Summer Camps

During the years of existing the centre of Environmental Education “La Dehesa” always kept to the postulate to fight against the destruction of the environment. It was and is realized by a lot of dynamic forces which dedicated themselves to the environmental education.

The programs of environmental education which we develop in form of summer camps are a good alternative to the normal spare time of the youth. The children profit from the camp by making them aware of our environment.

The Summer Camps realized in June and July promotes a healthy and pacific living together among the participant. A pleasant, social and cooperative contact between the monitors and the youth developed throughout different activities and workshops is very important for us.

The Summer Camps are for children between 7 and 12 years and for children between 12 and 16. Normally the mornings are dedicated to visits, excursions and environmental activities with a clear educative content. These are realized in an entertaining and playful way. In the afternoon we offer sportive and playful activities like going to the public swimming pool or English lessons.

The groups are guided by monitors specialized on environmental education. During the Camp we work with didactical material elaborated by the Foundation. This material supports and helps us to work out concepts and ideas for the Camp.

The Summer Camps are realized during June and July and can be developed for one or two weeks. We organize Camps for schools or high-schools. We want to achieve our aim, to care for nature that surrounds us, with the intention that education and fun go side by side.

Work Camps

We organize work camps between 7 and 15 days. Thus, young persons of different origins gain the possibility to enjoy the amazing area where the Environmental Education Centre is situated. Besides of that, the participants get to know the cultural and social values of the traditional economy of Extremadura: Agriculture and ranching. But the most interesting thing about the Work Camps is probably their development in the area of the National Pak of Monfragüe.

Therefore the exchanges of young people are dedicated to the conservation and restoration of threatened habitats and species, realizing various activities which help to preserve this protected area. Being part of a particular activity, the young persons consider their work as fertile and necessary

There are different modules of the Work Camps, which do depend on the season and the length of the Camps. We distinguish between three different are:

Work in the countryside

We develop different activities, always trying to realize them in close contact to nature. Those could be:
· Cleaning and conservation activities in certain areas of the Natural Park of Monfragüe or participation in projects of the Foundation.
· Work on the estate with the autochthonous races or the ecological garden.
· Traditional labour with material which actually felt in oblivion like clay, Arab tiles, stones, wood, etc.
· Improvement of the cattle-trail “Cañada Real Trujillana” on its way to Torrejón el Rubio

Educational Events

With these activities we want achieve that the participants acquire higher knowledge in different topics of environment.

· Presentations related with environment
· Observation of birds and other animals of the area.
· Getting to know the rural area and its patrimonial history

Others

We may not forget the realization of entertaining activities which improve the climate between the participants of the Camp.
· Excursions to different attractions of the area
· Participation in cultural activities of the village
· Organization of motto parties or dinners

All that is only a little scheme to orientate oneself what could be a Work Camp. The content of every Work Camp depends on the season, its length and character of every group.