Research-Educational Centre Zielonowo (OBEZ) ,focuses on work with youth and adults with the aim to develop their ecological and social  attitudes, their environmental knowledge and awareness  in the framework of various non-formal educational activities. Our  NGO was established in 2017 (before we worked within  “Green Me Association”  since 2015, now both organisations cooperate).  Our research and  training activities cover sustainable development,  awareness of global climate and environmental changes,  wildlife protection and green social economy.  

 

Project activities

OBEZ is currently  participating  in Erasmus Plus “STEP - STEM TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS” project, in which we are getting to know how to apply STEM approach to solving various environmental issues. In cooperation with Instytut Nadnotecki – a branch of Adam Mickiewicz University in Piła- we founded STEAM Forest Club, gathering youth of age between 15 and 18 years old from our municipality, which is involved in this  E+ project.    Our youth decided to add “A” to STEM, in fact 3 A: art, (outdoor) activity and (eco) activism. The first “A” will  boost up members’ artistic expression through visual art, literature and movies on nature topic. Experiencing outdoor activity inspires to get out from home and  learn for example orienteering (as an effective medium of becoming active while learning geography and biology) - an attractive and thrilling experience like “Night in the Forest” - event we took part  on 16.03.2019. The club develops playful-creative methods of  work  during sessions  in our  microscope lab as well as  makes students interested in studying the science through educational games  and fieldwork activities  while visiting  natural places of interest (e.g. national parks, eco-farms, nature trails, botanic gardens) having at the same time fun from contact with nature. The methodological  sequence we test ( inspire, research, design, sketch, make and show) stimulates attention to sustainability and environment protection. Within the third “A” our members plan  engagement in global  campaigns with the aim of preventing damage to the environment (the nearest ones are world ocean and honeybee days) or support for local initiatives targeted to  protecting  our forests from  being destroyed for mining or building purposes.  

 

The STEAM activities will  make  us  “future-ready” – as the environmental problems are  becoming increasingly urgent to resolve.