Ivano-Frankivsk 24.07.2026
‘CARPATHIAN FOREST SCHOOLS 2 EXTENTION’
(project acronym FORESTSCHOOLS2X, project ID ROUA00615)
On 15 July 2026, the CARPATHIAN FOREST SCHOOLS 2 EXTENTION project was launched. The project is implemented by the Tourist Association of Ivano-Frankivsk Region under the Interreg VI-A NEXT Romania–Ukraine Programme 2021–2027. The project partner in Ukraine is Halych National Nature Park, while the partner in Romania is the Maramures Mountains Nature Park Administration. The total project budget amounts to EUR 439,859.67, of which the EU grant amounts to EUR 395,873.69. The project duration is 18 months, and the implementation area covers Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast in Ukraine and Maramureș County in Romania.
The Carpathian cross-border region is one of the most biodiverse areas in Europe; however, its natural potential remains undervalued as a learning environment. Children spend less and less time outdoors, which has a negative impact on their physical and mental health. In the context of the war in Ukraine, this problem has become even more significant: prolonged periods spent in shelters, forced distance learning, and chronic stress deprive children of direct contact with nature, which is critically important for their psycho-emotional well-being. At the same time, environmental education in schools is often limited to traditional classroom lessons, while cooperation between educational institutions and nature parks remains weak.
The ‘CARPATHIAN FOREST SCHOOLS 2 EXTENTION’ project is a continuation of the successful Carpathian Forest Schools initiative implemented in 2019–2022, which established two pilot Forest Schools in Vyhoda (Ukraine) and the Maramures Mountains Nature Park (Romania). The new phase envisages the systematic expansion of the model, the development of infrastructure, the creation of modern educational resources, and the strengthening of cross-border cooperation. Its main objective is to establish a sustainable and replicable model of multidisciplinary nature-based education, improving access to quality extracurricular learning, strengthening cooperation between schools and national parks, and increasing appreciation of the Carpathians’ natural heritage.
Within the project, outdoor learning zones will be established and upgraded in four Ukrainian national parks—Halych National Nature Park, Carpathian National Nature Park, Verkhovyna National Nature Park, and Hutsulshchyna National Nature Park—while a biology laboratory will be equipped in the Maramures Mountains Nature Park. In addition, the infrastructure at the Shyrkovets Wetland, a hydrological natural monument of national importance located in Vyhoda, will be upgraded. An important innovative component of the project will be the development of a bilingual Digital Platform featuring interactive educational materials, 360° virtual tours of the five parks, and methodological materials for teachers. Furthermore, a Multidisciplinary Toolkit will be developed as a practical resource for outdoor extracurricular learning, combining STEM, arts, geography, civic education, and other disciplines.
Special attention will be paid to the involvement of schools and teachers. School-based Nature Science Clubs will be established at educational institutions selected through a competitive process. Participants will receive modern educational kits, including binoculars, magnifying glasses, VR headsets, and collections of natural materials. Training sessions will be organised for teachers, park staff, and education specialists to prepare Forest School Ambassadors, who will subsequently be able to train their colleagues. Students of natural sciences from both countries will be invited to participate in a four-day cross-border camp in Romania, where they will acquire practical skills for working with children in nature. Pilot outdoor lessons will also be organised to test the developed methodologies.
The project will conclude with a final conference bringing together educators, environmentalists, nature conservation specialists, parents, and members of the public to exchange experience and promote the Forest School model. Throughout the project implementation period, an information campaign will be carried out, including a series of social media publications, the production of promotional materials, and the distribution of information leaflets to educational institutions. The established network of ambassadors and the resources developed within the project will contribute to the sustainable development of nature education in the region after the project has been completed.
Contact person – Iryna Novosilska, project manager, tel. (0342) 542950, e-mail: office@taif.org.ua.
This publication was been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the Tourist Association of Ivano-Frankivsk Region and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or of the Interreg VI-A NEXT Romania-Ukraine Programme 2021- 2027 management structures.
The Interreg VI-A NEXT Romania-Ukraine Programme 2021- 2027 is financed by the European Union and co-financed by the participating countries in the Programme.
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