From 23 to 25 September 2005, the Slovene Eco-Schools coordinator-teachers met in Bohinj, a little town in Gorenjska region, at the Outdoor Youth Hostel Bohinj. We hosted over 70 participants, including coordinator-teachers from primary and secondary schools, kindergartens and Outdoor Centres, who make sure that the programme "Eco-Schools as a Way of Life" runs smoothly in our country.
   
This meeting differed from previous years' meetings, because most of the time was spent outdoors, in the midst of nature. The workshop "The Integral Perception of the Forest" presented the mysteries of forests to schools that are implementing the forest theme. The key aim of the workshop, which included indoor and outdoor activities, was to promote children's forest education. The lecturer presented the natural and social characteristics of Slovene woodlands as well as ways of recognizing and "feeling" the forests. Afterwards, we visited the nearest wooded area and found out various methods of forest perception. At the excursion to the Mostnica Canyon the member of The Tourist Association Bohinj told us the story of Hudicev most (The Devil's Bridge). The coordinators also visited Vogel Mountain, where they saw the Orlove glave (Eagle's Heads).
   
The most important objective of the meeting was to present Eco-Schools activities and discuss "The School's Work Plan" in 2005/2006. We spoke about public relations and current problems, answered to some questions, noted suggestions and remarks. More information at www.ekosola.si

(October 2005)

   
Slovene Eco-Schools gathered on Friday, June 3rd 2005, in our capital Ljubljana to honour those schools which got an Eco-Flag. This year we gave Eco-Flags to 142 primary schools (21 the first time), 16 secondary schools (5 the first time), 11 kindergartens (6 the first time) and 6 outdoor-centres (2 the first time).
   

Eco-Festival began at 9:00 in the morning with presentation of 40 Eco-Schools which prepared lovely booths to show us how their schools live and create as Eco-Schools. Beside teachers and pupils of Eco-Schools we invited to our Eco-Festival also ambassadors, ministers, Mr Podobnik and Mr Zver and mayors of Slovene municipalities. The main program took place on a stage where some schools prepared a short program. Mayors of Slovene municipalities gave flags to Eco-Schools (every mayor to theschool from her/his municipality) which got an Eco-Flag for the first time.
   
The most solemn moment of the festival was when Slovene national co-ordinator, Mrs Nada Pavšer, Minister for Environment and Physical Planning, Mr Janez Podobnik and Minister for Education and Sport, Mr Milan Zver, signed the"Document on Co-operation". In this way both ministers confirmed their support and understanding for the project "Eco-School as a Way of Life" in Slovenia because it has big influence on upbringing, education and awareness of the young generation as well as general public. This project is trying to emphasise the concept of respecting life, strengthening mutual relations and responsible managing with the environment.
   
More info at www.ekosola.si

(June 2005)

   
On 17.2.2005, the Ecogroup of the II.gimnazija Maribor started the exhibition entitled "What can young people do about the environment". 15 Slovenian secondary Eco-Schools exhibit environmental activities of their pupils such as: how to adopt a stream, separate the garbage, protect the water sources etc. The activities are represented by picturesque posters. The exhibition was organized with the purpose that Slovenian secondary Eco-Schools get to know each other better and are connected more closely. In this way schools can show their work to public and also encourage more pupils and teachers for the future work. Also the exhibition offers the possibility to exchange ideas how a school and individuals can contribute to the protection and improvement of our environment.

(February 2005)

   
The national co-ordination Eco-school as a way of life and the ecological centre Prekmurje prepared an exhibition of art work that entered the competition Time before New Year's in the hall of the shopping centre BTC in Murska Sobota.
   
Awards and prizes to authors of the best work were conferred at the same time. With the competition the national co-ordination wants to strengthen the ecological knowledge among young people, stimulate creativity and artistic expression of young people. 113 elementary schools and 9 secondary schools from all over Slovenia sent their best work portraying the theme Time before New Year's with ecological contents. 860 art works in any form and size with information about the author entered the competition.
   
