The Group travels far and wide to promote its message. Over the years we have visited the Lake District National Park twice each year. Here we work with The National Trust on footpath and woodland management tasks to help promote active environmental volunteering. In July 2005 the Group went to the Czech Republic, you can read all about what we did whilst we were there below.
EXPEDITION "POLSKA ALLIANCE" - In 2007 the Group will again head into central Europe to work with a Polish youth group in the Tatra National Park. Our plans for this are taking shape each week and you can keep up todate at our website www.polskaalliance.eu
EXPEDITION "CZECH MATES"
In 2005 a group of 31 volunteers from the Group visited the Czech Republic. Here is a short summary of what we did........
Thirty one members of the Fife Air Cadets Conservation Group (FACCG) travelled to the Czech Republic on Thursday 14th July 2005 returning to the UK on Tuesday 26th July 2005. The Expedition was named “Czech Mates” and the length of the expedition was 13 days, although 2 days were allocated to travel to and from the UK. Eight days were spent in Český Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage site, located approximately 180km south of Prague and close to the border with Austria. Three days were spent in the city of Prague learning about its history and culture.
The main aims of this expedition were to:
Promote
• The ethos of the Fife Air Cadets Conservation Group, by demonstrating the volunteer’s skills, motivation, enthusiasm, and overall hard work.
• The John Muir Award by Discovering, Exploring, Conserving and Sharing.
• The idea of community conservation volunteering at an international level involving youth organisations such as the Air Training Corps and the Scout Association that work together for tomorrow’s future.
Develop
• New skills and knowledge through environmental awareness and education, whilst increasing fitness levels, and enhancing leadership and teamwork.
Support
• The local community and their surrounding environment.
Enjoy!
The Group carried out various conservation projects which provided opportunities for environmental education activities:
• Clearing and restoration project within the Boletice Military Reservation and Training Area. The aim of the project was to assist in creating greater access to a 12th century church, the oldest in the Czech Republic, located within the military base for the local community. The Group worked on this project over a period of 4 days.
• Project at Castle Gardens in Český Krumlov (the gardens are 150m wide and over 750m long). The Gardens have an extensive history dating from the 16th Century, and members of the Group were taken on an educational and interesting guided walk around part of the garden area. The following day a small group of staff and youngsters worked in the gardens to clear away overgrown vegetation such as white dead nettle.
• Visual Presentation and project within Vyšenské Kopce National Nature Reserve working alongside Countryside Wardens. After the presentation the Group were given leaflets to guide them around the Nature Trail within the reserve, and the following day a small group of staff and youngsters helped the Countryside Warden by carrying out various conservation tasks such as stone picking, and relocating interpretation boards.
• Litter picking along the river banks and in the Town Park. Painting benches situated along the road next to the river, and painting benches and litter bins within the town park.
Members of the Group also undertook various outdoor activities for health and fitness such as: climbing The Klet, the highest mountain in the Czech Republic at 1084 metres, and our equivalent of a Munro (over 3000 feet high); a seven mile mountain bike run which started at the bottom of The Klet and followed a route through fabulous woodland and countryside, along roads and down through Český Krumlov to the hostel, and a whole day of water rafting on the River starting from Český Krumlov and finishing at Český Budějovice This activity required a high level of teamwork and physical ability.
The expedition also involved learning about the culture, history and architecture. This was achieved by visits to Český Krumlov Castle, and within the castle grounds an artist had exhibited his art in underground caves. Some members of the group visited the exhibition. The group were given a guided tour of the Egon Schiele Art Centrum located within the town of Český Krumlov. This tour was exceptionally interesting and inspiring, as the exhibition contained 200 originals of Estonian art from various artists.
The last 2.5 days of the expedition were spent in the city of Prague. Group members were able to explore the city, visiting galleries, castles, exhibitions, and many of the local shops which were located in the more traditional “Old Town” and the more modern “New Town” areas of the city. The accommodation in Prague was very interesting as it was an old communist prison that had been converted into a hostel. The rooms were old prison cells still hosting the original large metal prison doors.
All members of the group went for a visit to a high viewing tower located on a hill on the opposite side of the river, and were able to see the whole city from the tower. Staff and youngsters also visited Prague Castle which symbolises more than one thousand years development of the Czech State, and covers an area of 45 hectares. Overall the group observed the fascinating and spectacular architecture of the city and structures like the Charles Bridge founded in 1357 with statues of saints on its many pillars.
The group also experienced various different forms of entertainment ranging from ten pin bowling, eating out, Laser Quest and horse and carriage rides. While staying in Český Krumlov Staff and youngsters visited a rock concert at one of Czech Republic’s outdoor venues. The concert was very entertaining with fabulous light effects and talented musicians and singers. The Group also held an evening woodland party in Český Krumlov. The location was next to a historical tower building in a beautiful woodland setting. The youngsters and staff had time to unwind and chat while sitting round a bonfire and enjoying a delicious buffet.
Overall Expedition - “Czech Mates” has been a fantastic example of the whole ethos of the John Muir Award on an international level. All the group members had a memorable and wonderful experience, and the youngsters and adult staff gained numerous new skills and expanded their knowledge of the culture and history of a different country through education and observation. Through practical involvement they have learned about the countryside, landscape and wildlife of another country, and have hopefully inspired local people to become volunteers and continue work on the existing conservation projects and to start new projects.
Discovering - Exploring - Conserving - Sharing and the most important - Enjoying!
Just a few pictures from Expedition Czech Mates - Cesky Krumlov—Czech Republic
