| The incumbent will be based at home, some visits to Belarus for meetings and visiting selected places will be necessary. He/she will work in close cooperation with Green Schools project staff including Thematic coordinator, Education consultant, Lebiazhy officer, Berezinski Officer. He/she will provide us with the concept of extramural environmental education/Green schools in Belarus and follow its implementation participating in inception and final project workshops, organizing and implementing the model training for teachers, teaching educational staff to provide excursions and interactive lessons.
International education consultant will cooperate with the experts of NGO-project partner and Berezinski Zapovednik.
The selected International education consultant (Green Schools) shall:
Develop the the Concept of extramural environmental education/Green schools which should include:
- Description of Green schools
- Nature interpretation programs
- Description of approaches for different SPAs,
- Detailed schemes of an ecocentre and two trails in Berezinski ecopoint and one trail in Lebiazhy,
- Proposals for organization of trails in other types of habitats.
a) Description of Green schools
The concept should answer next questions:
Where this school can be situated?
Which activities teachers and children have to implement?
How should be organised and equipped a school yard and a school building itself?
b) Nature interpretation programs
Concept should include draft list of activities which can be provided for schoolchildren of elementary and secondary schools in Berezinski and Lebiazhy, describe approaches/suggestions for different seasons, weather and different age of children, possible activities for parents.
Suggestions on necessary equipment for Green schools which should be provided by the project for introduction in wildlife and monitoring.
The primary and secondary school curriculum (biology, geography and science) translated in English will be analysed to identify elements suitable for integration with the extramural environmental monitoring component developed within the project.
The Nature interpretation program should include plans for lessons held at the environment education facilities and take advantage of the infrastructure being created in frames of the project. The plans should be developed with durations ranging from one hour to a full day. The lessons should introduce students into habitats, elements of the environment, anthropogenic effects on the natural environment and constructive ecological behavioral models. The program should combine theory and practice, include nature interpretation activities at ecological trails.
c) Description of approaches for different SPAs
The concepts of extramural environmental education should be elaborated for the two main types of Special Protected Areas (SPAs):
a) SPAs having management units (zapovednik, national park and zakaznik/reserve of the 1st type), and
b) SPAs not having management units (zakaznik/reserve of the 2nd type and nature monument).
The concepts of environmental education for each type of units should define the messages they have to deliver, goals, objectives and infrastructure requirements including ecological trails and the methodical framework, as well as possible mechanisms for operation of the environmental education units at the SPAs.
d) Detailed schemes of an ecocentre and two trails in Berezinski, ecopoint and one trail in Lebiazhy
Schemes of two pilot environmental education units in details should be elaborated at two SPAs: ecocentre at the Berezinski Biosphere Zapovednik and ecopoint at the Lebiazhy Republican Biological Zakaznik (2nd type of the reserves/zakazniks) with temporary/wooden constructions.
Schemes or examples on design of the ecocentre in Zapovednik: topics for decoration/drawings/installation on walls, ceiling, floor, windows, doors, entrance, adjacent territory. (The ecocnetre should closely cooperate with the Domzharytsy Secondary School (70 pupils), located at the Berezinski Biosphere Zapovednik).
Suggestions on expositions, on video and audio equipment for the centre (interactive panels) in the centre. Interactive displays and exhibitions should be used to demonstrate processes going on in the ecosystems of the Zapovednik. They should make children prepared for observing wildlife at the specially planned ecological trails.
Schemes of trails and proposals on temporary/wooden constructions for them,
List and examples of necessary signs and sign posts,
Proposals for text and pictures for 25 information stands for trails (17 in Berezinski for 2 trails and 8 in Lebiazhy), suggestions on design and material for stands.
Proposals and design of temporary constructions for observing wildlife in Lebiazhy (hides, fences, tables, benches etc).
Suggestions on design and content of materials about an ecocentre and trails in Berezinski, an ecopoint and a trail in Lebiazhy to be given for visitors (e.g. 6000 leaflets for each, 2000 posters A2 about both places).
Suggestion on laboratory equipment and other equipment for exercises indoor to be purchased for the Berezinski ecocentre,
Suggestion on necessary equipment for exercises/excursions outdoors in the Zapovednik and Zakaznik (e.g. binoculars, scopes, nestboxes with cameras, batboxes etc).
Environmental education units at the mentioned SPAs should become pilot education units in Belarus based on the ‘Green Schools’ concept. The experience of the establishment and operation of these pilot units should serve as a basis for establishing similar units at other SPAs in the country.
e) Proposals for organization of trails in other types of habitats.
Suggestions on organization of ecological trails in fen mire, raised bog, along a big lake, a big, middle and small river, in deciduous and coniferous forests, in city parks,
schemes of temporary constructions which can be used for these trails.
f) Additionally:
- Organisation and participation together with experts from Belarusian NGO-project partner in at least one training for teachers,
- Suggestion of programs for regional training workshops for teachers (3 days) and for trainings for advanced teachers in Berezinski (4 days),
- Participation in the inception and final workshops (March/November),
- Training of educational staff of Berezinski and Lebiazhy to run the program,
- Support and advice the project staff during construction and running of the centre and trails in beginning.
Local Coordinator will report to the Green Schools Thematic coordinator.
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