EXCHANGE

Visit in Greece

From the 5th to the 8th of April all the partners shared 4 wonderful days of activity, exchange and exploration. The greek school welcomed all the other partners with kindness and a deep desire to show the beauty of their land and the volcanologic sites of the area. The first day the group went to visit the island of Nicyros, about 2 hours away from Kos. The entire island is an active volcano with an open crater that was possible to visit. There we also visited the volcanology museum, that the group discovered being one the only museum totally dedicated to Volcanoes. The second day the group went to visit the school and to meet with Teachers, students and the municipality. Also for this occasion the Greek school organized many activity for the entire group: we had an online meeting with Evi Nomikou, Geology Professor in Athens University and in charge of Nisyros Geopark, that gave a brief lesson about Volcanoes in Greece, than after the break the group had cultural Exchange activity as dance performance of local traditional dances and “syrtaki” dance lesson and preparation of “Lazarakia” , traditional kind of mini buns made in Kos to symbolise the Resurrection of Lazarus (Greek Easter tradition). In the afternoon the group enjoyed a bike tour all together and shared a social dinner.
The third day the group went to visite another fundamental piece of Kos history, the Asclepeion, the first modern hospital where Ippocrates operated. Then the group visited Casa Romana and the Roman Odeon, another part of Kos history when Romans where present on the island,around 2000 Years and finally the group saw the Volt Art Project Exhibition, an astonishing art exhibition inspired by volcanes created by some students of the scool with the Art teacher Martina during the weekends. All Italian and Icelandic Students and Teachers were astonished by the amount of projects created in just two months and only during the weekends!
Then the fourth and last day together, all students went to visited the South of Kos island where the most ancient eruption happened. During the day the group went also to visit a bee farm where the owner explain to the students the gifts of the bees and the students had a beautiful walk on a path under a volcanic mountain where one could find may signs of volcanic activity. Then back Kos Town the group visited the archaeological museum where the students could nurture their eyes with the beauty of ancient greek art.
It has been a great opportunity both for students and teachers to study volcanoes and share with people from a different culture and Language. At the end a great time to open our mind and our heart.

 

Click here to see the Booklet of the Exhibition 

Visit in Iceland

This trip was an opportunity to learn about Icelandic nature and culture: the group fully enjoyed the landscapes and had a taste of everyday life. The relationship between the three participating schools has deepened.

The Reykjanes peninsula, where the school is located and where the hosted schools stayed, is the scene of active volcanism (the last eruption was in April): the group has therefore visited, during several field trips, the bridge between the continents, built between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates, some recent lava flows, the geothermal spots. Students experienced first-hand the relationship between volcanoes and humans, both by visiting Grindavic ( a semi-ghost town that was evacuated following an eruption) and by enjoying the thermal waters of the Blue Lagoon wellness centre. The tour of the south coast allowed everyone to admire the power of the natural elements in Iceland, visiting the Pingvellir National Park, where people walk next to the oceanic rift, the Gullfoss waterfall and the Geysir.  This intermittent emission of hot water and steam  gave the name to the geyser phenomenon in the world.

The first contact with Icelandic society was the school. The hosted kids (and the teachers too!) admired and envied the architecture, the furniture, the instruments and the laboratories, designed for the well-being of the kids and to stimulate curiosity and creativity. At school the group attended a social dinner, prepared by the parents with typical Icelandic dishes, students watched Eurovision together and cheered a basketball match of the local women’s team, many people tasted the lamb soup. The boys from the three groups became friends and exchanged informations about their respective cultures.

Staying in a house, walking, going shopping, talking to people and, above all, going to the municipal swimming pool, gave to  children and  teachers other moments of discovery and sharing of Icelandic everyday life.

Visit in Italy

The next exchange meeting between the partners took place in Farnese from September 4th to 7th. Students and teachers from partner schools in Greece and Iceland participated, together with the Albero della Tuscia school and the QUEST partner, in four days filled with adventures and volcanological discoveries in the Alta Tuscia area of ​​Viterbo.
The first day was dedicated to welcoming the group with a tour of the Farnese town center, enriched by historical and cultural anecdotes and curiosities.
On the second day, the group was welcomed by the office of the Lamone Reserve for an explanation of the area’s volcanological aspects. Then, accompanied by staff from the Reserve, the partners hiked through the Selva through the wilderness shaped by ancient volcanic eruptions. The visit then continued with another excursion on the Fiora River, among hermitages and geological formations, concluding at
Mount Bisenzio and Lake Bolsena, the oldest volcanic lake in Europe. Students and teachers were able to
study the area’s geo-volcanological features up close, exchange knowledge and insights, and enrich their scientific knowledge through field studies of volcanoes.

Trip to Aeolian Islands

From September 9th to 12th, a learning trip to the Aeolian Islands took place. A trip packed with experiences and the wonders of the volcanic islands, students from the various schools were able to expand their knowledge of volcanology through excursions, lectures, and sharing. Based on the island of Salina, the geological history of the island was studied through direct observation with a boat trip around the island. On the second day, the group moved to the island of Vulcano, where, after attending a wonderful lecture at the INGV (National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology), in the afternoon the group ascended to the volcano’s crater, where they were able to directly observe the emission of sulfurous gases. On the third day, the group visited the island of Stromboli, where, guided by Marco Viccaro, professor of Volcanology at the University of Catania, they observed the Sciara del Fuoco (Sciara del Fuoco), where they could observe the constant eruptions of Stromboli’s volcano. Finally, on the fourth day, the group returned home enriched with new experiences and friendships.