Litter Picking, Learning & Lasting Change — with Patrick Jackson

Litter Picking, Learning & Lasting Change — with Patrick Jackson

From TESOL Pop by TESOL Pop

October 28, 2025 · 16 min · Season 11 · Episode 12

About this episode

Patrick Jackson discusses how his initiative Picker Pals has transformed environmental education in classrooms and communities.

From one class pack to a million hours of environmental education. ELT author and creator of Picker Pals , Patrick Jackson , shares how a single idea grew into a movement that’s transformed classrooms and communities. From storytelling and sustainability to litter-picking with families, Patrick explains how Picker Pals empowers children to take action, while learning along the way. Watch with closed captions . TALKING POINTS How Patrick’s early ELT materials inspired Picker Pals What a classroom teddy has to do with environmental action Why creative projects lead to bigger career breakthroughs The joy and power of collaboration — even with competitors How to bring real-world issues into the classroom ABOUT Patrick Jackson  is an ELT author known for publications such as Everybody Up and  Shine On . From 1996 to 2008, he lived and taught in Japan, and has since travelled widely as a speaker, sharing practical, common-sense approaches to language education. Patrick is especially interested in how classrooms can connect meaningfully with the wider world — and believes they’re at their best when they become places of purpose. Since 2018, he has been the Creative…

People in this episode

Guest: Patrick Jackson

Topics covered

  • environmental education
  • sustainability
  • creative projects
  • collaboration
  • real-world issues in education

Keywords

  • litter picking
  • environmental action
  • education
  • children empowerment
  • classroom projects

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Picker Pals

Books & works: Everybody Up, Shine On

Places: Ireland

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