The ToolBox and the MOVE manual produced by GIZ SPACES are supported by a Training-of-Trainers Guideline on how to use the two publications sytematically and creatively. This 5-day ToT can be used in short workshops for “My Green Mongolia” partners and other organizations engaged in interactive, modern EEC. Six modules provide an overview and practical exercises related to 1 – an introduction on EEC, 2 – organizing environmental event, 3 – team preparation, 4 – tools, 5 – scenario development, and 6 – training evaluation and follow-up.
The project also commissioned a guideline on Outdoor Environmental Education Workshops for Youth. A series of 5 outdoor workshops offers suggestions for practical EEC for youth groups such as school classes, young ranger programs etc. The workshops combine “action learning” and “fun-learning” through a playful and practical learning-by-doing rather than an academic biology-textbook approach.
The concept involves several topics of relevance for biodiversity conservation and improvement of the environmental situation in Mongolia and specifically in relation to the National Parks and Protected Areas. Topics include waste management, trail marking and sign posting, construction of small-scale infrastructures (huts/hides), small-scale erosion prevention actions and fencing/replanting of test sites for natural resource regeneration in grassland and forest.
The practical activities are flanked with theoretical learning through presentations and videos about environmental topics as waste & pollution, climate change, flora and fauna biodiversity, soil conservation, watershed management, tree planting and grassland regeneration at local and global level.
Another publication commissioned by GIZ SPACES is a guideline for outdoor Nature Trails and Learning Stations for the Khan Khenti Special Protected Area. The EEC inputs and exercises address groups of children and youth older than 12, typically in the context of eco-clubs or scholl summer camps. The publication, available in Mongolian and in German, comprises an 8-day curriculum for a total of 53 learning stations. The 8 days are dedicated to 1-Introduction, 2-Young Researchers, 3-Forest Trail, 4-Khangal Lake, 5-Experiments, 6-Adventures, 7-Traditional Lifestyles, 8-Memories & Conclusions.
A similar guideline is available related to an environmental education and exploration trail at Khangal Lake in the Khan Khenti Special Protected Area. The trail has a planned length of 4 km and its nine stations refering to biodiversity, forest, water, rocks, the lake ecosystem and human activities and threats can be completed in 1.5-4 hours. Its objective is to raise awareness about local eco-systems and increase the motivation for nature conservation among school children in summer school camps, and individual visitor families.
The main target group are children from the surrounding soums of Khentii and Central provinces and Ulaanbaatar. The capacity will be 30-40 children at a given time. The learning focus will be on the local ecosystems, on environmental protection, local history and culture, but also on practical experiences regarding waste management, and the already available eco-toilet, etc. The trail stations can be easily connected to the above mentioned more comprehensive curriculum.
