1. THE CENTRE OF FOREST NATURAL EDUCATION IN JEZIORY WYSOKIE AS A SURROUNDING TREASURY OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE FOREST

2. The Centre of Forest Natural Education in Jeziory Wysokie plays an important role in the forest natural education in Lubuskie Voivodship. It is run in the structure of Polish State Forests, Zielona Góra Department.

3. It was officially opened on 30th June 1998. For 18 years the Centre has been the place of the forest natural education for local community, as well as the popular tourist destination. It has the advantage of being well prepared for the needs of people with disabilities. The building is located in a wooden forester cottage built in 1926. In the Centre there is also a dendrological garden (about 2 ha).The main purpose of the garden is to collect as great number of pine species as possible. There By the Centre was erected an observation tower, which is also the component of the fire protection system. This is the first brick tower with such functions built after the Second World War by Zielona Góra foresters. The tower is 41 m high and is built just like a lighthouse. It has become a recognizable sign of LKP "Bory Lubuskie". This area deserves special attention because it has a very large forest cover - 57.7%, which is greater than the size of the forest cover of Lubuskie region (48.7%).

5. The staff of the Centre in the Jeziory Wysokie often organizes conferences, workshops and various educational events. A common method of working for local community are lessons given by the forester in schools. Moreover, in order to reach the widest possible audience, there are thematic broadcasts on “Radio Zachód” with the participation of Paweł Mrowiński, an employee of the Centre. Finally, the Centre of Forest Natural Education in Jeziory Wysokie is also the meeting place of the Scientific - Social Forest Promotion Complex “Bory Lubuskie”.

6. We have decided to show this Center in our presentation because we would like to focus on a combination of forest complex having the plant species from various parts of the world with a natural education among children, adolescents and adults. To prepare a reliable report on the activities of the Centre we went on a 15 – kilometre trip to Jeziory Wysokie, where the complex functions.

7. The resort functions 24 hours, however the access to the buildings and the tower has strictly defined hours. Although we arrived in the afternoon, we went on a tour of the main complex, forestry educational path and the lake at the Centre.

9. In the Centre you can also see many interesting tree and bush species from different parts of the world, e.g. Giant sequoia, Cedar, Japanese Red cedar, Kentucky coffeetree, Tulip tree, Sweet chestnut, Japanese ginkgo and Canadian hemlock. In the near future, as a result of the Regional Director of State Forests initiative there will be set up the Pine Museum in Jeziory Wysokie, with 113 species of pines from our country. At the entrance to the forest there is the beginning of an educational path, which leads into the forest through various information points and the lake located near the Centre.

11. As a result of our one-year regular visits to the Centre we assembled a herbarium containing the leaves of most trees and shrubs located in the complex. The whole album consists of about 200 rare species. Our herbarium has been forwarded to our school and is available for all students of both lower and upper secondary school. Sometimes it is used during biology lessons as an additional training for young pupils.

13. As a result of visits to the Centre, on the way back, we have decided to see an Natural Monument - "The Octopus" - the 150 years scots pine. It is an 28-metre tree with eight powerful arms. This object is an unusual and very attractive phenomenon for tourists and residents. You can relax here while cycling or walking.

15. We hope that in our brief presentation we proved that the forest natural education - due to a very wide audience - is the cheapest, and one of the most effective measures that can be used in order to obtain appropriate pro-environmental attitudes. Such education mobilizes adults, adolescents and children to take a series initiatives to protect nature and the environment. Only a comprehensive, long-term actions will lead to an understanding what an important issue is for humans the act of protection the nature. Random propaganda activities are no substitute for properly structured educational programs.

16. Sources: „Bory Lubuskie Leśny Kompleks Promocyjny” Nadleśnictwo Lubsko „Edukacja przyrodniczo - leśna i miejsca jej praktykowania” Gabriela Fiedler „Rola Leśnych Kompleksów Promocyjnych w edukacji ekologicznej na przykładzie Leśnego Kompleksu Promocyjnego „Bory Lubuskie” Gabriela Fiedler

17. Authors: Mateusz Borowy III n Mikołaj Giedrowicz III n Sylwia Musidlak II b Tutor: mgr Gabriela Fiedler Zespół Szkół Ogólnokształcących i Ekonomicznych w Lubsku