Environmental education in schools must be a constant concern because this educational approach has a major importance in informing and enhancing students’ knowledge about the environment, the formation of an ecological behavior, awareness of the diversity and the importance of environmental issues and human actions that affect the environment.
This reason was the basis for organizing, on October 12, 2018 at 10.00, by Ocolul Silvic Naruja, a new activity of education, awareness, information within the project, at Nereju Mic Secondary School, Nereju village, Vrancea County. The target group consisted of 20 pupils of grades 5th – 8th.
From all the participating pupils, only one child visited the Şindrilita site with his family and friends and, on this occasion, he shared his experience, giving details about how isolated is this area of the site, the difficult route and the beauties of the beech forests inside the site that impressed him. This experience gave the possibility for members of the implementation team to make a wider presentation of the site, species and habitats in the site, enrich children’s knowledge by explaining that this type of natural forest habitat has the scientific name of “Beech Forests type Luzulo-Fagetum”, and this are pure beech forests or beech mixed with coniferous trees, which develop at altitudes of 500-1400 m.
Then the members of the team presented the six species of community interest in the Şindriliţa natural area and listed other animals within it to help pupils become aware of biological diversity and the need to protect it.
Moreover, the team considered that the education and information process is best complemented by interactive games and activities on the theme of protecting the environment. Ecology games satisfied children’s curiosity about the environment, with an emphasis on formative valences that transform this curiosity into a desire to protect nature that is increasingly threatened by humans. Students have formed teams and collaborated to accomplish various tasks, being guided throughout the interactive activities by project team members.
In addition, the children had the opportunity to watch two short films creted within the project. The first of these captured the childrens’ attention because it contains the presentation of the natural area of Şindrilita and details about the protected species Ursus Arctos (brown bear) which lives in the site. So, the presentation helped them to understand the importance of the natural habitat in the life of the bear and of every wild species.
And this time the pupils understood the special importance of specific rules and measures to preserve the site and the need to mobilize to assume the role of models and promoters of responsible behavior towards the environment and society. The team has successfully captured their attention to ensure that the information learned will later be used in everyday life explaining them basic concepts of ecology and biodiversity and providing them the support materials for protecting the natural area of Şindriliţa.
