Educational Nature Tours

DIDACTIC THEMES THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED FOR GROUP AND SCHOOL EXCURSIONS

Geology and geomorphology. How our mountains, rocks and fossils were shaped: the action of atmospheric elements and glaciers.

Botany. The study of plants and flowers and to understand the distribution of flora and how the vegetation adapts to different climatic and environmental conditions according to the altitude.

Zoology. The animals of our mountains, breeding strategies, how the animals live and what type of food they need.

Anthropology. The human activity, the instruments and structures of the traditions: the dairy laboratory, the barns in the mountain, the production of charcoal, the slaked lime production and the water mill. The modifications to the natural environment by man.

Orienteering. How to use cardinal points, a compass, an altimeter and a topographic map. Interactive activity to know the territory, and to develop the physical, logical and decision-making abilities of the students.

ORIENTEERING – PROVAGLIO VALLE SABBIA (BS)

Area: Provaglio Valle Sabbia (Brescia)

Points of interest: nature, industrial archaeology, history and arts.

Didactic proposal:

• A short lecture on cartography and orientation. An outline of a topographic map, explaining its use, analysis of legend and symbols and how to orientate it. The definition of compass, its functions and how to use it. Use of an itinerary for an excursion with the help of a topographic map and a compass provided by the guides. The children are divided into groups. They play the role of guide and must be able to orientate themselves and find the right trail to follow.

Goal:

• To improve the physical and mental abilities of the child, by them reading and interpreting the information on the map and developing the ability to orientate themselves with this given information. The children are given a sense of responsibility towards their friends who they guide along the chosen track.

• Creation of situations “game-adventure” to teach the children the way to move safely in the mountain environment.

Some of the handled arguments:

• Crossing streams or rivers, overcoming natural obstacles, how to move on a trail for excursionists, elementary movements to climb short rocky walls, meteorology (how to behave in the case of bad weather), equipment and wearing, modality to contact first aid intervention.

FROM CAPOVALLE TO MONTE STINO “A BALCONY ON LAKE IDRO”

Departure: Capovalle (933 metres altitude)

Points of interest: naturalistic, historical and geological.

Description of the activity:

• Gathering in Capovalle.

• Visit the village of Capovalle and discover its ancient architecture from the early settlements, that still possess the characteristic and intact porches, Middle Age paths, paved hard stone stairs and religious frescoes on the richer civil edifices.

• Visit the parish church dedicated to Saint Giovanni the Evangelist.

• Make an optional visit to the sanctuary of the Madonna di Rio Secco, which is a destination of veneration for many citizens from all valleys.

• Ascent towards Mt Stino. Along the trail it is possible to enjoy the following activities:

• Animal trackinganalyzing the breeding strategies of the birds of prey, roe deer or chamois, the way they live, what food they need, how they adapt to the different climatic and environmental conditions.learn about the flowers and plants.understand the distribution of the flora and how the vegetation adapts to different climatic and environmental conditions due to the altitude.Observe the human modifications made in the natural environment, etc.

  Arrive at the peak of Mt Stino and visit the military museum.

• Excursion through the old military trenches and areas used as encampments. Historical review of the period of the First World War. In the afternoon descend towards the locality of Piazze where the ancient mule track from Vesta leads back to Capovalle on a flat panoramic path.

GUIDED VISIT TO THE NATURAL MONUMENT OF CARIADEGHE AND THE MONASTERY OF SAINT BARTOLOMEO

Different proposals:

• Immerge in the nature discovering the Karst phenomena, walking through easy trails adapted for the young. One can admire splendid and rare flowers, secular and huge threes and meet interesting animals.

• Visit the Monastery of Saint Bartolomeo, which is an edifice characterised by a strong surrounding wall and a good example of a Renaissance church. This is a place of notable cultural, historical and archaeological interest. It is located on top of the homonym mountain at an altitude of 933 metres with a 360 degree view. One can see Lake Garda and even the Apennines. It is easy to reach.

• By hiking on a track one, can arrive at the “cascina del Comune”, where a new didactic laboratory will be set. This farmhouse was restored by the council and surrounded by a splendid and wide field. In this place a expert shows his collection of fossils recovered on the plateau of Cariadeghe and gives an interesting lecture about his experience as researcher.

• To visit some cattlesheds or “buchi del latte” (holes of milk), which were fresh recesses used as depots for the milk after milking and for the conservation and ageing of the aliments (in particular the cheese).

• Description of the activities: Arrive at the Natural Momunment (reunion at the wide parking of the Alpini Group). Presentation of the peculiarities of the Altopiano di Cariadeghe.

TRACKS OF THE RESISTENCE – PROVAGLIO VALLE SABBIA

Departure: Cedessano – Provaglio Valle Sabbia (Brescia)

Points of interest: historical, anthropological, naturalistic and geological.

Description of the activity:

• Historical comments regarding the track “VII Brigata Matteotti” which include the beginning and the epilogue of an unpropitious yet glorious period, where from September 1943 the first rebel groups started the Resistence activity.

• Visit the parish church of St. Maria Assunta di Cedessano.

• Excursion along the track “VII Brigata Matteotti” which reaches Mt Colmo (1,013 metres altitude). In a niche located along the track is an image of Saint Antonio, which has a box at the foot in dedication to the track.

By overcoming Mt Colmo one walks through a false flat area passing close to Mt Tresegno, Mt Noglie, Mt Manduver and Mt Castello and passes through the localities of Nolsera, Ponevalle, Pozze and Giogo. This area is mainly inhabited during the high season. There are numerous farmhouses and barns with a view towards Treviso Bresciano or the mountains of Bagolino. On the Passo del Gioiello (1,030 metres) one can observe the monument at partisan (a wooden sculpture in the trunk of a tree. Art work by Emilio Lorandi di Nuvolera), posed in memory of the clash that occurred in the zone at the beginning of March 1945 and sustained by a group of partisans of the VII Brigata Matteotti against the nazi-fascists. On the summit of Mt Besum (1,115 metres) is a panoramic point of spectacular beauty that dominates the little alpine Church of the Partisan. The return journey is relaxing as the path passes through numerous characteristic barns, dirty roads flanked with threes, fields, fruits plantations, chestnut bushes and the villages of Arveaco and Arvenino.

FROM A BLADE OF GRASS TO MILK

Visit the farm with your 5 senses: see, smell, taste, hear and touch

1st path: Try to be a breeder for a day

Today I manage and I discover:
- organic aliments for the animal (what, how and why)
- cleaning of the litter nowadays and in the past

Today I milk and I discover:
- what is fresh milk
- what is its flavor
- what are the nutritional benefits of milk

There are activities to learn about the various types of milk present on the market and the diverse components of each.

Distribution of the milk now and in the past.
Observation of some utensils and instruments particular to this activity.
Withdrawal of half liter milk at the distributor.

2nd path: the laboratory of the dairy (farming)

I am the dairyman and I discover:
- the dairy process
- history of the discovery of the dairy process
- observation with the microscopy of the dairy process
- visit the mini
-dairy farming (dairy process nowadays and in the past)
- presentation of various dairy processes for diverse types of cheese
- make cheese and take it home.
- treasure hunt in the farm to rebuild the teachings of the experience, free withdrawal of half liter of milk from the distributor

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