The 1st edition of Geoblitz Albufeira will be held between April 3 and 5 and intends to bring students closer to the schools of the biodiversity municipality, as well as the geological and cultural heritage of the municipality. With a diverse program, the initiative aims to make known the places integrated in the territory of the Algarvensis Geopark, candidate for UNESCO world geopark.
The mayor of Albufeira, José Carlos Rolo, underlines the importance of “involving the council students in activities oriented towards the dissemination of local heritage”.
The event program, specifically designed for the school community, integrates 14 activities, capable of hosting a total of 38 classes. The program includes pedagogical and scientific workshops, thematic visits and field departures, boosted by the various services of the municipality. The initiative is addressed to students from the 1st cycle to secondary education and provides to involve approximately 1200 students from the county.
José Carlos Rolo also highlights “the central role that the municipality has attributed to education throughout the mandate”. For the mayor, “investment in education passes, in addition to the traditional school component and the renewal of infrastructure, by bringing students abroad and promoting greater contact with local heritage”.
The councilwoman of Education, Claudia Guedelha, reinforces this view, stating that “activities such as Geoblitz enrich the educational path of our students.” He adds: “Betting on this type of initiatives is increasingly important and should be seen as a complement to the classroom component.”
The main activities take place on April 3rd and 4th, going through nine geosites and other places of interest, where students will have the opportunity to discover the daily life of the Islamic House in the Paderne Castle, to understand the impacts of the 1755 earthquake, or to observe geological and fossil traces in the scavenging plateau. Visits to Praia da Falésia, Ribeira de Quarteira, the Educational Center of Cerro do Ouro, Quinta do Alpouvar and the Municipal Archive are also planned.
The event ends on April 5 with a boat trip along the coastal strip of the Geopark territory. This last activity will allow participants to know the mission of the Algarvensis Association, through a commented visit about the region’s geology and biodiversity. The route begins in Vilamoura and extends to Pedra do Valada.
Geoblitz Albufeira is an organization of, with the involvement of various municipal services, namely the Archeology Museum, the Pintor Samora Barros Art Gallery, the Environment Unit, the Educational Services of the Municipal Archive and the Educational Center of Cerro do Ouro. The 14 planned activities are held simultaneously and are repeated over the days of the event, to ensure that all students can participate in the various scheduled initiatives.
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