Italy

Noi e il bosco (The forest and us)

Environmental education for children

Location: Vaiano (Prato, Italy)         

Year established: 2005                

Ownership: Arte per la Selva

Background
This is a multidisciplinary project that involved different institutions: University of Florence, The Bartolini Secondary School, Legambiente (a no-profit private association which operates for environmental defence) and a theatre company (Teatro di Piazza e d’Occasione).

The basis idea of this project was to develop, by observing and describing the natural environment, expression abilities and creative talents of children in order stimulate consciousness of actions, choices and daily behaviours related to the respect of the environment.

To encourage curiosity and attention to particulars were organised interactive camp activities in the forests and in the classroom in order to  discover, know and, so, respect the forest environment.

Description
Thematic paths in forest structures modified by human activities were organised so that the students could visit  the more common forest environments of their district.  The themes of paths were: coppices, chestnut orchards, system conversion from coppices to high stands, forest planning.

During the visits interactive performance where educators pretended to be natural elements (trees, wind, etc) were organised in order to stimulate subjects for discussion among the students, the teachers and the educators.

In the classroom specific laboratories where students worked with teachers and educators, both all together and separately, were organised.

This project lasted for a year and it was evaluated by quality systems indicators, by environmental education operators, psychotherapists, teachers and the children who took part in it. It was also subject of a M.Sc. thesis at University of Florence.

It was considered a good example  for its unusual approach to environment educational camps.

Further contact
University project supervisor: Gianluca Giovannini 
DISTAF - University of Firenze
e-mail: gianluca.giovannini (at) unifi.it

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