Introduction. The current situation not only in Russia, but throughout the world requires an increase in the level of environmental culture of the younger generation. In this regard, attention to theoretical and empirical problems of environmental education has recently increased. The contradiction between the need of society in a personality with a highly developed level of formation of envi-ronmental feelings and attitudes, and insufficient theoretical and practical development of the question of aesthetic education of chil-dren in cultural and recreational activities, determined the problem of this study: identification of optimal pedagogical and socio-cultural conditions that contribute to environmental education of children through cultural and recreational activities. The novelty of the study is due to the need for an integrated approach in the field of environmental education of the younger generation, as well as the complex interaction of all social institutions. Purpose: to identify pedagogical and socio-cultural activities of cultural and recreational facilities, optimizing the educational process and aimed at the formation of the environmental consciousness of the younger generation. Materials and methods. In the process of work the following methods were used: analysis of psychological and pedagogical, methodical and special literature on the problem under study; methods of questionnaire, study of pedagogical experience, observation, analysis of children's activities, conversation; pedagogical experiment, projec-tive techniques, statistical methods of data processing, as well as experimental work, which takes place in three stages: ascer-taining, forming, control. Results, discussion. In the system of pedagogical process, environmental education of the younger generation occupies one of the leading places, as it represents the area of axiology, which affects children in different ways: it develops intellectually and forms significant spiritual and moral qualities of the individual, as well as General cultural development of the individual. There is a need for systematic and progressive work in this direction. Conclusion. Social and cultural activities make it possible in a free and relaxed manner to create conditions for the development of a harmonious personality, the formation of an individual’s invironmental culture and the introduction to cultural heritage, as well as trans-form social experience, creative activity, emotional and value relationships into a developed personality.