The project has three objectives: -healthy lifestyle -European cultural and natural heritage and European citizenship values -environmental awareness. The project aims at increasing the participants' (students, teachers and local community) awareness of the importance of healthy lifestyle and physical activity with the purpose of improving the quality of life. The participants of the mobility will develop their social and cultural competences when collaborating with their peers from another European country. The cultural values of both regions will contribute to the development of European citizenship values - tolerance, openness and respect of difference. The students will learn about European natural and cultural heritage. Our students are the future creators of Slovenian and European policies. The awareness of the human influence on nature and preservation of nature for ourselves and the future generations is an important area of learning that leads to responsible creation of policies. Through activities performed in nature we wish to enhance the environmental awareness that leads to responsible behaviour of each individual.
Elementary School Ivana Cankarja Vrhnika is a public school educating pupils aged 6 to 15. Besides the regular programme the school offers a programme with lower educational standards as well as special-needs educational programme. After the COVID-19 pandemic the national research showed a decrease in the motor abilities of children in Slovenia since they had spent most of their time indoors and in front of screens. We wanted to create a project that would promote outdoor activities such as hiking as one of the crucial elements of a healthy lifestyle. We wanted the pupils, teachers and the local community to become aware of and make use of the natural resources in their close vicinity. The pandemic also robbed the students of the opportunities for social and intercultural activities (excursions, students exchanges). Therefore the project intended to offer contact with new and different environment which helps pupils learn about European values, it promotes tolerance and reduces fear of the unknown as well as improves their communication skills in a foreign language. With activities in nature we wanted to model and teach behaviour that promotes each individual's responsibility for taking care of our environment and nature.