They will have smaller feet and legs than most Via Algarviana users, but they make up for the short stride with a great deal of energy. During this week, students from the 1st cycle of schools from different municipalities in the Algarve are discovering the natural beauty of the Algarve and learning more about nature, in walking tours along this pedestrian and cycling route located in the interior of the region.
The «Via Algarviana Júnior» initiative, launched by the Algarve Tourism Region (RTA) in partnership with the association Almargem, aims to «develop a Via Algarviana in a small place, tailored to the youngest, with a few kilometers to travel (between three and five) and a lot of heritage to discover».
Throughout this week, tours were or will still be promoted on different sections of the Via Algarviana, from Alcoutim to Vila do Bispo. After Tavira and Aljezur (on the 28th), São Brás de Alportel and Lagos (on the 29th) and Loulé and Vila do Bispo (on the 30th), there will be departures in Silves and Alcoutim (on the 31st), Monchique and Castro Marim (on the 01st) and Portimão (04th).
Led by Nature Guides from Almargem, an association that was at the origin of the Via Algarviana, the little explorers have the opportunity to get some fresh air, exercise their legs, but also to learn, having fun.
Joy, good mood and an excitement that is difficult to calm down were constants on the tour that students from Basic School No. 1 in Tavira enjoyed last Monday, between Casas Baixas and Cachopo, in the interior of this municipality.
The adventurous spirit, which was very much alive after school, faltered a little, in some cases, with the bus up the winding road that connects the county's capital to the mountainous area. But occasional seasickness was quickly forgotten from the moment the first breath of fresh Serra air was sucked in.
Well prepared, after a week of hard study, the children were identifying and photographing the signs that tell travelers if they are following the right path or if they are preparing (a white and a red line) for following the wrong section (a cross red and white).
During the tour, there were breaks for activities and related to the environment. At first, the children were challenged to discover and collect elements of different colors, from plants to rocks, and place them on a palette.
Later, the wild boar, one of the many species of animals that can be found when traveling through this infrastructure, was the star. In this case, children were asked to use materials they found in nature to illustrate one of these animals, after a description of this species.
An activity that revealed real artists. With small stones, leaves and sticks, very original illustrations of wild boars emerged. Fertile imagination that also served for some of the students to claim to have seen wolves. And they did not hide some disappointment when they were assured that this species does not exist in the region. «But there are foxes», revealed the Nature Guide, information received with shouts of enthusiasm by the little ones.
The foxes were not drawn in loco, but who knows if they will not be remembered later, as well as the mantis found along the way, which caused a sensation.
This initiative did not end with the return to the bus. «After the walks, students will carry out handwork in the classroom based on what they saw and recorded during their passage through «Via Algarviana Júnior». What can be attractive for the small participants is the fact that their work may be exhibited in their respective schools in front of their colleagues», explained the RTA.
“The objective of the awareness-raising action is simple: to awaken the interest of children between 9 and 11 years old in the natural and cultural heritage and to increase their knowledge of the region in a fun way”, according to the president of RTA Desidério Silva. If the other exits have results similar to what happened in Tavira, this goal will certainly be achieved.
The «Via Algarviana Júnior» is organized by RTA, in partnership with Almargem and the Directorate-General for Schools (Dirección de Serviços da Região do Algarve), within the scope of the Via Algarviana II application, co-financed by QREN, via the PO operational program Algarve 21.
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