The YOUrALPS summer school carried the flag of empowering teachers and educators in order to start the test phase of pilot actions in the winter semester 2017/18. New pedagogical approaches, practical excursions and participatory activities provided inspiration and concrete instruments with regard to a first structure of an innovative school model – the Alpine School.
From August 28th to August 31st representatives from all project pilot sites met in Naklo, Slovenia to participate in the elaboration of a framework for the Alpine School model. In this way 45 participants from France, Italy, Slovenia, Austria and Germany spent four productive days together, actively engaging in discussions and fruitful exchanges concerning expectations, goals and respective approaches. In the course of the four days, the pilot sites were trained on the pedagogical approach of nature interpretation with the aim of giving young people the possibility to explore by themselves and foster individual learning. Moreover, the crucial importance of protected areas in backing mountain-oriented education was underlined, placing emphasis on several activities already in place, promoting the connection of the young generation to their living environment.
With the beginning of the winter semester 2017/18, pilot sites will start their actions for the first test phase until January 2018. Consequently, all activities will be evaluated according to specific Alpine School criteria and recommendations will be given in order to improve them for the second test phase during the summer semester 2018. The Alpine School model will be further developed and complemented by guidelines, toolkit and a certification charter such that at the end of 2019 it will ready for implementation.
The project YOUrALPS
The project YOUrALPS brings together 12 partners and 25 observers from 5 different Alpine regions and sectors. Alparc - Alpine Network for Protected Areas is lead partner and responsible for the work packages management and communication.
YOUrALPS is cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) via the Interreg Alpine Space Programme. Hence, the requirements of the Alpine Space Programme are strictly applied.
Have a look at the status quo analysis report on Mountain oriented Education here
For more information on the project see: www.alpine-space.eu/projects/youralps/en/home