Participants realize the value of recycling nature materials and how to use it with kids. Workshop gives new ideas and increases creativity.

Center for Environmental Education of Municipal Forests Prague is one of Forest pedagogics´s pillars not only in Prague but also in Czech republic. Rich nature, located directly in capital city, has perfect conditions to evolve forest pedagogics. Our classroom is nature which we are visiting in all weathers with nearly 70 000 visitors per year. We are happy to introduce you how forest pedagogics in heart of metropolis looks like.

The most important form of group activity in Finnish 4H organisations youth work is the 4H Club for children over the age of six. Every year about 10 000 children participates in forest themed 4H Clubs. Its important to endorce the building of childrens forestrelationship early on. Forest activities done in Finnish 4H organisations forest themed clubs supplement the basic skills and knowledge learned in primary school. The key method of pedagogy in 4H Clubs is ’learning by doing’. One of the most important tools for the children, youngsters and volunteer leaders alike is the continually renewed and developing TOP Task Bank. The participants of the workshop are involved in Forestdetective 4H Clubs’ gathering and everybody are learning by doing. The activity workshop is held outside. Participants of the workshop must be able to be curious and explore the nature through the eyes of a child.

Playing games is an outstanding way to learn. Playing can be, among many other things, fun, creative, active and educational. Playing educational games has the potential to increase readiness to act, think, question and understand. The workshop has two parts. The first part is a 40 min long “active lecture” about forests, trees and how to identify different tree species through games and play. The second part is all about spending time in, and learning about the forest and its trees. The overall objective is to point out different ways to enthuse children about the forest environment. An interested pupil is both open-minded and apt to learn.

We will show to participants mobile 360′ Finnish forest experience. We are using Google cardboards to make users own device as Virtual Reality operator. Users can download Finnish mobile experience on their own device and use cardboard classes to recognise some of the common Finnish forest animals. Forest is created using 3d-models. Participants understand some of the possibilities that innovative VR-technology can bring to forest pedagogy.

Netx step of the workshop is team based outdoor Mobile orienteering. Fun way to learn about Finnish forests!

We will bring cardboard classes with us, but it would be nice if participants are having their own Android devices with them.

This activity will be arranged first indoors and rest of the workshop is outdoors.

Participants realize the value of recycling nature materials and how to use it with kids. Workshop gives new ideas and increases creativity.

In the workshop, participants will be introduced to working methods and entrepreneurship that is used in 4H related to the bio-economy. Participants will try out for example brush cutters, planting tubes and identify and taste various natural products. Participants understand that in the forest, young people have a lot of business opportunities. As a result of the workshop, participants will be able to think about opportunities for entrepreneurship and employment in their own countries. It is important to show the youth that Bioeconomy can offer possibility to earn money and to stay on their home areas.

a) “Doctor Forest” – highly important for Forest pedagogics! Especially topics like sports, recreation or health (human health, healthy way of living) are directly addressing many people´s personal needs, wishes, expectations, questions or sorrows. The topic “Forests and human health” is very well suitable to show correlations between these personal demands and the functions and services sustainable forest management (SFM) offers society. To communicate about this complex context, Forestpedagogy can give a lot of offers and stimulations simplifying or illustrating facts and knowledge concerning positive impacts of forests on human health. So “Doctor Forest” has also a high relevance for the dialogue of the forest sector with society: Looking at more and more different opinions, interests and expectations on forests and how they should be managed, the forest sector should focus more intensively on those benefits of forests which are not mainly concerning the support with renewable resources. Beneath the recreational and protection services of forests actually the impacts of forests on human health are getting worldwide more and more important – in the public perception as well as in dialogue with society. Studies show, that people have a strong emotional relationship with forests. Forests, timber and SFM are perceived positively, but for many people forestry still has quite negative images. Sometimes forestry is seen as a threat for forests. So actors with other forest-related-interests, for example the protection of nature in non-managed-forests, are reaching more public awareness with their messages. And so the forester sometimes appears as the “bad guy” in the public dialogue and not as the “friend or helper of forests”. In his opening speech at the 125th IUFRO anniversary Congress in Freiburg 2017 Göran Persson the former Prime Minister of Sweden underlined that “we need to find compelling narratives about how to use our forests!” The impacts of forests on human health and the management-measures foresters are serving to guarantee these benefits are – of course – such a compelling narrative! “Doctor forest” is able to show the forester as an authentic and competent helper of forests. Therefore the personal contact within Forestpedagogy – activities is the most impressing and convincing method. With regard to the demographic change, and the fact that the cities are growing rapidly “Doctor forest” is even more urgently needed: So, the World Health Organization WHO demands in the “Parma Commitment for urban green spaces”, that “… We aim to provide each child by 2020 with access to healthy and safe environments … and to green spaces in which to play and undertake physical activity”. (WHO, 2016) b) Subjects and objectives of the Workshop: A lot of Forestpedagogy activities (games, demonstrations, field-research-activities and other Forestpedagogy-practices) are well suitabale to show the importance of forests for human health. But it is of course necessary, that the forestpedagog is able to explain this context, the activities should be moderated or adapted to the “Forest and human health” – topic. For this, the workshop will show some examples for activities and their adaption to the topic, structured into the areas: “motion”, “forest functions”, “food and medicine”, “sensory experiences”, “meditative experiences” and “creatively doing”. The participants will experience, that Forest-pedagogy-activities … – .. motivating the people to move, run or catch each other, – .. dealing with the functions and services of forests – .. like making your own salve or ethereal-needle-oil – .. addressing to the senses of hearing, smelling, tasting or feeling – .. trying to change the perspective of viewing or perception. – .. focusing on creative action, drawing or designing with material from nature can easily focus on and can illustrate positive impacts of forests on human health.

