Nature Education in Action: Our Trip to Czech Republic

On the 28-29 of April, Green Steps participated, together with several classes from the International School Krems, in a Clim-E-Do event in Chlum u Třeboně (CZ).

Coordinated by the Climate Alliance of Lower Austria (Klimabündnis Niederösterreich) in cooperation with Czech partner organizations, Clim-E-Do! is a cross-border climate education project that brings together schools from Austria and the Czech Republic to raise awareness among students about climate protection and sustainable living. Supported by the Interreg Austria–Czech Republic 2021–2027 program, the initiative encourages students to explore environmental issues through hands-on activities and project-based learning.

Each participating class designs and implements its own climate-related project, addressing topics such as resource conservation, environmental awareness, and eco-friendly practices. A key element of the project is international exchange. Students from the participating schools collaborate online and later meet in person at a final conference. This is the event where our team was invited to, and its goal was to give students the opportunity to present their projects, participate in interactive workshops, and engage in cultural exchange, all while deepening their understanding of climate issues.

But why was our team invited to participate? We supported International School Krems in developing their environmental projects presented in Czech Republic throughout this school year.
Class 2 designed a Big Friendly Giants geocaching quest from the school garden to an arboretum nearby: BFG Robin Hood 
Class 4 set up a vegetable garden following our Groovy Garden best practice: Urban Gardening

So, cameras and microphones in our hands, we had to endure two days of great weather, beautiful views, and wild nature. I know, it’s a tough job, but someone has got to do it If you’re curious to discover more about the experience, and you want to hear about the projects from the kids and their teachers, we have published two reels on our social media pages and a short film will be soon published on our YouTube channel.

Whenever we had some time, we took the opportunity to explore the area around the lake. I love birdwatching and taking wildlife photos, which is always a great way to get familiar with new areas. During our walks, we spotted several interesting bird species, including a lesser whitethroat, fieldfare, white-tailed eagle, red kite, and common kestrel. As someone who really enjoys birding, I was especially glad to find out that the plan for the second day included taking the kids on a trip that included birdwatching in the activities.

We all went on guided visit to the Naděje Pond System (Nadějská rybniční soustava), a natural reserve in South Bohemia known for its network of interconnected ponds and rich biodiversity. This unique landscape, surrounded by forests, meadows, and wetlands, offered the perfect setting for a day of exploration and birdwatching. As we walked along the pond banks and through the reeds, the children were excited to observe a variety of bird species in their natural habitat. We spotted great crested grebes, grey and white herons, mallards, swans and tufted ducks. This trip was a great opportunity to share my passion for birds with them and it was awesome to see their reactions as they saw a great white heron or a black stork for the first time. 

Interested to connect your school / municipality to the Internet of Nature?
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