Forest pedagogy workshops for teachers successfully held at CSCE Vojsko, Kavka and Cerkno

Vojsko, Livške Ravne in cerkno, Slovenia, 26-27.8. 2024

In August, teachers from the Centres for School and Extra-Curricular Activities (CSCEs) received professional training for their staff. The Forest of Experiments team of the Slovenian forestry institute was invited to participate in and run the workshop "Energy from the Forest".

The workshops included a number of forest pedagogy activities aimed at learning about the forest, experiencing nature according to Joseph Cornell's methods and studying energy from the forest. They were held in different locations around Slovenia. On Monday, 26 August, we gathered in Vojsko, and on 27 August in Livške Ravne nad Kobaridom and Cerkno.

On the first day of the training, we visited the Vojsko CSCE above Idrija. On site, the workshops were part of an orienteering game involving 10 groups of about five participants each. Each group was given 10 to 15 minutes to complete the workshop "Energy from the forest". Occasionally, two groups would be at the point at the same time. The workshops took place in the forest, which allowed the participants to get in touch with the natural environment.

The second day started with a workshop at the Kavka CSCE in Livške Ravne above Kobarid, where 50 participants were divided into several small groups. Each group participated in a workshop. We continued in CSCE Cerkno, where 50 participants were divided into two groups.

The aim of the training was to introduce different aspects of forest pedagogy to the teachers of the CSCE. This special form of education combines the development of skills in experiencing, observing and understanding the forest. This also strengthens skills for a better understanding of oneself and of society. We held a workshop on "Energy from the Forest", which introduced a small part of the work of the department of forest technique and economics.

The workshop "Energy from the forest" taught participants how to introduce students to different types of energy from the forest. They studied wood pellets, firewood, wood chips and briquettes as wood energy and explored whether we can really heat ourselves with the help of the forest. They worked together to learn about the process of how a tree produces energy to heat the home. The workshop also introduced participants to wood energy production methods and techniques for working in the forest to extract wood.

The participants were very enthusiastic about the workshop, gaining valuable knowledge and practical experience that they will be able to use in their teaching work and in raising awareness about the sustainable use of natural resources.