Explaining photosynthesis to children can be very theoretical. In this workshop we are trialling a new method: a wide game with educational content. In the workshop you will play and afterwards evaluate this game. And then hopefully try it out at home!

14-16 year olds are challenged to test their skills for real out in the wilderness. Many children lack both knowledge and expereinces of being out in nature due to the urbanisation and the busy lifestyle of today. The aim of the workshop is to demonstrate how to introduce and inspire young people to get in touch with nature and outdoor activities in a fun and relaxed way By using a competition as a tool. As a personis introduced to the forest environment in a secure and fun way, he/she is not frightened any more and embraces both the physical and mental rescources that this environment can offer. The person learns new skills by doing without even noticing that there actually is tuition going on. The participants will learn some basic skills you need to get by in the wilderness at the end of the workshop.

a) “Doctor Forest” – highly important for Forest pedagogics! Especially topics like sports, recreation or health (human health, healthy way of living) are directly addressing many people´s personal needs, wishes, expectations, questions or sorrows. The topic “Forests and human health” is very well suitable to show correlations between these personal demands and the functions and services sustainable forest management (SFM) offers society. To communicate about this complex context, Forestpedagogy can give a lot of offers and stimulations simplifying or illustrating facts and knowledge concerning positive impacts of forests on human health. So “Doctor Forest” has also a high relevance for the dialogue of the forest sector with society: Looking at more and more different opinions, interests and expectations on forests and how they should be managed, the forest sector should focus more intensively on those benefits of forests which are not mainly concerning the support with renewable resources. Beneath the recreational and protection services of forests actually the impacts of forests on human health are getting worldwide more and more important – in the public perception as well as in dialogue with society. Studies show, that people have a strong emotional relationship with forests. Forests, timber and SFM are perceived positively, but for many people forestry still has quite negative images. Sometimes forestry is seen as a threat for forests. So actors with other forest-related-interests, for example the protection of nature in non-managed-forests, are reaching more public awareness with their messages. And so the forester sometimes appears as the “bad guy” in the public dialogue and not as the “friend or helper of forests”. In his opening speech at the 125th IUFRO anniversary Congress in Freiburg 2017 Göran Persson the former Prime Minister of Sweden underlined that “we need to find compelling narratives about how to use our forests!” The impacts of forests on human health and the management-measures foresters are serving to guarantee these benefits are – of course – such a compelling narrative! “Doctor forest” is able to show the forester as an authentic and competent helper of forests. Therefore the personal contact within Forestpedagogy – activities is the most impressing and convincing method. With regard to the demographic change, and the fact that the cities are growing rapidly “Doctor forest” is even more urgently needed: So, the World Health Organization WHO demands in the “Parma Commitment for urban green spaces”, that “… We aim to provide each child by 2020 with access to healthy and safe environments … and to green spaces in which to play and undertake physical activity”. (WHO, 2016) b) Subjects and objectives of the Workshop: A lot of Forestpedagogy activities (games, demonstrations, field-research-activities and other Forestpedagogy-practices) are well suitabale to show the importance of forests for human health. But it is of course necessary, that the forestpedagog is able to explain this context, the activities should be moderated or adapted to the “Forest and human health” – topic. For this, the workshop will show some examples for activities and their adaption to the topic, structured into the areas: “motion”, “forest functions”, “food and medicine”, “sensory experiences”, “meditative experiences” and “creatively doing”. The participants will experience, that Forest-pedagogy-activities … – .. motivating the people to move, run or catch each other, – .. dealing with the functions and services of forests – .. like making your own salve or ethereal-needle-oil – .. addressing to the senses of hearing, smelling, tasting or feeling – .. trying to change the perspective of viewing or perception. – .. focusing on creative action, drawing or designing with material from nature can easily focus on and can illustrate positive impacts of forests on human health.

