Environmental trainings at the Ecological Education Center of NUM

Creation of new green areas, Knowledge creation and awareness raising

The mission of the Ecological Education Center is to generate awareness amongst children and young people and cultivate their interests in nature, motivate them and empower learners to change their behavior and take action for sustainable development. The creation of the training-tour aspired to help children experience nature and appreciate its beauty, and instill in them a desire to learn. Specifically, the intervention aimed to achieve the following goals: To increase the level of environmental education among children; To organize environmental school trips and field trips; To provide professional development training for high school biology and ecology teachers, both in elementary and secondary schools; To organize customized training on all environmental topics; To provide guidance on planting trees and flowers; In addition, the nature experience garden also aims to offer green areas to citizens for recreation and relaxation. (Ref. 1, 2, 3)

The main activity of the Ecological Education Center is the organization and delivery of an environmental training tours, which consists of five different learning stations available during the four seasons of the year. Since 2011, the center has introduced more than 40 new cognitive-based environmental training programs. These training programs are station-based learning programs focusing on the environment and cognition, and the peculiarity of this program is that it uses physical demonstrations and educational materials, allowing children to experience nature with all their senses. The station tour is organized into the categories of 4th–8th grade students, 9th–12th grade students, university students, and adults. Center teachers select 5 stations according to the age of the visitors. 4th–8th grade children visit 5 stations: "Seed Travel", "Annual Rings", "Let's Get to Know a Tree", "Museum Smart Guide", and "The Underfoot World". Children in 9th grade and older, university students, and adults travel to stations such as "Earth Timeline", "Compost", "Annual Rings", "Food Chain", and "Trails of the Invisibles," and also visit and explore the animal museum, a small greenhouse, and a garden. Supporting the environmental training tours, the center also includes a nature-experience garden, a four-season greenhouse, and a zoological museum. 1. Nature Experience Garden: The originally 0.9-hectare garden was established in 1983 and it has been enriched every year with a few new tree species. At present, it is home to over 3500 trees and bushes of 30 different species. The garden is not only a place to learn and experience, but also a place to relax from the hectic life in the city. It is one of the open green spaces in the city. Recent planting activities include: In 2000, 250 children and young people planted 1000 trees at the Ecological Education Center in accordance with the program of the One World Conference. - In 2005-2006, the Japanese GNC organization began to build a new Ecological Garden of the Ecological Education Center. 68 trees and shrubs were planted in the ecological garden. 30 trees (spruce) were planted in the park in cooperation with Sashin and Baigali NGO and Ecology Erdem Club. 60 pine trees were planted for the 60th anniversary of the United Nations. - In 2011, tree planting was organized in spring and autumn, and more than 300 elms (ulmus) were planted in the garden as living hedges. - In 2014, 2015 and 2016, the project was implemented with the investment of the Japanese GNC organization. As part of this project, 350 elms and 25 rare trees (such as gandigar, uliangar, jodoo, khus, and sukhai) were planted. - In 2015, 10 larch trees, 2 pine trees, 10 cedar trees, and 5 jujube trees were planted in the garden backyard. - In 2017, 5 maples, 2 primorsky champion currants, 2 cherries, 3 raspberries, and 2 aspens were planted in the park. 2. A four-season greenhouse for teaching and learning The greenhouse, with an area of 320 m2, was built in 1983. In 2014/2015 ,the greenhouse was fully renovated and completed with 10 new training stations. More than 500 indoor flowers and plants about 70 species are growing here, and are also available for sale. 40-year-old Ponderosa lemon trees, 10-year-old Meyer and Calamondin lemons and oranges are growing in the greenhouse. There are also many rare indigenous plants, such as Mongolia's largest palm cactus, Mongolian oaks, and multi-colored rose bushes. The operation of the greenhouse continues throughout the year. In addition, they provide free advice and recommendations to citizens on planting and caring for indoor flowers, vegetables and perennial flowers. 3. Museum In their museum, the EEC present over 300 animal specimens to show their visitors the Mongolian animal world such as birds, fish and mammals. Their exhibits are classified by habitat and displayed in their various ecosystem models. (Ref. 1, 2, 3)

• Researchers/University
• Citizens or community groups
• Young people and children