Education

For anyone who wants to learn something about the Nature Park, besides having an active holiday in the green oasis of Papuk, we offer guided tours of educational and hiking trails. The programs are tailored to suit visitors of all age groups. Learn more about the remarkable biological and geological diversity and rich cultural and historical heritage of magical Papuk.

Our educational programs allow children to spend their lessons in the natural environment, learn about living beigns and inanimate nature phenomena, discover its diversity, connectivity and changeability, and develop respect for the natural and cultural heritage as well as responsible attitude towards the environment.

Our programs are held throughout the year, outdoors or at the premises of the Jankovac Eco Point and the Pannonian Sea House, so adequate clothing and footwear as well as sufficient amount of drinking water are required. Educational programs are carried out by our staff, and advance notice and for a reservation is required.

The existing Visitor Center in Velika, has got its new look through one of Papuk’s most interesting geological stories about the long-gone Pannonian Sea. On the southern slopes of Papuk, from the village of Vrhovci to Velika, the majority of Miocene deposits with fossils can be found, which provide evidence about the former coast of the “Slavonian Archipelago”. This is the reason why this topic is presented to the visitors to this part of Papuk Nature Park.

Decorating and equipping of the visitor center in Velika – the House of the Pannonian Sea – is important part of the GeoStories of the UNESCO Geopark project. Decorating activities included the presentation part within the building, as well as the courtyard, the environmental part in the function of education and conducting of various workshops on the topic of natural and cultural heritage of Papuk Nature Park.

All presentations and educations are tailored to suit different age groups, primarily elementary school children, but adult visitors may also learn more about various unknown things from Papuk’s past.

A two or three-day program of the School in Nature in Velika includes one or two nights’ accommodation, provided in 10 tents equipped with sleeping bags and mats with a maximum capacity of 30/35 students and 2 escorts / teachers. During the stay, all meals (catering) and drinks are included. Students are also provided with folders with worksheets, workshop materials, a young ranger diploma, and T-shirts.There are two leaders of the school in nature to work with children and assist them during their entire stay.

Important information: The School in Nature program has been approved and recommended by the Ministry of Science and Education and the Education and Teacher Training Agency.

Beside protecting and promoting the values of the Park, education is one of the fundamental determinants of the Public Institution Papuk Nature Park. Educational trails are among most important educational tools. They are located at some of the most attractive sites in the Park, which interpret the natural, geological and cultural-historical features of the first UNESCO-protected Croatian Geopark.

Let’s take a look at educational trails and learn about their specific features…

Geocaching is a relatively new kind of fun for anyone with an adventurous spirit. It is a game of “hidden treasure” hunting. The goal of the game is to find a hidden container called a geocache using a GPS device or a smartphone, and share your experience on websites.

You need a GPS device or a smartphone to participate in the “treasure hunt”.  Geocaches typically contain a pen and a logbook in which you should sign in when a geocache is found. They may also contain various things to exchange. The rule is that if a finder takes any item from the box, they should leave something in return.

Before starting the treasure hunt, it is necessary to transfer the coordinates of the hidden cache from your computer to your GPS device or smartphone. For smartphones, there is also an option of downloading applications that allow this game to be played directly on a smartphone.

The central website where you can find the coordinates of all hidden geocaches and all the geocaching information is www.geocaching.com.

One of the educational programs at Papuk Nature Park – UNESCO World Geopark is a  Geocaching workshop.