The aim of the workshop is to introduce Science centre Pilke’s innovative forest pedagogy. Pilke is a science centre about the sustainable use of northern forests located in Rovaniemi, Finland. Pilke gives the possibility to explore the forest with all your senses and from many different angles. In addition to the science centre Pilke has an outdoors learning area Mottimetsä-forest. Pilke also produces innovative tours and learning materials about the sustainable use of forest. You will be given inspiration and also materials for organizing forest learning in the Pilke way.The workshop starts with an activity called Made in Metsä. The aim of the activity is to learn about the bioeconomy and circular economy. You will also learn about the most amazing products of the bioeconomy, new wood-based innovations and the versatility of wood as a raw material. You will assess and discuss about what kind of products support a sustainable way of living. The participants are given the materials needed for giving a similar kind of workshop in their own countries. The materials are both in English and Finnish.

You will also learn about other inspirational learning materials and tours that Pilke has produced like Bio Era event tour, forest arcade, Play Decide discussion game about the sustainable use of forests for example.

Learn more: www.sciencecentrepilke.fi, www.bioaika.fi

The Me & MyCity learning environment for sixth-graders is a miniature city where students work in a profession and function as consumers and citizens as part of society. The learning concept includes teacher training, learning materials for ten lessons and a day-long visit to the Me & MyCity learning environment. In Finland, sixth-graders aged 12 to 13 participate in Me & MyCity under the direction of their teacher. Over 75 % of Finnish six-graders take part on the learning concept every year. In Me & MyCity learning environment students learn that forest is a big part of Finnish economy. Every miniature city has their own forest management company which give advices to citizens who own part of Me & MyCity’s forest. Students learn that if you take care of your own forest you can have incomes and then for example invest those funds. Every man’s rights are also an essential part of the miniature city.

This year FFA has carried out a research about Finns relation with forest emotional and behavorial aspects. We have unique knowledge which we will use to improve our communication with people also youth.

The survey identified six types of emotional responses associated with forests. In the workshop we will discuss how international these types are and if they can be also found in other European countries. In the workshop we’ll get familiarized with the types and workout how they can improve the forest communication.

LandArt is made directly in the landscape by sculpting or making structures using natural materials and findings. Art will here be used as a perfect tool for self-awareness to find an own position (in life, society, environment …). The objective of the Workshop is to “act in and connect with nature” in the most direct way. A direct link and connection to the participants is of high importance to all programs of ESD and Forest Pedagogy. The intrinsic motivation of younger and older people is the base to a deeper understanding of nature, ecosystems and eco-education. In this Workshop we will experience an immediate access by using all senses. We will see, touch, smell, listen and feel the Quality of the different materials and at the same time we use and train our cognitive abilities and our hands to create “things”. We get inspired by …???… and thus will help creating completely new forms of thinking and acting … with the touch of heart, humanity and a gracious nature. After finishing the art works we will do a museum like tour to all exhibits of the participants and we will discuss each sample and talk about the context to their life and their role in the ecosystem itself. The result of this Workshop shall be a deeper understanding for ecosystems, psychology as the base for mainstream health and other relevant subjects of our daily life and … what forests and nature can do for all of us. Another important Topic Forest Pedagogy is the idea and need to develop alternative forms of income in the woods and forests of Europe and World.

The educational project “SOKO Wald – In the tracks of the Invisible” connects children’s everyday life with the topic of forest and consumption. The SOKO Wald is an interactive rally around forests and forest products. The project allows the participants to experience the forest with great fun and from another – at first glance often “invisible” – way.
The SOKO Wald-program teaches pupils about the benefits of forests services. By recognizing how many products from the forests they use every day they become conscious about the importance of forests worldwide. Furthermore they receive impulses, how they can adapt their lifestyle to protect forests in the sense of sustainability (school / family) for example by their own consumption decisions. This supports the aims of forest pedagogy activities – awareness, knowledge and action for forest protection. The concept of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is realized in all the aspects of the SOKO Wald-program like teaching the complex theme “forest” and using different, modern methods and didactic forms for mediation. SOKO Wald was honored in 2012 as an official project of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.