ANNOUNCEMENT FOR SUMMER CAMP LIFE URCA PROEMYS
04.05.2023
The Sečovlje Salina Nature Park (SOLINE Production of Salt d.o.o.) invites "young researchers" to a summer research camp, which will be held from July 3rd to July 7th, 2023 (during summer vacation) for children aged 10 to 12 years. The number of children at the camp is limited to 20. The camp will run from Monday afternoon to Friday morning at the CŠOD Burja home in Seča, where children will have accommodation, daily meals, and free time activities provided.
During the camp, we will be researching the European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis, in the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park. Children will be transported to the field by bicycle, and one evening they will sleep in tents that they will set up themselves. After dinner, they will have informative lectures on protected areas, the European pond turtle, and invasive turtle species that threaten it. They will also participate in creative workshops in the afternoon. Children will be divided into four groups. Work will be carried out in the field at workstations, where children will participate in determining the sex, age, measurements, weight, and photographing of turtles, as well as recording data. To ensure a unique atmosphere and activities at the camp, the CŠOD instructors and the KPSS professional staff will take care of everything.
Children should bring the following equipment for fieldwork to the camp:
• Suitable clothing for working in nature (e.g., short-sleeved shirts, long pants, sun hats...);
• Some spare clothes (e.g., T-shirts, shorts, socks);
• Footwear suitable for walking in nature (e.g., hiking boots); • Sleeping bag and mat for sleeping in a tent;
• A flashlight with spare batteries;
• Personal hygiene items (e.g., soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, towels);
• Sunscreen and protection against mosquitoes and ticks;
• Some money for possible purchases (e.g., ice cream, water);
• Writing and note-taking equipment (e.g., notebook, pens).
In addition, we will provide children with appropriate equipment for working with turtles, such as gloves and hand sanitizers, as well as equipment for setting up tents. The camp is free of charge for children, as it will be implemented as part of the LIFE UrCA PROEMYS project, which is a 5-year project for the conservation of the European pond turtle in Slovenia and Italy. The project leader is WWF Italy, and in addition to 7 Italian partners, the Slovenian partners Public Institution Landscape Park Ljubljansko barje and SOLINE Production of Salt d.o.o. also participate in the project. The application form is available at https://form.jotform.com/230571510122339 Applications are accepted until June 15th. Since the number of children is limited, we will prioritize the order of applications and your description of why your child is suitable for the research camp when selecting participants. You are invited to join us at the summer research camp!
KPSS Team