News
Following the success of the spring cycle, the Public Institution for the Management of Protected Nature Areas of Varaždin County carried out the autumn cycle of the educational program Rivers’cool. Throughout September and October, activities took place in Drava Forest Park in Varaždin, where primary school pupils once again had the opportunity to learn about, explore and experience nature alongside the Drava River in an engaging outdoor setting.
The autumn workshops were implemented as part of the LIFE RESTORE FOR MDD project, aiming to introduce children to the richness and importance of river and floodplain ecosystems through hands-on, experiential learning. By the time the project concludes in October 2028, it is anticipated that over seven hundred primary school students from the Mura-Drava Regional Park area in Varaždin County will have participated in Rivers’cool activities.
Rivers’cool has been recognised and evaluated positively by the Education and Teacher Training Agency and the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth of the Republic of Croatia. This recognition confirms the programme’s value in encouraging children to observe nature, think creatively and develop a responsible attitude towards environmental conservation.
During the autumn cycle, students explored seasonal changes in the forest and learned about the ‘five-floor structure’ of forest habitats and the many species that inhabit them. They identified autumn fruits, examined natural materials by touch and collaborated to create a model tree. Additionally, the workshops introduced students to the importance of the TBR MDD and the distinctive natural heritage it safeguards. Through guided outdoor activities and playful exploration, the autumn Rivers’cool programme inspired its young participants to appreciate and protect their local environment, strengthening their connection to the ever-changing river landscape around them.