The committee of experts chose 12 out of the 860 sent art works. These 12 will be used as Christmas and New Year's cards for the Eco-schools of Slovenia. The theatre group MI from the eco-school OŠ France Prešeren performed at the final event in Murska Sobota where the prizes were awarded. Work of 76 school that were in the final selection, including the 12 selected art works, will be exhibited in Murska Sobota until 5th of January 2005. An electronic 3D-album as an electronic catalogue of the exhibited art work was issued on CD-ROM and put on the internet, as well. This was financed by the community Mestna obcina Murska Sobota as part of the open tender for the implementation of cultural program.

(December 2004)

   
The editorial board of the Gospodarski vestnik magazine encourages the development of environmentally friendly products in Slovenia and draw attention to those companies that have been the most successful in reducing environmental burdens. That is why the Gospodarski vestnik magazine in co-operation with the Ecological Development Fund of the Republic of Slovenia, the public fund, and the Environment Agency of the Republic of Slovenia has been running a competition for the environmental product of the year, the environmentally friendly company and process, and the international environmental partnership for many years. The winners of all four categories then every two years compete for the European Awards for the Environment, awarded by the European Commission – DG Environment.
   
We are glad to write down that this year together with the Slovenian Eco-Schools project we introduced a new important award that we named the school environmental award. We would be very satisfied if in the future the European Commission, DG Environment, introduced a similar award.
   
The school environmental award is aimed at encouraging the pupils of primary and secondary schools and their mentors to develop products, projects and research that include ecological use of natural materials (wood, recycled paper, waste glass and similar) or bring creative solutions for waste processing (for example, used batteries or similar) or help provide cleaner environment in any other way.
   
We are very satisfied with this year's response, as we received as much as 18 entries for the competition. At the end of the action, all the participants were presented in the publication Environment & Energy, the supplement of the Gospodarski vestnik magazine. In our articles, we will try to inform public especially about those school products that could interest producers or help reducing environmental burdens in general.
   
An expert commission, composed of eight members, assesses all the competitors according to the following five criteria: recognition of the product or research (the use of the product is simple, handy), practical use, potential use in companies (production possibility, existing market, acceptable cost price of the product), actual use (rapid production) and last but not least the innovativeness of the product. The best schools – the Gustav Šilih Primary School from Velenje, awarded for the research on the processing of waste food oil, and the Technical Secondary School from Šiška, awarded for the CO detector – were announced on 25 November, on the occasion of the solemn announcement of the winners. As actually all the pupils that have entered the competition are the winners we have decided that the main award should be shared by all. So, on 22 April next year we will organize a trip for everybody. We will visit the miners' museum in Velenje, and the experts from the ERICo Institute will organize an interesting lecture for the pupils and their mentors.
   
You might ask yourselves why the Gospodarski vestnik magazine as a business weekly supports school environmental awards. We have decided for the co-operation with the Eco-Schools project simply because we believe in their and our common endeavours. We are convinced that adults much easier embody environmental values if they are introduced and accepted already in the childhood. We also believe that children are the most successful ambassadors of cleaner environment. We share similar ideals in this field with the Eco-School. The Gospodarski vestnik magazine as business media tries to realize these ideals among the business public while the Eco-School tries to do the same among children. We will be very happy if common endeavours will make this two worlds meet more often and maybe even interweave. This is our common goal, our common vision.

(November 2004)

   
In August, at the beginning of the school year, took place the first meetings of Slovene eco-schools co-ordinators in three towns. The number of Eco-Schools is now over 230 and since we wanted to make the journey of the participating teachers easier, we organised our meetings in Murska Sobota, Maribor and Ljubljana, for over 190 teachers. At the coordinator-teachers meetings, Ms Nada Pavšer, the Slovene Eco-Schools Manager, presented the Eco-Schools national programme, and information on the project "The Hidden Treasure", advertisement "Environmental Prize" of GV magazine. She also informed the participants about FEE and national criteria 2004/2005 as well as activities of Slovene Eco-Schools. Other members of the national coordination reported on additional activities of Eco-Schools (excursion to Gorenjska region, internet and difficulties in communication, advertisement "A Car in Service of Man and Nature"). Ms Nada Pavšer also gave a lecture on "Protection of Nature - The Basic Knowledge on Water", and Ms Mihaela Mrzlikar's lecture was about "Efficient Use of Electric Power in Households". To present the “Rainbow Theatre” we invited Ms Jana Stržinar, the author and performer of eco-oriented fairy tales with puppets. Before each meeting, teachers were invited to cooperate in workshops. Some of them decided to present their view of the role of an eco coordinator, so the workshops were very interesting. We concluded our coordinators meetings with a visit to an eco-farm and Ljubljansko barje (Ljubljana marsh).

