Psiloritis Geopark offers a variety of educational activities for students and children who visit the Park and the Information Center. These include:

The Information Center of the Psiloritis Geopark operates on the ground floor of the AKOMM building, at the entrance of the village of Anogeia, on the road from Heraklion. It includes educational and informational materials and small experimental setups, dioramas (of a cave, a mountain ecosystem, and a traditional Anogeia house), an exhibition of local products, as well as a small collection of rocks and fossils from the geopark area and digital educational tools. Guided tours are available in Greek and English.

  

The Psiloritis Geopark staff organizes or participates, upon invitation, in informational and/or educational field activities related to the park’s subjects. During these activities, students can observe and learn about the geological and other aspects of the Geopark’s identity outside the classroom.

 

 

E-Geodiscover educational app for Android devices

Discover the trails of Mygia and Gonies while learning about the geology, culture, and environment of the Geopark by downloading the free educational apps for Android mobile devices from Google Play. The app aims to provide knowledge of geology, culture, and environment, as well as map-reading, orientation, and navigation skills. It uses a "treasure hunt" style quiz along an easy, smooth route on the Stefana plateau and/or in Gonies.



Educational programs of the Psiloritis Geopark

At the Psiloritis Geopark Information Center, 1–2-hour educational programs are carried out, consisting of an introductory presentation and short playful activities. The topics of each program can be enriched depending on each class's goals, with additional activities developed within independent targeted actions (e.g., ecological foodprint, local products, threats to mountain ecosystems). 

1. 1. Psiloritis: Global Geopark UNESCO (Primary – High School) What is a Geopark and what does it do? What are geosites and what is the geodiversity of Psiloritis? What is the paleogeographic evolution of Crete? How is geology related to the animals, plants and people of Psiloritis?

2. Fairy Tale in the Geopark Psiloritis (Kindergarten – 3rd Grade) Who studies rocks? What is a Geopark and what does it do? What could be a geosite and what not? What does geology have to do with myths?

Play with a myth of the Psiloritis Geopark!

3. Biodiversity and Psiloritis Geopark (4th Grade – High School) What is a Geopark and what does it do? What are geodiversity and biodiversity? How are they related? Unique plants and animals of Psiloritis Geopark: their stories and threats

 


Educational museum suitcases with different themes

During the implementation of various projects and in cooperation with different institutions, the Psiloritis Geopark has developed several museum suitcases, used during school visits or lent to local educators. These include:

“The Underground Journey of Water”Developed within the LEADER+ program in collaboration with AKOMM – Psiloritis Development Agency and the Natural History Museum of Crete.

This kit explains the relationship between limestone and water, the underground flow of water through rocks, the formation of karst structures, and the biodiversity in such ecosystems (e.g., cave life). It includes: – instructions and a theory book – folders with experiments and games (crosswords, puzzles) – two board games Target group: final years of primary school, junior high students, and their educators.



2. ““Climate Change and Island Geoparks”Created within the GEO-IN Interreg program in cooperation with the UNESCO Global Geoparks of Troodos, Sitia, Lesvos, and the Natural History Museum of Crete.

This suitcase helps understand climate change, the environmental "footprint" of modern life, and natural phenomena caused by these pressures. It includes: – instructions and a theory book – folders with activities and games – posters, maps – two board games Target group: ages 8–14 and their educators.



“Reduce–Reuse–Recycle” Developed within the HORIZON 2020 RURITAGE project, with contributions from the Environmental Education Center of Anogeia (KPE), the Natural History Museum of Crete, and AELIA Sustainable Engineering. 

This suitcase aims to inform and raise awareness on environmental issues related to reduction, reuse, and recycling of materials — especially plastic. All necessary materials are available digitally. It includes: – a teacher’s guide – theoretical content and activity materials – three core activities on relevant topics Target group: students in 2nd–6th grade and their educators.



Additional museum suitcases, available at the Psiloritis Geopark Information Center and used during school visits (depending on the visit’s theme), include: Bonelli’s Eagle: The Eagle of the Mediterranean” – “Natura 2000 Areas of Crete: Stories of Thousands of Years” (Hellenic Ornithological Society) and – LIFE GRECABAT project suitcase..