Two-day training on forest pedagogy in Mašun

Mašun, Slovenia, 12-13.6. 2024

In June, the Slovenian Forestry Service (ZGS) organised a two-day meeting of colleagues from all over Slovenia who are already working with forest pedagogy and implementing forest pedagogy activities, or who are just beginning their journey into forest pedagogy and are just starting to take an interest in this activity. The event was also attended by representatives of the Slovenian forestry institute (SFI), with the aim of presenting our work within the Forest of Experiments, and for those less experienced to learn about or improve their forest pedagogy activities.

During this training, we met with colleagues from different local units of ZGS and learned about the basics of forest pedagogy in the Mašun Forest Hut and its surroundings, exchanged ideas and opinions, tried out the role of students, and were educated about the qualities of a good forest pedagogue. We learned about the different forms of this work and their challenges.

In addition to the work and experience of the Forest of Experiments, the basics of forest pedagogy and the implementation of forest pedagogy at the ZGS, in Europe and in Slovenia in the framework of individual projects were presented. The following topics were discussed: how to adapt the content to different target groups, what forest educators should pay attention to and how to choose suitable locations for the implementation of individual activities. We also learned about various useful materials and resources that can be used for workshops. Systemic updates of educational programmes and the existing system in schools were also presented, which led to a debate on the importance of integrating forest topics and forest pedagogy into the school curricula and of training teachers on forest topics.

As we get the most out of experiential learning, the organisers also prepared some practical exercises for us to try out for ourselves.

The purpose of this meeting was to present current activities and established practices of other colleagues or units working on forest pedagogy for the purpose of networking and cooperation between local units and institutions. Even more essential for further effective work was the discussion on the development of forest pedagogy in Slovenia and the joint preparation of the strategy that followed. In addition, the transfer of good practices to the participants and the introduction of new colleagues to forest pedagogy activities was of utmost importance, with the aim of expanding the range of activities and staff, as well as the training and upskilling of those already involved in forest pedagogy activities.

We encourage the organisation of more meetings like this in the future, as they are of great importance for the development of cooperation, unification and exchange of knowledge and experience between institutions, in particular between the ZGS and SFI. It would also contribute to the importance of forest pedagogy in Slovenia, especially by introducing new collaborators. This training was attended by many younger, newly recruited members of both institutions, who are interested in the contents and activities of forest pedagogy and are likely to use them in the future, thus passing on their knowledge and joy of forests and nature to a large number of children and teachers throughout Slovenia.