We invite you to a five-day series of workshops for children aged 7-10 years organized by a team of animators and educators working together for more than a decade. During the classes we will focus on exchanging ideas, creative experiments and learning about the nature that surrounds us in the city. Above all, we want to create a positive atmosphere in the group, which will build upon children's respect for each other and their openness to implement not only their own ideas but also to work as a team. Good fun guaranteed! A breakfast break and a time for stretching exercises is scheduled for each day.

We invite you to a five-day series of workshops for children aged 7-10 years organized by a team of animators and educators working together for more than a decade. During the classes we will focus on exchanging ideas, creative experiments and learning about the nature that surrounds us in the city. Above all, we want to create a positive atmosphere in the group, which will build upon children's respect for each other and their openness to implement not only their own ideas but also to work as a team. Good fun guaranteed! A breakfast break and a time for stretching exercises is scheduled for each day.

By organizing the classes we aim to:

• draw children's attention to nature, including nature in the city
• stimulate their interest in the microcosm, fascinating and close at hand: insects, weeds, etc.
• take trips to the Warta banks and the immediate vicinity and explore it from a biological perspective
• create incredible stories about space, city and ecology
• encourage kids to spend their time actively, without a computer/smartphone
• organise space for creative play and artistic activities in safe environment

This year's classes will be moderated by a group of educators and animators who have been working together on educational workshops and projects for several years. They believe in the idea of sharing knowledge and skills with others, including the DIY approach. Their workshops are usually a combination of different types of activities, such as art, upcycling, carpentry, gardening or storytelling. During the workshops they encourage children to explore nature, including that available at their fingertips. Workshops are "custom-made", always prepared for a given venue and audience. Moderators strive to provide a unique, engaging program of activities that is appropriate to the children's' age and cognitive abilities.

Due to the fact that this year's classes will have a "walking" character, each group of ten children will be accompanied by two guardians. Magdalena Garczarczyk will be the permanent moderator while the invited teachers will be rotated. Each day children will meet with a different expert/specialist.

Classes will be prepared by:

Magdalena Garczarczyk – a landscape architect, educator and animator, teacher of gardening and spatial education. For several years, as part of the Zieleniak Project, she has been organizing workshops, events for adults and children. She has also been involved in "outdoor education", which combines artistic activities with education through cooperation.

Mateusz Kęsy  – a zoologist, specialist of nature protection, a PhD student at the Beekeeping Laboratory at the Poznań University of Life Sciences, a member of The Spokesmen of Science and The Centre for Promotion of Sustainable Development. Teacher of natural sciences in elementary schools and universities. Initiator of educational initiatives: Melliferous Cities ("Miododajne Miasta") and A Quarter for the Environment ("Kwadrans dla środowiska").

Justyna Odrzykoska – a biologist, nature educator, passionate about nature and its changeability, a teacher at the Cogito School in Poznań. As part of Encounter with Nature ("Spotkania z Przyrodą")she teaches natural sciences to children in preschools, schools and families. Organizer of unusual workshops introducing the world of animals and plants and all the natural phenomena occurring on Earth.

Xenia Starzyńska – an architect, traveller, animator, and storyteller, the creator of the Tales from the Yurt ("Opowieści z jurty") project, realized as part of the scholarship of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. She sings, dances and plays. However, she most enjoys telling tales, fables, legends and stories from different parts of the world. Founder of the Mankalowisko series of workshops and a populariser of logical-mathematical games from different parts of the world. For many years she has been organizing workshops on spatial education and traditional culture for children, adolescents and adults.

Schedule

28.06.2021, 9 am -12 noon  Let's get to know each other – the garden of stories

On the first day we will invite children to listen to stories about ordinary and extraordinary, miraculous and magical plants from fairy tales, legends and folk traditions. We will talk about the uniqueness of the ordinary nettle, figure out if pansies are brothers, and try to pronounce the word "nasięźrzał" ("sienna"). We will get to know each other through singing about poppies or dancing flax. Moreover, we will create simple board games inspired by the nature of the Warta banks.

A day with Xenia Starzyńska

29.06.2021,  9 am -12 noon Tiny bugs in a big city

By using the public space we will explore what hides among the grass and thickets. We will discover the world of the smallest creatures that live among us and whom we overlook. We will observe microorganisms under magnifying glasses and a microscope. We will learn about their behaviour and biology and find out what they eat and how they survive in cities. We will take a walk with a naturalist in the green areas adjacent to the Pavilion.

A day with Mateusz Kęsy.

30.06.2021, 9 am -12 noon Artistic microworlds

While strolling between paths and alleys we will inspect which trees and bushes grow in the city and look for "micro-worlds" hidden among leaves and buds. Using our own creativity and old prints and leaves we will create artworks featuring bugs intermingled with plants of more or less magical nature.

A day with Mateusz Kęsy

1.07.2021, 9 am -12 noon Art inspired by meadows

We will use gifts of nature and create paintings painted with nature. We will also take the opportunity to look at how plants grow in the meadows, where they are most and least abundant. We will become careful observers of the slow and unobvious life in meadow ecosystem.

A day with Justyna Odrzykowska

2.07.2021, 9 am -12 noon Activities on and around water

We will discuss water flow and river regulation. We will sum up our entire week's observations from trips to the Warta banks. We will also address the formation of gambion revetment of the Warta river. At the end of the classes we plan a bonfire.

A day with Justyna Odrzykowska