TELAP Eco-Action Project 2015

ECO-­‐ACTION PROJECT Tatra National Park, Poland 15-­‐22 July, 2015

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Tatra National Park (TANAP) is in the Malopolska region of southern Poland, bordering Slovakia The Tatras are the highest range in the Carpathian mountains Created by the Polish government in 1954 Area 211.64 square kilometers or 81.71 square miles The range & park is a UNESCO Natural Biosphere Reserve Includes 650 caves (6 open to public) Boasts 30 mountain lakes; the largest is Morskie Oko http://www.tanap.org/english/

 Preservation of our planet’s resources  Water and sanitation  Ecology and conservation  Social community involvement  Awareness of our fragile environment

The Tatra National Park Board, in collaboration with park rangers, guide activities with a set of important tasks:

 Cleaning hiking trails and their surroundings  Replacing and repairing hiking trail signs  Protection of non-­‐forest ecosystems  Active management of invasive species  Restoration activities  Removal of decommissioned infrastructure  Vegetation management

 Departure on July 15 from Geneva or Basel  Arrival in Krakow, Poland  Day 1: Visit Auschwitz, near Krakow, then depart for Tatra

National Park  Day 2 to Day 6: Eco-­‐action tasks  Day 7: Departure, return to Krakow and then Switzerland on July 22

Airplane from Geneva or Basel Airport to Krakow

2-­‐hr bus ride from Krakow Airport to Zakopane

90-­‐minute hike from Zakopane to Tatra National Park

 Hostel rooms of 6 to 12 students, separated by gender

• TELAP staff on-­‐site

 A Polish-­‐speaking Horn & Co./TELAP staff member is

available for translations, liaising, etc.  Medical care located in the nearby village of Zakopane  Emergency medical care is quickly available if necessary

Every day a student is appointed Day Leader.

Responsibilities of the Day Leader:

• The direct link between the TELAP staff and the rest of the team • Convey information to the rest of the team • Coordinate meals, transport, tasks, etc.

• 24-­‐hr duty, evening-­‐to-­‐evening

The role encourages leadership and empowers students to put into action what they have learned during the previous three weeks in Switzerland.