Kopacevo wetland is an ideal spot for educational activities because of its biodiversity. Numerous plant and animal species make it a living laboratory. It’s not important if you are researching specific forms or just enjoying nature in its unique sights, Kopacevo wetland offers breathtaking experience and restores lost touch with nature. 

School in nature Eco centre Zlatna Greda is developed according to the program and principles of WWF (World Wildlife Fond). It’s backed up and recommended by Institute for education improvement upon Ministry of science, education and sport. It’s according to the principles and goals of Croatian National Education Standard

Feel freedom, imagination and creativity! Again discover lost sense of wonder, thrill…be curious…stop and listen to the sounds… peek beneath the water surface… recognise animal track… find aromatic plants… 

Watch how in nature everything has its own role, how it’s all connected and how everything changes…
... learn in nature and from nature!

Program

Knowing Kopacevo wetland

As previously arranged with teachers, pupils come to school in nature Eco Centre Zlatne Greda already prepared. They predict how Kopacevo wetland looks like by drawing pictures in school. Teachers, using drawings, make a list of all plants, animals and natural phenomenons that pupils have predicted and take it with them in school in nature.

After workshops are done pupils analyze the list- they cross all of the things that don’t exist in Kopacevo wetland and add all the things that they have learned in school in nature.

To make the journey more interesting - pupil’s drawings can be glued all over the travelling bus!

Developing ecological conscience

Base for all school in nature educational activities is the Eco Centre that works through sustainable solutions like waste management, composting, renewable sources of energy etc. By visiting Eco centre students have the opportunity to learn and adopt some of ecological techniques that can be used later on in their own home or school.

Watching biological diversity

Pupils study everything in nature that surrounds them. They look for the tiniest plants on the ground; compare colours, shapes and thickness; by African tribes method measure height and determine age of trees; with bare eye watch plants that live under water; use microscope, determine species of birds in the air, learn about wildlife habits… 

Although Kopacevo wetland is known for its large number of deer herds, animals are often scared by a large number of people and it’s very difficult to observe them with pupils in nature. Because of that fact is especially interesting one doe that wonders around Eco centre for years. Local inhabitants have found her in forest, all alone, just a few days old. She walks freely around the area and comes by when she sees guests. Doe is very friendly and pupils come completely close to her.

Path hiking

Circular path is 3 km long and it stretches from Eco centre to Čarna canal. Through untouched landscapes one can see sights of forests, meadows and swamps. In this part you can meet numerous plant and animal species. Through path pupils are given different tasks: for example preparing fragrance cocktails, listen and imitate sounds, recognising trees by touching crust, find colour spectre and similar tasks.

Riding school introduction

In Eco centre you can find mare named Zenta and pupils can learn about life and habits of horses. This program id made for learning about horse’s habits, grooming and nutrition. The braver ones can learn how to saddle the horse and even ride as well as make the moment memorable by taking a photo.

Team playground

Due to long staying in closed spaces, pupils lack physical activity. In Eco centre we developed interesting games that are played on the playground that’s a part of the park. Gadgets are made from natural materials where pupils develop their social abilities in a way that promotes cooperation.

Old crafts

Old crafts are connected with old way of life and ecologically more acceptable. For example, making object out of clay in the old mill can show to pupils just how much time and effort it took to make every single object. Besides knowing the procedure of making objects, pupils have the chance to make clay objects by hand or on wheel.

After this workshop all of the objects are baked and can be delivered to the school where pupils can later colour it.

In Sokacka house that’s arranged in traditional way you can see use of all gadgets and introduce you to old way of life. Among 1600 exhibits some of them are 50 and some 200 years old. All objects are still usable and it looks like old traditional household.

Creative and artistic workshops

Nature was always source of inspiration for all types of artists. We want to encourage students to write about their experiences; to make relieves and sculptures from natural materials and make their own natural instruments from things they can find in their surrounding.

Equipment

• Backpack or light bag
• Writing and drawing set
• Waterproof and closed, light sport shoes
• Long sleeve clothes 
• Mosquito protection lotion 
• Enough fluid for whole-day stay in nature
• If you have it – binocular and camera
• Apple or carrot for our pets- doe and mare- are most welcome 
• Second pair of clothes in case of unsuccessful water pond jumping

Development/Vision

"Green" Osijek has started with schools in nature in 2001 through project OTOK- Sustainable tourism and environment education in nature park Kopacevo wetland. As project developed throughout the years so did the idea about school in nature. To make the best results possible we decided to develop infrastructure that enables weekly school in nature- we started Eco centre Zlatne Greda and currently we are in facility reconstruction phase.

When all the conditions are fulfilled we will start our whole-day programme according to recommendation from Ministry of science, education and sport.                                 

Ministry support

After presenting the programme for schools in nature, “Green” Osijek has received letter of support from Institute for education improvement in which stands:

"...it’s clearly seen that the Eco centre Zlatna Greda work programme is in function of sustainable development promotion and that through layered, but on the other hand complete way, taking in consideration all of its aspects: relationship and connection of natural surrounding and traditional way of life as well as relationship between economic development with special measures of nature protection. Nature Park Kopacevo wetland area is an ideal place for visual and experience learning of sustainable development, so the existence of Eco centre with appropriate educational program is put upon as a necessity. Wide range of workshops and activities and openness towards contents that meet student and teacher’s needs, scientific help from the activists as well as cooperation with local inhabitants make this program very interesting and modern."