TEACHING CLIMATE CHANGE IN MOUNTAIN AREAS AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Organising institutions:
- Jakob Fugger Gymnasium Augsburg, Kriemhildenstrasse 5, 86152 Augsburg, Germany,
- Základná škola Moskovská 2, 97404 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia,
- Center šolskih in obšolskih dejavnosti, Frankopanska 9, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Contacts:
Irena Kokalj, irena.kokalj@csod.si
Target groups:
- teachers of upper primary (lower secondary) and secondary (upper secondary) school levels, teaching students aged 11 to 16 years,
- adult education teachers,
- career advisers,
- headmasters/principals.
Number of participants: up to 40 participants
Date: 2. 11. – 6. 11. 2025
Location: CŠOD Bohinj, Ribčev Laz 63, 4265 Bohinjsko Jezero, Slovenia
This training course will equip teachers with the knowledge, skills and resources to effectively teach climate change in classrooms. Participants will explore the scientific principles behind climate change and its impacts. We can bring real-world research and expertise into the classroom, making climate change education more engaging and impactful. The course will provide a range of practical resources and engaging activities that will engage students, encourage critical thinking and lead to a conscious change in thinking and a proactive approach to environmental protection. Get ready to make a difference!
Description
This course is an amazing opportunity for teachers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of climate change in mountain areas and the urgent need for collective action. It has been designed to be interdisciplinary, incorporating elements of science, social science, ethics and economic perspectives (particularly in the context of tourism). The course will provide the participants with an enlightening and thought-provoking journey of discovery.
The course is a result of cooperation between partners during the Slovenian Presidency of the Alpine Convention 2023-2024.
SUNDAY, 2nd November 2025
Arrival day in Bohinj
MONDAY, 3rd November 2025
7.30 Breakfast
7.30 – 9.00 Welcome and registration
9.00 – 9.30 Warm up activities (getting to know each other)
Module 1
9.30 – 11.00 Introduction
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) with focus on education
• Overview; 2021-2027 – EU Budget for Climate Change
• UNESCO moving forward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
11.00 – 11.30 Coffee break
11.30 – 12.30 Professional input
12.30 – 13.00 Summary
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch time
Module 2
14.00 – 16.00 Hands-on Activities and Educational Resources
Interactive sessions on how to use various tools such as climate models, data analysis software to demonstrate climate change effects.
1. CO2 experiment (physics)
2. Mountain Tabu (language)
3. Changing the landscapes 1950 -> 2020 (geography)
4. Board games
5. Working with climate simulations (digital)
16.00 – 16.30 Coffee break
16.30 – 17.00 Feedback on the activities and exchange of ideas
18.00 – 20.00 Supper time
20.00 – 21.00 Evening networking
TUESDAY, 4th November 2025
7.00 Morning on the boats on the lake
7.30 Breakfast
9.0 – 9.30 Start of the day
Module 3
9.30 – 10.30 Serious game demonstration (Building a new ski lift in the protected area etc.)
10.30 – 11.00 Preparation for the field activities
11.00 – 11.30 Coffee break and presentation of Triglav National Park centre in Stara Fužina
Module 4
11.30 – 12.00 Preparation of the meeting with the major/tourism director and for the meeting with the native people from Bohinj
12.00 – 13.00 Meeting the head of Bohinj-tourism agency and/or major of Bohinj to examine the specific ways climate change
• affects people living in mountain areas
• changes in agriculture
• water scarcity due to increasing draughts and extreme weather (heavy rain…)
• increased landslides, and the impact on tourism and livelihoods
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch in Stara Fužina
14.00 – 15.00 Planšarski muzej Stara Fužina – The Alpine Dairy Museum
15.00 – 16.00 Meeting native people: Mountain communities, often natives, possess a wealth of traditional knowledge on adapting to environmental changes, what has changed from 40 years ago. Together we’ll
• explore how this knowledge can be integrated into climate education
• foster a connection between scientific understanding and cultural practices
16.00 – 16.30 Coffee break
16.30 – 17.00 Cycling back to CŠOD centre
18.00 – 20.00 Supper time
20.00 – 21.00 Evening networking
WEDNESDAY 5th November 2025
6.30 Sunrise on the Alpine plateau Pokljuka
7.30 Breakfast on the Pokljuka
9.00 – 10.00 Meeting the CEO of the skiing destination with a focus on following themes:
• Beyond snow
• Green travel/tourism
• Renewable energy use
10.00 – 10.30 How this knowledge can be integrated into climate education?
10.30 – 11.00 Coffee break
11.00 – 13.00 Triglav National Park – Walking tour including the Meeting a Ranger
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch time
14.00 – 15.00 Course Conclusion
Feedback, course evaluation and dissemination focus
Delivery of Europass Mobility and Certificates of Attendance
16.00 – 20.00 Visiting the capital and Farewell dinner in Ljubljana
THURSDAY 6th November 2025
Departure day / Additional Activities
Visting Korita Mostnice, Bled
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify the specific vulnerabilities of mountain ecosystems to climate change and describe how these differ from other regions.
- Analyse the local and global impacts of climate change, including the interconnectedness of these effects.
- Engage students in hands-on activities to deepen understanding of climate change through experiential learning.
- Promote climate action and adaptation strategies to empower students to make informed choices.
- Discuss climate-related emotional responses and encourage eco-conscious behaviours among students.
- Collaborate with experts, communities, and local authorities to enrich climate learning with real-world perspectives and support networks.
- Inspire and empower students to actively participate in climate solutions within their communities and beyond.
These objectives aim to create a comprehensive, actionable understanding of climate change that fosters both knowledge and engagement.
By the end of this course, teachers will have developed a comprehensive understanding of how climate change affects mountain ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. They will gain a toolkit of effective pedagogical strategies and hands-on resources to engage students in meaningful discussions about climate change impacts. This course aims to foster environmental stewardship and inspire actionable change, with a particular focus on the unique challenges facing fragile mountain regions.
Certification:
At the end of the course, each participant will be awarded a Certificate of Attendance, together – if requested – with the Europass Mobility Certificate.
This training course can be fully funded by Erasmus+ programme. Teachers, trainers, headmasters and other staff from educational institutions are eligible to receive an Erasmus+ grant covering all the costs to attend our training course, including travel costs, accommodations and meals, course fees and other costs. For more information, please contact your local national agencies for Erasmus+ programmes to ensure the grant for this course.
We will offer you our assistance and full support in certification and validation of the learning outcomes with specific focus on European instruments and Erasmus+ requirements such as Europass Mobility Certificate.
Price: 720 EUR / participant
- 240 EUR course fee / participant
- 480 EUR subsistence costs / participant
This price includes all inclusive service for our participants, including:
- course programme (24 hours), all the necessary materials and equipment,
- field trips and excursions,
- all meals including coffee breaks,
- accommodation (4 nights) at our residential centre CŠOD Bohinj – where course will take its place,
- local travels during the course,
- organizational support before, during and after the course,
- administration and certificates.
Due to the expected intensity of the course and our commitment to providing participants with the best possible experience, we have reserved accommodations for all our participants at our residential centre, CŠOD Bohinj, where the course will take place. These costs are included in the course price.