The study-tour will take place in the national parks of Šumava (Czech Republic) and Bavarian Forest (Germany). Both parks are rightly regarded as European leaders in environmental education and regularly organise training seminars for colleagues from all over the world. Šumava and the Bavarian Forest have been called ‘the green heart of Europe’ – the parks share a common border and protect a large forest area.

What is interesting is how the Sumava NP, which does not have as much financial resources as its rich German neighbour, has nevertheless been able to use the best practices of the Bavarian Forest NP both in creating infrastructure and in building effective environmental education for different groups of people. For example, the park has developed about 100 programmes for children of different ages, here is an advertising brochure for schools. Each programme indicates which school subject it will help to study. Schools book programmes in advance, and all of the park’s hostels and eco-centres operate at full capacity all year round, generating a steady income. The park has developed excellent teaching materials for teachers, worksheets for schoolchildren and preschoolers, and many ecological games that are successfully sold.

The experience of both parks in resolving conflicts related to the restrictions imposed by the natural and cultural heritage protection regime is very interesting. A lot of explanatory work is carried out with forest users, authorities, and the population, and the work is supported by visual materials. For example, every investor of new construction in the Shumava NP receives brochures with architectural regulations, which not only describe the restrictions, but also offer attractive architectural solutions for construction using traditional building forms, materials, colour solutions that do not destroy the cultural landscape. The Shumava and Bavarian Forest NPs are located in peripheral areas, and therefore the specifics of their work are in many ways similar to the protected areas of the former CIS countries.

Study-tour topics

• National parks – an open-air laboratory for schools. Development, organisation and marketing of eco-educational programmes. Competitions, Olympiads, Partnership Schools programme. Comprehensive teacher training programme;
• Learning by playing: innovations in the development of ecological games, teaching aids and information and methodological materials.
• Modern approaches to the design of ecological trails, game areas and visitor centres;
• Working with businesses to create commercially successful eco-trails;
• Organising eco-camps, including the construction of thematic infrastructure;
• Managing the flow of visitors in the context of mass tourism and developing new modes of transport to facilitate access to vulnerable areas of the parks (electric bicycles and scooters). A system of hiking, water, cycling and skiing routes;
• Organisation of aviary complexes (achievements and problems);
• Effective approaches to the development and marketing of souvenirs, games, etc.;
• Development and marketing of ecotourism programmes organised by the park and external guides;
• Guide training and certification programmes;
• Junior Ranger programme;
• Increasing public awareness to PAs.

Cost of the programme:

1190 EUR covers study-programme with translation to Russian or English language, package of training materials and publications, accommodation 2* (2 people in the room), meals 3x per day, local transfers.

We provide discount 10% in cases:

• the trainee is less than 30 years old
• the organisation sends more than two participants to participate in the study-tour

Travel expenses to EU, visa cost, medical insurance participants cover by themselves.