Gwangju City Renovates and Operates Geological Experience Program 'Geo School'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 5th that it will operate the geology experience program ‘Geo-School’ with a new look for the winter vacation.

Started in 2016 and now in its fifth year, Geo-School is a program where participants can learn and experience geology through the geological heritage of our region, held at the Mudeungsan UNESCO Global Geopark Center in the Jeungsimsa District.

This program, held during winter and summer vacations, allows participants to directly experience and learn difficult geology topics that are usually only studied in textbooks by exploring Mudeungsan and its surrounding geological heritage. It has received positive evaluations from both educational participants and domestic and international geopark experts.

Especially this year, considering the learning effect, the target age group was adjusted from elementary school grades 3?6 to grades 4?6.

Also, the application method has changed from phone registration to online.

Reflecting the inconvenience caused by many applicants calling at the same time and difficulty connecting by phone, Gwangju City plans to accept applications through the Mudeungsan Geopark website ‘Geo Program’ from 9 a.m. on the 13th to 6 p.m. on the 23rd.

During this winter vacation, the 17th and 18th sessions will be held; the 17th session runs from the 10th to the 14th of next month, and the 18th session from the 17th to the 21st. Each session accepts 24 participants on a first-come, first-served basis.

The program theme is ‘Let’s Play and Learn at the Mudeungsan UNESCO Global Geopark!’ Participants will explore the Earth’s formation, earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the lives of dinosaurs through experiments, make fossil models using plaster, and observe local geological heritage through field trips.

Jung Dae-kyung, head of the city’s Parks and Greenery Division, said, “Geo-School will provide an opportunity for children to naturally encounter, experience, and understand geoparks from an early age,” adding, “Since our region’s geological heritage is recognized by UNESCO as a Global Geopark, it will foster new awareness and pride. We hope many students participate.”

Meanwhile, the Mudeungsan UNESCO Global Geopark, recognized for its world-class value with various geological heritages including the columnar joints at the summit of Mudeungsan and the dinosaur fossil site in Seoyuri, Hwasun, was certified as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2018.

This is the 137th UNESCO Global Geopark worldwide and the third in South Korea after Jeju Island and Cheongsong.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.