(September 2004)

   
On the World Environment Day, 5 June 2004, the Slovenian Eco-Schools Festival, was held in Maribor, the second largest city in the country. The Eco-Festival took place in the main square of Maribor and included simultaneous events ranging from workshops and best practise presentations to awarding ceremonies, and eco-products exhibition stalls, among other activities such as traditional dances.
   
The cultural event counted on the presence of Mr Boris Sovic (Mayor of Maribor), Mr Janez Kopac (Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy), Mr Slavko Gaber (Minister of Education, Science and Sports), Ms Tanja Mihalic (Chairman of DOVES - Foundation for Environmental Education Slovenia), Ms Majda Struc (Chairman of the Friends of Maribor Youth Association), Mr Ljubo Žužek (Manager of the "Slovenian Developmental Eco-Fund"), Ms Nada Pavšer (Eco-Schools National Coordinator), and the Mayor and a Delegation from Doline pri Trstu (Italy).
   
The winner students of the national Eco-quiz "Exploring Europe's Environment", received their prize from Mr Andrew Hjort (Principal and Director of Studies at Melton College). Both students, Hrovat Marija from Secondary school Murska Sobota and Primary school Lipnica from Gorenska Region, will go in August 7 in a two-week English course at Melton College in York, England. The other prizes of this competition were a kind donation of the Foundation Ana and GT whose founder is Josip Jesih.
   
At the Eco-Schools Awarding Ceremony, the green flag was handed over to the coordinator teachers by Mr Dušan Plut and the townships mayors to 159 schools (of which 32 receive this certification for the first time), for their commitment towards environmental education and sustainable development. In 2002/2003 there were 127 awarded schools and 79 in 2001/2002, which clearly demonstrates the increasing recognition of the programme "Eco-Schools as a way of life" at national level.
   
Overall the Eco-Festival was the biggest event in the Eco-Schools year in Slovenia, and about 2000 students from all the schools in the programme participated in all the organised activities. On the last week of August we will have the meeting for eco-schools teachers, with several case studies presentation. There will be three seminars for different educational levels from kindergarten to high schools teachers, and all the participants will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and best practices.

(March 2004)

   
For the sixth consecutive year, OMV Istrabenz d.o.o. from Koper (Slovenia) intends to celebrate the Earth Day actively - This year, the company will invite 145 Slovenian Eco-Schools to play an active role in the celebrations. Ms. Nada Pavšer, the national co-ordinator of the project "Eco-School as way of live" and the company OMV Istrabenz d.o.o. from Koper have launched a project under the slogan "Each day is Earth Day", with a theme "The tree has told me". The project, organised on a national level, invites all 145 Eco-Schools in Slovenia to participate and obtain the Green Flag award. The pupils of schools participating in the project will compete with their drawings and on April 22, known as Earth Day, the school representatives will plant a tree at 8 selected OMV Istrabenz filling stations located all over Slovenia. With this campaign, OMV Istrabenz d.o.o. is expanding the range of activities organised since many years on the Earth Day, with the intention to increase the kids' responsible approach towards natural environment. In co-operation with the program "Eco-School as way of living", the company has organised a competition on the theme Ecology. The pupils will draw on the theme "The tree has told me" and the author of the best drawing will be rewarded with a PC with LCD monitor. The best drawings will be afterwards exhibited at the OMV Istrabenz filling stations in Slovenia. On April 22nd, known as the Earth Day, the young representatives from schools will plant a tree at eight filling stations all over Slovenia and the schools will assume the role of guardians of the planted trees. With this project, OMV Istrabenz d.o.o is addressing not only the pupils but also the local community. The aim is to stress the meaning and the balance of natural processes through the image of the tree and to stimulate the creative vein in youngsters.
   
