EXCHANGE
Visit in Greece
From the 5th to the 8th of April 2025 the project partners shared four wonderful days of activity, exchange and exploration. The Greek school based in Kos welcomed the other partners with kindness and a deep desire to show the beauty of their land and the volcanological sites of the area. The first day the group went to visit the island of Nisyros, about two 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 the only museum totally dedicated to volcanoes. The second day the group went to visit the school and meet teachers, students and the municipality of Kos. 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. After a break, the group had cultural exchange activity as dance performance of local traditional dances and “syrtaki” dance lesson and preparation of “Lazarakia” , traditional 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 visited another fundamental piece of Kos history, the Asclepeion, the first modern hospital where Hippocrates 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 ago, and finally the group saw the Volt Art Project Exhibition, an astonishing art exhibition inspired by volcanoes co-created by Kos school students with the support of the art teacher Martina. Italian and Icelandic students and teachers were impressed by the amount of projects created in just two months and only during the weekends! You can see the exhibition booklet in the link below.
The fourth and last day, 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 explained to the students the gifts of the bees. 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 and mythology.
It has been a great opportunity both for students and teachers to study volcanoes and share with people from a different culture and language. A great time to open our mind and our heart.
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 hosting school (Stapaskoli) is located, is the scene of active volcanism, with a total of nine eruptions since December 2023. The group has visited, during several field trips, the bridge between the continents, built between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates, some recent lava flows, and the geothermal spots. Students had a first-hand experience of the relationship between volcanoes and humans by visiting Grindavik, at the time of visit (May 2025) a semi-ghost town that was evacuated following an eruption. The project group also enjoyed the thermal waters of the Blue Lagoon 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!) deeply admired the architecture, the furnitures, the instruments and the laboratories, designed for the well-being of the kids and to stimulate their 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 traditional lamb soup. The boys from the three groups became friends and exchanged information about their respective cultures.
Staying in a house, walking, going shopping, talking to people, going to the municipal swimming pool, gave students and teachers other moments for discovery and sharing Icelandic everyday life.
Visit in Italy
From 4th to 7th September, the next exchange meeting between the VOLT partners took place in Farnese, Italy. 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, exchange knowledge and insights, and enrich their scientific knowledge through field studies of volcanoes.
Trip to Aeolian Islands
From September 9th to 12th 2025, a learning trip to the Aeolian Islands took place, hosted by the partner Associazione Italiana di Vulcanologia. 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 during 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 sulfureous 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, 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.
