FEEL THE FOREST

"Our project aimed to show the richness of Europe's cultural heritage and to emphasize its role in strengthening the sense of common identity and building the future. The project was to help to learn about the cultural richness of four partner countries and discover their diversity and unique character. We wanted to develop knowledge about the value and necessity of nature protection leading to the change of consciousness of young people. ""Feel the Forest"" means using all the senses to learn about our environment and thereby shaped our perception of the world.In the ""Feel the Forest"" project we wanted to feel, get to know, explore the forest and use its products. Five secondary schools from Bulgaria, Lithuania, Italy, and Poland prepared a variety of activities to learn about local forests and the skills to use them positively. Despite difficulties, during three real mobilities (Bulgaria, Poland - Orneta, and Italy) and two online mobilities (Lithuania and Poland - Ruciane-Nida) we tried using all the senses for this. We saw different types of forests (pine forest, landscape park, mountain forest), heard wild animals (deer rut, wild animals park), smelled (herbal and pine-scented oils), tasted of forest products. Through numerous workshops and group classes ( art, culinary, nest building, dancing, handicraft), we developed entrepreneurship and technical skills. We studied national and EU policies related to these issues, examine how decisions are made about them that will lead to a better understanding of functioning at national and EU levels and look at how young people can influence the shaping of European cultural heritage. In our activities, we conducted observations of fauna and flora in the natural environment and gathered materials and information using different senses and developing many skills. We intended to involve the curiosity and interest of our students by supporting various activities that include very different skills to make all students happy and motivated. Our project was also connected with the main objectives of our schools. It contributed to the acquisition of key competencies, to develop fundamental skills Showing students the complexity and diversity of partner countries and at the same time strengthening the sense of belonging to the common European territory."