The company Istrabenz d.o.o. has proved to be very active also in encouraging its employees to have a responsible approach towards the natural environment, to handle reasonably the natural resources and to minimise the impact on the environment. As one of the first companies in Slovenia, OMV Istrabenz d.o.o. has started to inform the public about the company's orientation in relation to ecology by publishing the Green Report, followed by a distribution of booklets that offered useful information on eco points created for public use. The first Green Report was presented to the public on Earth Day in 1999 and was through the years upgraded, resulting in 2003 in the first "Report on sustainable development" in Slovenia.

(March 2004)

   
Coordinator-Teachers Meetings
On 13 and 20 February we organised two meetings for Eco-Schools coordinator-teachers. Ms Nada Pavšer, the National coordinator in Slovenia, gave the key-lecture on Eco- Schools and the EU. There were also some workshops about Energy, "How healthy is our water?" and some schools presented their projects.
   

"Exploring Europe's Environment" Quiz
This is the third year that the National coordination team organizes an "eco quiz" named "Exploring Europe's Environment". Most questions are taken from the new interactive CD ROM combined with a manual for teachers (learning resource developed by WWF - World Wide Fund for Nature / EEA - European Environment Agency). On the first round of schools competition, there were 1658 participants, and 98 Slovenian Eco-Schools finished successfully; the average results achieved were 25,3 points (out of 30). On the 23^rd of April (Earth Day), 98 champions will compete in the national finals which will take place in Radenci Eco-School. The first five winners will take an oral exam with Mr Darko Hederih. The winner of the competition will be rewarded with a three-week course of English language at Melton College in York in England; the director of studies, Mr Andrew Hjort is the sponsor of two Eco-Schools students. This competition will be organized in honour of Slovenia becoming a member of European Union, on the 1^st of May 2004. Secondary schools will mark this day on the Day of Europe with preparation and realization of national competition for secondary schools named "Healthy food on the International day of rice".

(February 2004)

   
On 19^th December there was a beautiful New Year exhibition in the Slovenian Pomurje region with the participation of several Eco-Schools. At the same time, students from 59 Slovenian Eco-Schools took part in a competition to design a product on eco-themes (biodiversity, waste, and water) and New Year motifs. The best 15 students received precious awards and recognition.

(December 2003)

   
"Eko Bazar 2003" was held from 22 to 26 October, during the Nature and Health fair in Ljubljana, Slovenia. This year's exposition's title was Eko Bazar 2003 - International Year of Freshwater in schools. The main objective of Eko Bazar was to display and exchange eco-values between members of pupils, students, teachers, professors and general public. By putting schools' ecological, cultural, scientific, and sportive activities on display, they were able to demonstrate these features to national and international public, and therefore contribute to the school's educational work. On the 19^th of November the first workshop for eco-kindergartens was held in Slovenia, in preparation of the work programme for preschools’ children. In the North of Slovenia, on the Pomurje region took place the fist Eco-Schools conference this school year, on the 21^st of November. Eco-Schools presented their work and had the opportunity to exchange ideas.

   
In Slovenia, we named the programme "Eco School as a way of life"; it is coordinated by Professor Nada Pavšer. As in previous years, the activities of Slovene Eco-Schools are very extensive and as the result of schools' consciousness about environmental education, there are 140 different schools included in this project so far. For the school year 2002/03, 2 coordinators meetings will be organised: the 1^st was in November 2002, and the 2^nd will be in April 2003. Representatives from all Eco-Schools, which are implementing active projects, attend the coordinators meetings because the training is essential for their work with nature. We are also planning 2 programme council meetings for reviewing activities of the school year 2002/03 and to programme future work. In January, several activities took place in the Maribor region in cooperation with its 13 municipalities and the Environmental Protection Service, to encourage schools to join the programme Eco School as a Way of Life. Municipalities are aware that with the good environmental projects carried out by Eco-Schools they will more easily accomplish the Agenda 21 programme. They supported two workshops for teachers who help the national coordination in its work with schools. We also organised a new working group for preparing work programs in kindergartens.
   
