1. The Objectif Nature Project

Objectif Nature is a programme bringing together the Nature Parks of Northern France for educational purposes. Since the operation started in 1988, some 300,000 pupils and 12,000 teachers have taken part in nature events.

Piloted by the Avesnois and Scarpe-Escaut Parks in cooperation with the Plaines de l’Escaut Nature Park and the Hauts-Pays Nature Park (for Belgium), this European programme makes it possible to alert all schools to the fact that environments know no frontiers.

This is a huge networked effort designed to put over the operation of natural environments and their diversity and fragility ... Keys leading to knowledge, appreciation, and protection of vast areas.

The events proposed obviously correspond to carefully thought-out levels of schooling, in line with the site, the teaching methods, the schools programmes, etc.

The teachers involved with the designated classes must attend meetings to prepare for the activity. In fact, some pointers are needed to define accurately the aims pursued, the teaching methods, the prerequisites, and become familiar with the path to be taken ...

Following the awareness day, teachers receive an evaluation questionnaire. This will enable them to make comments and put forward opinions and suggestions for future cooperation.

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2.Taking part in the Objectif Nature 2004 Project

A) Honnelles

On Friday 2nd April last, the HAUTS-PAYS NATURE PARK promised the children of the infant schools of Roisin, Angre, Angreau and Autreppe a trip to Preux-au-Bois, a village located in the Avesnois Nature Park in France.

The aim? To take part in a nature awareness day, with special emphasis on forests. So the 45 children had an opportunity to get to know a pleasant, faithful companion - the tree.

The activities were broken down into two stages, according to the groups formed: in the mornings a forest outing and in the afternoon forestry workshops.

The forest outing covered four topics:

• the "skeleton" of the tree;
• the leaves of the tree;
• the bark of the tree;
• the roots

Teaching material was made available to the teachers and, at the end of the trip, the children reconstructed a tree with items picked up on the ground.

The workshops focused on the senses:

• the children learned to identify the sounds of the forest by listening attentively to a video cassette (the belling of stags, cuckoos, the barking of the roe deer ...)
• the pupils learned to recognise the leaves of beech, oak, and hornbeam with the help of a leaflet
• the pupils learned to identify the bark of trees by touching them blindfold
• the children searched in the litter of animals which take part in its decomposition.

In short, a busy day in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

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B) Colfontaine

On Tuesday 8th June 2004, the pupils in the 3rd and 4th years of the Achille Delattre, Cambry and Quesnoy (Colfontaine) local schools went to Maroilles, in the heart of the Avesnois Regional Nature Park (in France).

This day-trip was covered by the European Objectif Nature programme, the purpose of which is to teach about the environment and the land.

The event, funded and coordinated by the Hauts-Pays Nature Park, was entitled "Le Bocage, c'est chouette" (Farmland is cool).

The morning was spent on a fun study of the hedged farmland: starting with a board game, the children were able to discover the different species of trees and shrubs of which the edges are formed, and the different fruit trees in the region's orchards. They set off to follow the trail of animals living in the farmland ... during the activity, they looked for information on cattle and dairy products, in particular using a very specific teaching notebook.

In the afternoon, a walk through the streets of Maroilles was organised. The aim? To explore the how four night-birds lived and their environment; these were the tawny owl, the little owl, the barn owl, and the long-eared owl. Armed with their specially-prepared texts, the children were able to find out more about the hunting techniques and habitats of these birds, and to learn the dangers lurking in wait for these protected creatures (destruction of habitats, use of pesticides and contamination throughout the food chain ...).

Back at the Park house, dissection of an owl pellet helped with understanding its diet and ecological role.

Finally, the lesson was again backed up by the showing of the film "La Dame Blance", which recounts the life of the barn owl.

A busy day, full of interest!

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C) Dour

On Monday 14 June 2004, the 3rd and 4th year pupils of the local schools of Plantis, Blaugies and Petit-Dour went to the Avesnois Regional Nature Park (northern France).

On arrival at the Centre Apicole Régional at Le Quesnoy, the children enjoyed a varied, original event based on nature and beekeeping.

The programme included: a study of the relationship between the flower and the bee and its importance in the reproduction of plants, the morphology of bees, the social lives of these special insects (communications, division of labour, caste system, breeding and reproduction)...

A fascinating world!

Wearing special protective clothing, the children were then taken by the guide to the flower garden, where they identified some melliferous plants.

A little later, they visited the hives, where they could look for the worker bees, the drones and, above all, the queen bee!

The children were also able to learn about a beekeeper's work. They then went to the "miellerie" to unravel all the secrets of the extraction and purification of the honey.

But the part they liked most of all was, of course, tasking the different spring honeys.
Delicious!

Each pupil was given a little sample pot to take home.

A great day, in brilliant sunshine.

Once again, it should be noted that the Hauts-Pays Nature Park funded and coordinated the whole of this cross-border operation.

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D) Frameries

Thursday 17th June 2004. 9.15. The 3rd and 4th year pupils of the local school of La Victorie in Frameries arrive by coach at the Plaines de l'Escaut Nature Park lodge.

The morning is spent visiting this fabulous place, known as "The Forest Stopover".

First of all, the pupils explore the "trees" room. The activity proposed is to put the pieces of bark, fruits and leaves beside the right tree.

En route for the "birds" room: an exercise of attentive observation and listening for everyone to identify at least 6 bird species living in the forest. Most enjoyable...

In the "mammals" room, the children find out about this group of animals and mimed some of their specific characteristics.

Then the children move on to the "flowers" room. They colour in the bluebell at different times of year and learn how plants as time passes.

More activities follow: reconstruction of mushroom jigsaws, looking for springtails and mites, meeting the forest invertebrates...

As a team, the pupils now try to understand how the forest ecosystem worked.

Almost lunch-time.

Just time for a video "balloon trip" explaining the richness and curiosities of the Nature Park

After a lunch break, the afternoon is to be spent exploring the Bon-Secours forest using all 5 senses:

• hearing: listening to birdsong and the rustling of the leaves in the wind...
• sight: identifying fruits, mushrooms, flowers, leaves, and other things
• smell: comparing the smells of different plants, mushrooms...
• touch: running a hand over different types of tree bark blindfold...
• taste: are these plants edible? Do they have medicinal properties?

Playing, having fun, and learning!

The children are researchers, naturalists, log-cutters, walkers ...

An unforgettable day.

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