„The treasures of Wojcieszów"

 

Implementer: Wojcieszów School Complex

 

Problem: In 1994, the Town Culture Centre was closed down and along with the Wojcieszów Public Library, the school (at the time a primary school with all of 8 classrooms) became the only institution offering children, youth and the Wojcieszów community as a whole access to quality educational, cultural and recreational activities, and to a large extent sport and tourism-related events as well. This being the case, the management of the School Complex could not but seek out new opportunities for expanding its community programme and that is how the idea to create an educational trail with heavy emphasis on history- and nature-related themes got started. This educational trail was seen as a perfect complement to the existing bike trail network running through areas of natural interest and scenic viewing points in the areas surrounding the town.

 

Objective: The main project objective was to set up an educational trail, which would provide a direct link to local nature and history and help the local community and outside visitors gain an appreciation for it. Additional goals included:

- enriching the educational programmes offered by institutions based in Wojcieszów and in the Złotoryjski Poviat, with a particular emphasis on the social sciences and natural sciences

- expanding the town's tourist base,

- organising events to bring the community closer together.

 

Project implementation and results: Project work carried out included the following:

1. Introducing the project concept at a kick-off meeting, recruiting local organisations and community groups to assist in the project efort, finalising the work plan and assigning tasks.

2. A detailed conceptual design of the trail (final choice of points of interest, trail route, marking the trail on a map of Wojcieszów and its environs)

3. Competitions open to all;

- contest for the trail logo, which will be placed on signs posted along the trail,

- the „Treasures of Wojcieszów" photography contest.

4. Post-contest exhibition at the Wojcieszów Public Library followed by permanent set-up of contest entries inside the Wojcieszów School Complex.

5. Making and setting up 6 information boards next to points of interest and 15 trail marker signs with the winning trail logo.

6. Preparing and publishing 1,000 bilingual leaflets for use by educational and cultural institutions in the Złotoryjski Poviat and partnering institutions from the Czech Republic.

7. Creation by teachers and pupils of a publication containing different lesson plans adapted for use on the trail as well as multimedia presentation for use during the project wrap-up session.

8. Setting up 6 rubbish bins.

9. Devising a permanent system of site monitoring with particular trail sections assigned to individual middle-school classes and forms 4-6 from the primary school. 

10. Opening the trail to public use, project wrap-up event and brainstorming session, during which the next steps in the development of the tourist base in Wojcieszów were discussed.

11. Carrying out lessons and activities for participants in summer camps based in Wojcieszów, Podgórki and Kaczorów (5- 10 groups).

 

The project results include: setting up a 3.5 km-long natural and cultural heritage trail, which features 6 points of interest and three scenic viewing points.

Project partners:

- Wojcieszów City Hall - assisted in project logistics, provided access to local maps, provided transportation, issued permits to install outdoor equipment, and agreed to regularly update the City Hall website with current information about the project and its impact,

- Parents Council at the School Complex - funded the contest awards, participated in setting up information boards and plant ID signs,

- Wojcieszów Local Library- provided access to its exhibition rooms for the display of the various contest entries,

- „Stalmet-bis" Trading & Services Company/owner: Mr. Piotr Kucharski in Wojcieszów- provided poles for the trail marker signs with the trail logo, galvanised steel sheet, provided th necessary transportation services.

- School Complex Prefects - participation in works on putting up the signs and information boards, assistance in organising the trail monitoring system and in preparing exhibitions, 

- „Tuba A-Z", a private information web portal about Wojcieszów - agreed to update their website on an ongoing basis with information about the project progress,

- „Land of Heather" Partnership Group - assistance in developing the conceptual framework for the project, logistics

- „Stamps and small printing" Company/Owner: Mr. Jerzy Gaj - assisted in preparing the leaflet, information boards and signs with the trail logo,

- „Our Wojcieszów" Association - helped collect and prepare information about Wojcieszów, assisted during the installation of trail equipment.

 

Grant amount, other sources of funding: