INNO NATOUR Innovation in Nature Based Tourism Services Suceava, Romania May 15 th -28 th 2011 An Italian pre-case study: “Middle-Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills” by Francesca Savio

“MIDDLE-EARTH COOPERATIVE, AN OPPORTUNITY ON THE EUGANEAN HILLS” “Middle-Earth cooperative”

Casa Marina since 2003 Visitors’ center, hostel and environmental education laboratory. On Venda Hill, Regional Park of the Euganean Hills Bapi Park since 2008 An urban park managed by Middle Earth cooperative, where parties and ludic activities are organized. This is also the headquarter of the enterprise. Mestrino, Padua. “Euganean Hill” hostel since 2007 Provides hospitality to groups, nature-learning paths, sport and school turism and adventure camps. St. George Valley, Baone. LOCATIONS “Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills” Venezian Hostel since 2011 Another location for group or family hosting. Monselice, Padua.

“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills” BRIEF HISTORY The “Middle Earth” social cooperative was founded in June 2000, than it has committed itself to the following activities: from November 2000 to June 2010, management of the Ethnographic Park of the Rubano Forest which included a large natural area around a lake, a big house - ethnographic museum of rural culture and visitors’ center –, an educational farm and Social gardens, cultivated by Rubano citizens in their spare time autumn 2003, conduction of “Casa Marina” September 2005, organization of guided excursion and educational tour within the Regional Park of Euganean Hills

“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills” BRIEF HISTORY 2006/2007, collaboration with the Body responsible for Urban Basins PD3 and PD4 for the awareness towards recycling and reuse of waste, carried out in schools; starting of the project “House of the Future” aimed to enhance and enrich pupils' knowledge on energy March 2007, administration of the “Euganean Hill” hostel, owned by the municipality of Baone. 2008, menaging of Bapi Park 2009, collaboration with the Training Center of the Civil Protection of Veneto Region May 2011, administration of the new “Venetian Hostel”

“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills” OTHER ACTIVITIES ADVENTURE CAMPS During summer, Middle Earth arranges engaging and adventurous one-week stays featuring environmental education activities for youngs and outdoor sports and games. Battles with blowpipe Orienteering Raft building with stakes and cords Games in the wood Mountain biking Climbing kayaking Riding donkeys

HOUSE OF THE FUTURE It is a wheeled wooden house that can be transported in school gardens, squares, or exhibition halls, showing some plants which use renewable energy. The "House of the Future", in addition to being a model of sustainable house, becomes a classroom where outdoor play is also part of a tour dedicated to experiments. “Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills” OTHER ACTIVITIES “OPEN PATHS” PROJECT A service dedicated to disabled people who are given the opportunity to take tours with the use of electric cars along a path around the specially equipped Venda Hill, departing from Casa Marina, with the presence of a nature guide who escorts the group. Photovoltaic panel Thermal solar panel Reconstruction of a geothermical system Model of a biomass boiler

“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills” OTHER ACTIVITIES Energetic and Technologic Services of Rovigo  collaboration with Energetic and Technologic Services of Rovigo for awareness towards ecological activities  consultancy for municipalities and bodies  training and refreshment courses for educators and nature guides Padua University  collaboration with Padua University and secondary school institutes offering environmental specialization through the acceptance of trainees and interns who spend experiences at the Ethnographic Park or at Casa Marina job placement of disadvantaged and disabled people  collaboration with local socio-health units for job placement of disadvantaged and disabled people at facilities operated by the cooperative, through periods of training aimed at increasing in these people autonomy, manual skills and professional abilities

“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills” MANAGEMENT ASPECTS Middle Earth is a “B” type social cooperative. It means that, indicatively, 1 out of every 3 positions destinated to working members has to be covered by a “disadvantaged person”. For this reason the enterprise is exented from some taxes (IVA, INAIL, INPS). It is made by 34 members: 21 workers and 13 voluntaries.

“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills” MANAGEMENT ASPECTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Marco Siciliani Gaetano Battocchio Mariaserena Seren Francesco Loreggian Luisa Betto ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTION Gaetano Battocchio Francesco Loreggian RESEARCH & MACRO COMUNICATION Marco Siciliani Gaetano Battocchio Areas of interest Euganean Hills locations Civil protection others…

“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills” PROBLEMS AND STRATEGIES PROBLEMS OCCURREDSTRATEGIES ADOPTED Competitiveness with other enterprises interested in providing tourist services Preferential hiring of local staff Day trips, shorter and cheaper activities options are offered Nowadays families and schools spend less Less immediate engagements and higher management costs More careful management of economic issues

“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills” AREAS TO IMPROVE Decrease staff turnover Lower precariousness of the concession for the structures Make the work amount more balanced in all seasons Establish political relations

“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills” THANK’S FOR YOUR ATTENTION !