Maybe fires start like this,” he thought and wrote it down in his notebook. The next day at school, he told his teacher about his curiosity. His teacher suggested that the class could investigate how fires start. Evan and his friends decided to do a small project about it. But first, they needed to understand how a fire really begins.

Elissavet Ioannidou/1st Primary School of Larissa, Greece

Student: Odysseus

Fires start with a lot of ways but mainly,by thunderstrikes where  strikes occur without rain. Climate change creates highly flammable conditions also, the Sun is sometimes way too hot which leads to wildfires. Land-use changes, such as deforestation increase ignition points and reviews natural fire breaks. After gaining that knowledge they told it to the principal so he could make an announcement about fire protection.

Postolache Monalisa Elena/Școala Gimnazială nr.1, Comuna Băcani, România

Student: Sara B.

The principal invited a firefighter with him. He explained to the students that many forest fires start because of human negligence. 

 A bottle thrown at random can become a magnifying glass through which sunlight can light up dry leaves or fallen branches. Evan then remembered seeing dry leaves and branches all over the forest. He had even noticed, at one point, a bottle forgotten in a clearing near the forest path.  The boy knew that it was not in his power and that of his colleagues to fight the fire in the event of a forest fire, but he thought that there must be a way in which he could get involved.

Roxana Luiziana Bobeică / Școala Gimnazială ”Spirea Sorescu”, Zamfira, Romania

Student: Alesia P.

Evan decided that even if he couldn’t stop a fire himself, he could help prevent one. The following weekend, he invited his friends to join him for a “forest safety walk.” They carried small bags and carefully picked up trash they found along the path, especially glass bottles and dry paper. Evan also made simple signs with bright colours that said, “Keep the Forest Safe” and “No Littering.” They asked an adult to help them place the signs where people could easily see them. It made Evan feel proud to know he was doing something important.

Șahanschi Monica Maria /Școala Gimnazială “George Coșbuc“, Ploiești,  jud. Prahova, Romania 

Student: Anastasia H.

      While they were cleaning up the forest, the forester, the one who takes care of the forest, came along. He was happy with the children's action. He told them about the forest that it is home to many animals, such as: foxes, squirrels, owls, deer, wolves, stags, bears, wild boars and many others. Evan wanted to know how animals react if they sense a forest fire? The forester told the children that animals react differently, depending on their survival instincts. Deer, stags, wild boars run away from the fire. Some animals, such as reptiles, rodents or insects hide in burrows or underground. Birds take flight. Unfortunately, a fire can kill them and destroy their home and family.

Nazlı Can Koşar/Şemdinli Bilim ve Sanat Merkezi

Student:  Fatmanur 

The children became very quiet. “We have to protect them,” Mia said softly. The forester nodded. Just then, birds suddenly flew out of a tree. “Why?” Leo asked. “Animals can sense danger,” the forester replied. The children froze. Then they heard it—“Crackle… crackle…” coming from deeper in the forest. “Should we check?” Evan asked. “Carefully,” said the forester. They walked slowly, staying close together. The forest felt strangely quiet. After a few steps, Leo whispered, “Do you smell that?” The forester stopped. “Yes…” he said.

Chaido Bougiatzi/1st Primary School of Larissa, Greece

Student: Andrew G.

The forester narrowed his eyes, sniffing the air again . A thin ribbon of smoke curled between the trees, almost invisible.

Mia clutched her backpack. "Is it close?" she whispered. 

"Not yet," he answered, though his voice had a new tension in it. "But the wind is changing." 

A sudden rustle came from the bushes behind them. Leo spun around. "What was that?" A small deer leaped out, landing lightly on the path. Its ears twitched, and for a moment it stared at the children with wide, frightened eyes. 

"It's running away from something," Mia murmured. The deer bounded off , disappearing into the shadows. The forest grew even quieter. "Look", Leo said pointing ahead. Through the trees, a faint orange glow flickered-like a heartbeat pulsing in the distance.

"Mia shallowed hard. "Is that...?