Cultural and educational events at the “Cape Komariv on Bakota” eco-station.
Summer camp “Suslik-Camp” 2022
In the summer of 2022, the Suslik Camp eco-camp was held for children from the Kelmenetska territorial community. The program combined discussions on scientists’ work with hands-on activities that introduced participants to the path of becoming environmentalists and workshops focused on researching, conserving, and protecting local flora and fauna. The children also learned the basics of protected areas and explored ways to identify and prevent poaching. In addition, the camp placed a strong emphasis on healthy eating and the principles of permaculture.
Among the guests of Kelmenetska was Volodymyr Yarotsky, a skilled tracker, who conducted a wilderness survival workshop for children, teaching them the rules of ecotourism and, most interestingly (according to feedback from our participants), how to identify animals by their tracks. It was possible to see even a rare species — the European ground squirrel. We plan to hold such a camp at our eco-station every year. Special thanks to the employees of the Hotynsky National Park for their assistance in organizing the event, and to Mykhailo Rusyn and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund for the financial support provided to implement these ideas!
Studying bats with students of the Kelmenetska territorial community.
Our bat research has inspired local schoolchildren. Ten-graders reached out to us, expressing their desire to help in studying bats of the Kelmenetska territorial community. They were so enthusiastic that one of our expedition participants, 10th-grader Lina, wrote her first scientific paper and won the second place in the regional competition of research projects.
Tours of the Kelmenetska territorial community.
In collaboration with the Hotyn National Park, we conduct excursions around the Kelmenetska territorial community. We practice research excursions for schoolchildren.
Support for traditional farming practices
We started bringing together local farmers engaged in cheese making to support their activities.
Shepherding was one of the traditional activities of farmers in this region. With the right approach to grazing, such farms benefit wildlife and their habitats. In particular, thanks to the presence of grazing areas for livestock, colonies of European ground squirrels have been preserved in Kelmenetska. In the future, we plan to hold a cheese festival in the Kelmenetska OTG and also establish our own small eco-farm.