The idea of organization of Summer Ecological Seminar for university students (SES) with camping in high mountain pasture became part of our work on promoting approaches of Place-based education.
SES was designed for students from different universities and specialties, not necessarily from ecology departments. Based on the applications, the group of students from different universities was selected: Kyrgyz National, Kyrgyz-Slavonic, American University in Central Asia, Osh State University, Bishkek Finance Academy, Conservatory and Music School. In total 15 students took part in different sessions, out of them 10 students of SES participated in one-week camping in mountain pasture.
The purpose of organization of SES was to improve ecological literacy and consciousness of young generations and especially young people disconnected from nature by living in the city; to motivate students to undertake further actions to bring changes, no matter on what level – personal behaviour, communal, regional or even global.
The program included studying local bio-cultural knowledge, ecological problems in Kyrgyzstan, problems of pastures, learning about traditional culture of shepherds connected to nomadic way of cattle-breeding. Teaching and learning tools included place-based research, reflection of students’ observations and experience in photographs, videos and diaries.
Sessions in Bishkek introduced to students major ideas that were further developed in outdoor and practical sessions. The sessions were based on the ideas of ‘deep ecology’ and were focused on development of self-knowledge, self-realization, and intuitive perception of truth, seeing wholeness inside and outside, understanding the Earth as living, in which humans are its integral part.
One-week workshop in Bishkek took place in J.Balasaghyn Kyrgyz National University and included introductory sessions on the following topics: Basics in photography; Holistic way of seeing the world; Place-based research principles; Biotical regulations of climate; Flora and fauna of Kyrgyzstan with the focus on Son-Kul area; Basics in Participatory Video; Introduction to Eco-Design; Place-based writing; Pastoral resources of Kyrgyzstan; Hydronims of the rivers of Kyrgyzstan; Archaeological relicts and sacred sites of Kyrgyzstan. Sessions in Bishkek included studying archaeological places around Bishkek, and visiting the city’s landfill which vividly demonstrated the problem of pollution of lands. Students were discussing their trip to Son-Kul, learning some rules of living in camp in yurts.
After finishing sessions in Bishkek, the group of students, trainers and Taalim-Forum coordinators left for camping in high mountain pasture area on Son-Kull Lake area, Naryn region. On the altitude more than three thousand meters above sea level, students continued their learning.
Organization of SES allowed students to see how they are connected to the inner world of local people, able to keep traditions of sustainable relationships with nature inherited from our ancestors. Staying in the mountain pasture provided a wonderful opportunity for hands-on and place-based learning.
Studying of the phenomenon of nomadism was considered as a focal point allowing students’ reconnection with their ancient roots. Direct experiencing of traditional culture included participation in everyday life of shepherds and revealing ecological implications of their way of living. In this regards hands-on learning about a yurt served as one of the best examples. Students lived in a yurt during camping, yurt also served as a classroom, where students had sessions and listened to stories and legends. Storytelling evenings in the yurt included learning small epic Kodjodjash, a tragic and edifying epic story about brave hunter, who by proving his power over nature killed too many goats and afterwards was punished by the she-goat, protectoress of animals, a mythical icon of nature.
Everyday life of students was similar to shepherds’ living. They were involved in cooking traditional food, carrying water from the fresh Son-Kul Lake, making crafts - felt carpet and bags, and learning stories about the ornaments. They observed how to milk a cow and a mare, how to make kumyz, plaiting sheep’s guts and stuffing traditional sausages to make meals, baking bread, and frying boorsok (fried bread). By doing all of these, students learned about food culture and craftsmanship.
A lot of attention was paid to relationships between Kyrgyz people and horses. Students had an opportunity to observe horses grazing on the pastures, to ride a horse, attend horse games, where the students were not only amongst the audience, but also had a chance to participate in some of the games. Talks and discussions on various issues were alternated with moments of contemplation and enjoying nature on lakeshore in meditative silence. On the evening sittings by the fire, students enjoyed traditional Kyrgyz music, two students studying in the music school played simple shepherd’s instruments. Students have learned the stories and myths about the songs and music, simple but at the same time unique instruments. Such evenings were filled by emotions, when surrounding nature became a beautiful and organic decoration for the performance. Such educational activities increase understanding of the importance of traditional values of local cultures and their connections with the environment; strengthen the need to preserve traditional knowledge for building healthy relationships with nature and more sustainable future.
SES was concluded by the sessions on Deep Ecology and Gaya Theory by Stephen Harding, Ecology Professor from Schumacher College (Great Britain). These sessions took place in Kalmak-Ashu village located in the beautiful Chon-Kemin valley.