NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Nissan Sustainability team today launched an educational program called Nissan Eco School at the Mississippi Children's Museum in Jackson, Mississippi. The pilot program is inspired by a global Nissan initiative called "Waku Waku," meaning "joy," which has brought educational programming focused on sustainability to students in Japan since 2008.
Nissan Eco School is an after-school event for second and third grade students from the Jackson Public Schools district, supported by three employees from Nissan's Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant, each of whom leads a hands-on module from the Eco School curriculum. The approximately 90-minute program includes lessons on water, recycling and energy conservation, including a take-home workbook.
"Nissan Eco School brings Nissan's successful 'Waku Waku Eco School' green educational programming to the North American market, and we're excited to expand Eco School to other locations across the region," said Parul Bajaj, senior manager of Sustainability, Nissan North America. "As proud members of the Mississippi community, our Canton team is honored to bring Nissan's commitment to environmental responsibility to life for local students through fun, practical lessons about conservation and recycling."
The pilot is timed to provide green-focused lessons to students ahead of Earth Hour on Saturday, March 28, and inspires participants to take part in the annual grassroots environmental movement. Students at the Nissan Eco School were encouraged to build a blanket fort, shut off the lights and read by flashlight from 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. for this year's Earth Hour celebration.
"Nissan has been a longstanding and valued partner of the Mississippi Children's Museum, helping bring science, technology, engineering, and math to life for children across our state," said Susan Garrard, President/CEO of the Mississippi Children's Museum. "The Nissan Eco School program is another powerful example of that commitment—connecting hands-on learning with real-world skills and helping prepare Mississippi's future workforce. Our team is excited to host this impactful program and welcome the participating students."
Quick Q&A
Who launched the Nissan Eco School program?
The Nissan Sustainability team launched the Nissan Eco School program in partnership with the Mississippi Children's Museum. Employees from Nissan's Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant support the program by leading modules.
What is the Nissan Eco School program?
Nissan Eco School is an educational program offering sustainability-focused lessons on water, recycling, and energy conservation. It is a 90-minute after-school event for second and third-grade students from the Jackson Public Schools district.
When was the Nissan Eco School program launched and what is its timing significance?
The pilot program was launched ahead of Earth Hour, which takes place on Saturday, March 28. This timing inspires participants to engage in the annual grassroots environmental movement.
Why is the Nissan Eco School program significant for the community?
The program brings Nissan's commitment to environmental responsibility to local students through fun, practical lessons. Nissan Canton has contributed over $20 million to local nonprofit organizations and logged more than 12,000 volunteer hours in Mississippi.
What are the future implications for the Nissan Eco School program?
Nissan plans to expand the Eco School to other locations across the North American region. The program is inspired by the global "Waku Waku" initiative, which has provided educational programming in Japan since 2008.
About Nissan North America, Inc.
For more information about our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit nissanusa.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter) and LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube. For more than two decades, employees at Nissan Canton have assembled high‑quality, award‑winning vehicles. The plant's opening in 2003 brought automotive manufacturing to Mississippi for the first time and has since played a vital role in the state's economic development. Nissan Canton has become a central institution in Mississippi—creating more than 25,000 jobs statewide, contributing more than $20 million to local nonprofit organizations, and logging more than 12,000 volunteer hours to support stronger communities. The plant employs more than 3,000 people and currently produces the Nissan Altima and Frontier. The Mississippi Children's Museum (MCM) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission of creating unparalleled experiences to inspire excellence and a lifelong joy of learning in all children. MCM's two award-winning museums in Jackson and Meridian collectively offer over 100,000-square feet of exhibits and educational programming designed around five primary initiatives, Literacy, STEAM, Health and Nutrition, Cultural Arts, and Mississippi Heritage – the keys to helping our children mature into healthy and productive adult learners. MCM offers exceptional resources for children, families, and educators through The LIFT, traveling exhibits and programs, community outreach, Launch into Learning afterschool program, professional development for educators, and innovative literacy and language development programs: Talk from the Start and Reach Out and Read. MCM is honored to have received an Institute of Museum and Library Services National Medal, the Mississippi Tourism Association Governor's Award for Travel Attraction of the Year, and USA Today's 10Best Travel Award for Best Children's Museum. To learn more about MCM visit www.mschildrensmuseum.org.
For more information about our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit nissanusa.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter) and LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube. For more than two decades, employees at Nissan Canton have assembled high‑quality, award‑winning vehicles. The plant's opening in 2003 brought automotive manufacturing to Mississippi for the first time and has since played a vital role in the state's economic development. Nissan Canton has become a central institution in Mississippi—creating more than 25,000 jobs statewide, contributing more than $20 million to local nonprofit organizations, and logging more than 12,000 volunteer hours to support stronger communities. The plant employs more than 3,000 people and currently produces the Nissan Altima and Frontier. The Mississippi Children's Museum (MCM) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission of creating unparalleled experiences to inspire excellence and a lifelong joy of learning in all children. MCM's two award-winning museums in Jackson and Meridian collectively offer over 100,000-square feet of exhibits and educational programming designed around five primary initiatives, Literacy, STEAM, Health and Nutrition, Cultural Arts, and Mississippi Heritage – the keys to helping our children mature into healthy and productive adult learners. MCM offers exceptional resources for children, families, and educators through The LIFT, traveling exhibits and programs, community outreach, Launch into Learning afterschool program, professional development for educators, and innovative literacy and language development programs: Talk from the Start and Reach Out and Read. MCM is honored to have received an Institute of Museum and Library Services National Medal, the Mississippi Tourism Association Governor's Award for Travel Attraction of the Year, and USA Today's 10Best Travel Award for Best Children's Museum. To learn more about MCM visit www.mschildrensmuseum.org.