Planning Activities
* Members of the programme council and co-workers from the national coordination will accompany the activities of Eco-Schools, answer questions and cooperate at solving concrete problems. Also, we will attend all performances at Eco-Schools for which we'll get enough necessary finance.
* We will start a new project "Children for a cleaner environment" in cooperation with Tetra Pak. In connection to that, we will introduce a working list for students and we will prepare a professional introduction for teachers.

March 20-23: presentation of an Eco-School performance at the fair "Nature and Health" in Ljubljana in the frame of Eco Bazaar. Eco-Schools will represent their work on the theme "Environment and traffic" at the fair Eco-Celje.
April 22 - Earth day:
* the national coordination and the Ecological Center of Pomurje will organise an Eco quiz called "The Investigation of Europe's Environment". The topic of this year is "Our forest for the Sustainable development".
* organisation of an "Eco-day" for all Slovene Eco-Schools with cooperation of the cities' communities. There will be various environmental activities in many schools in Slovenia.
April/May: evaluation and selection of schools for granting the new and old Eco-School flags.
May: preparation of materials in Slovenian and English for Eco news magazine and internet.
June 5 - Environment World Day:
* publication of Eco news for schools
* awarding last year's most successful schools with green flags
* organisation of an exhibition called "hidden treasure".

   
The Eco-Bazaar is a Slovenian environmental education school project, which took place for the first time in Ljubljana in October 1999, at the international fair on “Nature and Heath”. This year, the event took place from 11 to 15 October, and 35 schools were involved with more than 1.500 students and their teachers. The main rule was, that students, who came to Ljubljana from other cities and villages, should arrive by train and not by bus. Each participant school of this project exhibition had its own stand according to the chosen theme:
* The students prepared, planed and made their texts, posters and other contributions to exhibit on their stands.
* Teachers lead and advise the students who made exhibition;
* The coordinator of each Slovenian Eco-School participated on the analysis of education and training of youth for the sustainable development.

   
The programme of the Eco-Bazaar project was as followed:
1) Presentation of eco-workshops;
2) Presentation of students’ research project on the themes of biodiversity, eco-tourism, environmental education and ethics, mountains and man (people), protection of our environment.
3) There were performances, fashion shows and eco-exhibitions.
4) Eco-quiz (with themes from the “Agenda 21 for Slovenia“)
5) Eco-beauty contest with emphasis on the knowledge of environment and healthy living such as: sport, nutrition, and free time...
6) Teachers’ meeting on the theme: eco-interdisciplinary education of teachers within the education system in Slovenia.
7) Presentation of students’ works on ecology themes such as: paintings, sculptures, posters, production, clothes made of natural materials
8) Presentation of healthy vacation options for youth and their families in natural environments.
9) Presentation of the project “getting over the fear of different animals”.
10) Promotion of Eco-Schools to other Slovenian schools, in order to encourage them to join the programme of FEEE-Slovenia.
   

Under the efficient results of the Eco-Bazaar Project on the last three years, it will become a component of the Slovenian Eco-Schools’ activities. The Eco-Bazaar project will continue in next years, with improvements. In 2003 will be held on the same place and on the same fair, and we would like if other countries could join us, such as Italy, Croatia and Austria because they are our nearest neighbours.

(October 2002)

   
The project named “ECO SCHOOL AS THE WAY OF LIFE” is present in Slovenia through association “DOVES – Association for Environmental Education of Slovenia” and is led by national coordinator prof. Nada Pavšer. The project “Eco School as a Way of Life” introduces complete environmental education at primary and secondary schools. This program can enter a school as a whole (teachers, pupils, school management, the school board, the parents council and the representatives of the local authority). The main objective of the program is environmental education and to teach young people how to lead coherent and permanent way of life and to encourage schools to co-operate with the representatives of the local authorities and decision makers.
   
In this school year 2001/2002, as every year, the activities will be numerous (the project have joined already 95 schools), because all schools are aware of importance of the environmental education and the fact that Eco-Schools strengthens the ties between the child and the nature. It learns him or her to respect differences and to value the natural goods. Eco-Schools gives to pupils and teachers a chance that the knowledge gained at lessons is used in everyday life at school and out of school. This knowledge will be enlarged with the help of the Slovenian national co-ordination with these activities:

(February 2002)