FOR SCHOOLS

SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

SCHOOL OF THE MOUNTAIN IN THE MAIRA VALLEY

The Maira Valley is one of the wildest and most authentic corners of the Western Alps, a true gem characterized by an extraordinary historical and environmental variety, making it one of the most appreciated destinations for mountain lovers across Europe and beyond.

The educational project of the Rifugio Campo Base offers primary and secondary schools, as well as associations and spontaneous groups, the opportunity to approach and experience some of the unique features that make our valley special. Getting to know the territory, its history, and engaging in the various activities that can be carried out in our environment means giving young people a seed of love for the mountains and two days of socialization that will last for years.

Mountains as a way of life, a place for productive activities, and a terrain suitable for recreational and sports activities, in a region characterized by dozens of small villages whose beauty takes your breath away.

With the educational activities promoted by Campo Base, it will be possible to meet and experience, through the expert guidance of specialized staff, the mountains in 360°.

Engage in hiking, discover the fauna and flora of our Alps, follow tracks, listen to stories that recount the harsh lives led for centuries by the inhabitants of scattered villages, like stars in every corner of the valley’s territory.

A true journey, whose destination is our refuge, originally built as a military barracks and later transformed into a place of sharing among peoples and discovery; a simple and welcoming stopover, whose appeal lies not in rustic luxuries but in our ability to lead you to touch the heart of what surrounds us.

A refuge made of people, stories, and paths that start and end.

Rifugio Campo Base and the Maira Valley offer school trips for children and young people of all ages.
For the younger ones, it will be an exciting experience to approach the mountains, sleep in a refuge, and enjoy the moments of sharing, take easy hikes to connect with nature, and immerse themselves in the fantastic atmosphere of the trails at the foot of the Cascate di Stroppia and the Rocca Provenzale.

Older students will have knowledgeable and passionate guides who will lead them to discover the many aspects of our territory.

The educational offering is very wide. The proposed activities, whether educational or recreational-sportive, can be distributed and alternated throughout the stay, allowing for the creation of a customized program for each group.

THE MAIN EDUCATIONAL FIELDS

Flora and fauna of the Alps, the wolf and large predators
Geology: the birth and formation of the Alps, rocks and natural environments
Environmental education, land management, ecology
Hydroelectric energy and renewable resources
Topography and orientation
Humans and the land: emigration, wars, the fortified mountain
Culture and life of the Occitan lands, folklore, ancient trades, cuisine
Astronomy: the starry sky, planets and constellations, celestial myths
Sports: cross-country skiing, summer and winter hiking (snowshoes), orienteering, archery

Two proposals for framing the various possibilities of residential tours in the valley.

These are indicative routes. It is preferable to create customized programs based on the needs of each group.

1

GEOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY

HOW LIFE WAS LIVED IN THE MOUNTAINS IN THE PAST, THE FORTIFIED ALPS, AND THE WARTIME EVENTS OF WORLD WAR II

For whom it is intended: Primary and secondary schools (first and second grade)
Topics covered: Science, technology, geology, botany, astronomy, history
Duration: 2 days (1 overnight stay) – with the possibility of an extended stay and further development of the educational program

Summary Program:

Day 1

Arrival at Rifugio Campo Base
Hiking day with a picnic in the Maurin Valley, excursion at the foot of the Cascate di Stroppia, geology of the rocks, recognition of local landscapes and geomorphologies, how the Alps were formed, the dinosaurs of the Maira Valley
Dinner at the refuge
Astronomical evening (in case of bad weather, astronomy games or a multimedia theoretical lesson)

Day 2

Breakfast
Guided visit to the Chiappera village, focusing on the history and life of past times in the high mountains, easy hike through the woods and to the Sorgenti del Maira
Picnic and visit to the Saretto travertine caves
Return

2

CARTOGRAPHY AND ORIENTATION

PROBLEM-SOLVING STRATEGIES WITH A SURVIVAL INSTRUCTOR

For whom it is intended: Primary and secondary schools (first and second grade)
Topics covered: Orienteering, cartography, survival course, archery, knots
Duration: 2 days (1 overnight stay) – with the possibility of an extended stay and further development of the educational program

Summary Program:

Day 1

Arrival at Rifugio Campo Base
Introduction to cartography, orientation, and map reading, followed by an easy hike with orienteering activities
Picnic and problem-solving activity with a survival instructor
Dinner at the refuge and fire-starting exercises using improvised methods

Day 2