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Subcarpathian EkoMobil

Since September 2014 on subcarpathian roads strange car can be seen. It drives attention because on the bonnet it has…flock of blue butterflies.

It is „EkoMobil”, laboratory on wheels, which belongs to Association „EKOSKOP” . Within the project „Alarm for Subcarpathian Diversity”  and other environmental project, implemented by „EKOSKOP”, the car is visiting kindergartens, schools, centers of environment al education and municipal events. „EkoMobil” is not only a car, but also team of trainers: Kasia Ruszała, Ola Cisek, Maciek Kunysz and Mirek Ruszała. International EVS volunteers very often help to them, a lot of support was given by Dana from Netherlands, Nacho from Spain, Jeisy from France, Meri from Armenia, Marina from Spain and Samuel from Slovakia.

After coming to school, whole team has to unpack the equipment: laboratory tables, chairs, roll mats and the most important: equipment to sample and observe. It consist: stereo and optical microscopes, kits to sample and observe animals (nets for butterflies and benthos, binoculars), waders sometimes PC with camera connected to microscope, other time magnifiers and plastic boxes with magnifying glass. There is also telescope to observe birds and good quality camera for macrophotography. There is box with botanic and zoology guides and chemical kit to examine water and soil quality. If the workshop is in the forest, in new “unknown” area there are also maps, GPS and compasses.

Of course the most interesting is how this all equipment is being used. When the car comes, the class is waiting outdoor, normally not far from the school. If it is further, kids come on bikes – very often it happens with the kids in Rzeszów, when the workshop is taking place at Lisia Góra. When “EkoMobil” arrives to school outside of Rzeszów, it is much easier to find forest, riverside or little marsch. But everywhere it is possible to “play ecology”, stone’s throw from the school: even on a grass or a little meadow.

School group normally consist over 24 kids, far too many for outdoor observations. For better quality of learning, we normally divide them into smaller teams. Each group is lead by one trainer. This gives to the kids comfort and access to the “expert”, ready to help in discovering secrets of nature. Catching and observing animals themselves, kids gain new friends from zoology guide. Crustacean, dragonfly’s larva, leech, cyclops, water fleas or pond nasil… so strange and so exciting!  Botanic world is also extraordinary. A piece of bark with lichens, microscopic algae and mosses is a great area for observation. And if, by chance, some little spider will appear – this is a story! Three lessons pass like few minutes. Yes, this is real learning. Outdoor, good weather, no grades, and you can decide yourself what you discover.

“EkoMobil” it is a car for 6 people, Volkswagen T5 CaravelleTDI. It was bought in 2014 from EOG grant 2009-2014. „EkoMobil” stays next to Subcarpathian Center of Environmental Education in Rzeszów, which is run by Association „EKOSKOP”. It is really beautiful car.