Slovenian Scouts mobilise thousands in Kranj’s annual cleanup campaign

For the 24th year running, Slovenian Scouts in the city of Kranj led the charge in one of the country’s largest local environmental actions: LET’S CLEAN UP KRANJ – No More Crap in Kran’! The event, supported by the Municipality of Kranj, united over 5,500 volunteers across two days, collecting more than 22.5 tonnes of waste from the environment.

Although the cleanup was initially delayed due to bad weather, that didn’t dampen the community's spirit. From schools and kindergartens to civil protection units and Scout groups, people of all ages tackled litter in public spaces and natural areas. Komunala Kranj expertly handled waste management, with waste collection points set up throughout the city.

This year’s edition brought a unique opportunity for participants: the chance to visit and clean historic air-raid shelters, opened to the public for the first time. At the launch event, Mayor Matjaž Rakovec, Deputy Mayors Janez Černe and Manja Zorko welcomed the volunteers and toured one of the shelters in the Planina neighbourhood.

The cleanup began on Friday, 21 March, with strong participation from local schools, kindergartens, and institutions. As part of International Day of Forests celebrations, Scouts partnered with the municipality’s landscaping contractor, Flora, to plant trees in schools, offering them as a thank-you gift for participating. Kindergartens also received book sets from publisher Narava to encourage early environmental education.

Saturday saw even greater community involvement, with 75 groups participating, including Scout units, Catholic Scout groups, firefighters, associations, and individual citizens. Scouts were central in coordinating materials, logistics, and mobilising volunteers across the city.

In the lead-up to the cleanup, Scouts also hosted ECO Week, a week-long programme from 15–22 March, designed to engage the public through workshops and educational activities on sustainable living. Organised in collaboration with local partners such as KUD SubArt, the initiative helped build momentum and raise awareness ahead of the cleanup.

“Today’s cleanup is not just about removing waste—it’s about our collective role in protecting the environment,” said Matjaž Rakovec, Major of Kranj.

Campaign coordinator Tea Derguti emphasised the contribution of emergency services and volunteers in tackling difficult locations like riverbanks and the Kokra Canyon. Even the most inaccessible areas were reached with support from firefighters, caving teams, and divers.

With nearly 5 tonnes more waste collected than last year, this year’s campaign showed that the people of Kranj—led by their Scouts—remain deeply committed to protecting their environment. As the city and its Scouts prepare to mark the 25th anniversary of the campaign next year, their efforts continue to set an inspiring example of what youth-led, community-driven action can achieve for sustainability.