Description
In the Czech Republic there is a missing opportunity for comprehensive studies of pre-school Education For Sustainable Developement (ESD) in the context of regular outdoor education. The project addresses the demand of preschool teachers for opportunities of intensive studies, methodological support and experience from abroad. It includes a cycle of twelve 3-day courses, mentoring, field trips and internships abroad, and conferences. Participants will develop competences to become responsible children's guides, or “Nature Teacher”. Our aim it to train people so they would be able to apply the aspects of ESD in their own work with preschool children, reflect their own attitude to ESD, innovate, consciously work with risk assessment, and share their newly acquired competencies with their team and colleagues.The project aims to train 20 teachers so they would be able to innovate their work and do preschool education in the close, direct and regular contact with nature.
Summary of project results
Project had offered a certified educational program for teachers of pre-school children, which was also guaranteed by Ministry of Education. In The Czech republic is almost no possibility for teachers to have a continual program focused on all day stay in nature. We put emphasis on education within the Framework Educational Program. Good relationships in team of each kindergarten and good praxis in operating of organization were topics of lectures as well. We trust, that supporting of these competitions can lead towards sustainable educational team (in our student´s forest kindergartens) with high qualified teachers. The active mentoring of students was one of the most important components of the project. We put emphasis especially on self-reflection. Students held 2 study visits at czech forest kindergartens and one residence in Berlin´s kindergartens, students learned to work with „chronicle“ as an instrument for self-reflection. Every student made one worksheet as an example of good praxis. 20 pedagogues finished program successfully. There were also two international conferences organized in the project with the aim to spread the ideas of forest kindergartens to convenience kindergarten teachers, to disseminate good praxis of this specific, intensive and regular education of its teachers. Building capacity of organization helped us to succeed in time of turbulent legal changes in defining and regulation of so called "children' s groups in the Czech law as an institution covering kindergartens as well.
Summary of bilateral results