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Forest of experiments: Education of youth in forests
Published on 05 November 2020
Slovenia
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The Forest of Experiments is represented by a group of passionate young researchers working at Slovenian Forestry Institute (SFI). They gladly provide innovative environmental education, transfer of knowledge and promotion of science to all interested parties. Their educational work is carried out according to the principles and methods of forest pedagogy and Flow learning©. It addresses all social, environmental and economic aspects of sustainability through the forest.
Forest pedagogy is one of the approaches in environmental education that is related to the forest, forested spaces and our relationship with them. Forest pedagogy values, educate and promotes the forest as a healthy and innovative learning environment for outdoor learning and uses active educational methods that strengthen mutual cooperation. In basic, it supports and promotes principles of sustainable development.
A forest is a great place for experimential pedagogy and environmental education, as it is an endless source of both - tangible things and less tangible ideas.
Work and goals of Forest of Experiments:
• present good educational practices in natural environments
• raising awareness of the importance of environmental education for sustainable development
• encourage creativity and develop innovative methods in the educational process
• encourage knowledge transfer and the integration of forest science into the curriculum
• present the work of researchers at our institute...
Forest pedagogy is one of the approaches in environmental education that is related to the forest, forested spaces and our relationship with them. Forest pedagogy values, educate and promotes the forest as a healthy and innovative learning environment for outdoor learning and uses active educational methods that strengthen mutual cooperation. In basic, it supports and promotes principles of sustainable development.
A forest is a great place for experimential pedagogy and environmental education, as it is an endless source of both - tangible things and less tangible ideas.
Work and goals of Forest of Experiments:
• present good educational practices in natural environments
• raising awareness of the importance of environmental education for sustainable development
• encourage creativity and develop innovative methods in the educational process
• encourage knowledge transfer and the integration of forest science into the curriculum
• present the work of researchers at our institute...
Expert opinion
The European Green Deal brought forests back to the political agenda. In 2021 the European Commission will propose a dedicated EU Forest Strategy, aligned with the biodiversity and climate targets for 2030. As anticipated by the EU Biodiversity Strategy adopted in May 2020, this new Forest Strategy will define a roadmap for planting at least 3 billion additional trees in Europe over the course of the next decade. The policy conditions for initiatives aimed at fostering knowledge and raising awareness on the ecosystem services delivered by forests in the context of educational programmes are therefore becoming very favourable. Evidence from interregional cooperation is already showing the high degree of replicability and adaptability of this successful good practice.
Resources needed
1. Staff time for training of teachers and carrying out workshops (twice a year).
2. A part-time coordinator (assisted by trained facilitators or forest pedagogues)
3. Materials for outdoor education
4. Promotional costs (web, social, hard print)
2. A part-time coordinator (assisted by trained facilitators or forest pedagogues)
3. Materials for outdoor education
4. Promotional costs (web, social, hard print)
Evidence of success
The Forest of Experiments as an innovative environmental education center is well known all over Slovenia. The FoE produced many workshops for teachers for kindergartens and schools- in 2019 for more than 300 pupils and more than 50 teachers of natural sciences. In BIOGOV actions these numbers reach almost 50 adult people in SLO and abroad.
SFI has due to success become an active member of the EU Forest Communication Network - Subgroup-Forest Pedagogics: http://forestpedagogics.eu/
SFI has due to success become an active member of the EU Forest Communication Network - Subgroup-Forest Pedagogics: http://forestpedagogics.eu/
Potential for learning or transfer
Partner from Spain has included the good practice in their Action Plan, using inspiration from Peer Review presentation in Slovenia and printed book "Handbook for learning and play in the forest" usable in schools and in private lessons.
Peer Review presentation in Slovenia consisted of an on-field presentation of some Forest pedagogy activities connected to sustainability. Activities are designed according to the principles of "Flow learning©" so that the children or adults master the new knowledge more effectively. Care for our nature/forest/biodiversity is a hot topic all over EU and should be delivered to young and older audience in an understandable way – which forest pedagogy is.
Peer Review presentation in Slovenia consisted of an on-field presentation of some Forest pedagogy activities connected to sustainability. Activities are designed according to the principles of "Flow learning©" so that the children or adults master the new knowledge more effectively. Care for our nature/forest/biodiversity is a hot topic all over EU and should be delivered to young and older audience in an understandable way – which forest pedagogy is.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Slovenian Forestry Institute
Slovenia
Zahodna Slovenija
Contact
Researcher