Successful Climate School Festival by the VERBUND Climate School in the Hohe Tauern National Park

1,153 pupils from the national park regions of Carinthia, Salzburg and Tyrol, came to the second VERBUND climate school festival on 27 June at the national park of Hohe Tauern in St. Jacob in Defereggen. On the varied programme the kids were asked to use their knowledge, skills and creativity.

The second climate school festival of the VERBUND climate school at the national park of Hohe Tauern again aroused lively interest: altogether 1,152 pupils and 100 people escorting them took part in the event, coming from 24 schools from the states in which the national park is located in Carinthia, Salzburg and Tyrol. "The lively interest in our educational offer and in the climate festival shows that VERBUND and the national park of Hohe Tauern are on the right track. Climate protection and building up awareness for a sustainable way of life is fun without the usual wagging finger. Kids are furthermore the ideal people to spread knowledge to their families."

At more than 20 stops, pupils could experience just how much fun climate protection can be. For the climate school quiz, the kids impressively demonstrated the knowledge they had acquired during the climate school lessons. Skill and speed were required for the relay race and the "squirrels" and the "nutcrackers" had to build up as much stock as possible. Many kids were particularly impressed with the demonstration of just how much electricity could be produced using solar energy through the solar panels at the House of Water. Finally, everyone had to get creative with the climate protection puzzle, which showed that together we can achieve a lot.

"It was important for us to not only talk about climate protection, but to also make our contribution", said the national park representative of the board, Hermann Stotter, concerning the festival. "This is why we have arranged collective transport for the pupils and have worked together with local organisations like the energy model region of East Tyrol, the Carinthian alliance for climate protection and the Association of the Citizen's Bus from Zell am See. We would like to also say a special thanks to Ja!Natürlich, which provided an organic lunch for us". Special emphasis was placed on only using sustainably produced materials for the programme and the prizes to be won were funnily designed bookmarks from old climate school folders.

At the end everybody came together and the MP and mayor for St. Jakob, Gerald Hauser concluded that: "This is about making a personal contribution to climate protection, for which I say thank you and which I welcome. Protecting the environment is important, the Hohe Tauern national park is of great significance as a contribution to keeping nature intact."

After the first climate school festival in Kaprun and this year's festival in St. Jakob in Defereggen, the third VERBUND climate school festival, which covers many states where national parks are located, will take place in 2016 in the national park area in Carinthia.

For information and queries please contact:
Hanna Watzl
Project Manager fort he VERBUND-climate school at the Hohe Tauern National Park
Tel: +43 (0) 4825/6161-17 or +43 (0) 664/6202 361
Email: h.watzl@hohetauern.at, www.nationalpark-klimaschule.at

Wolfgang Syrowatka
VERBUND Holding Communication
Mobile Tel: +43 (0)664 4125657
Email: Wolfgang.syrowatka@verbund.com