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Kapraluv mlyn, Scout Environmental Education Centre Official: Junák - svaz skautů a skautek ČR, Středisko ekologické výchovy Kaprálův mlýn Mission of the Kapraluv mlyn Scout Environmental Education Centre is to enable first-hand experience of children and youth with the natural world. Surroundings of the remote standing property in the Moravian karst valley provide unique textbook of natural history awaiting to win hearts of young readers. Kapraluv mlyn offers programmes in Czech and English for schools and youth groups. The centre provides great opportunities for volunteers – both the scout groups coming that may involve in local conservation and long-term volunteers helping with operation of the centre.

Kapraluv mlyn venue consists of the main lodge, 3 campgrounds and a small cottage. House for volunteers is under construction. Kapraluv mlyn was reconstructed in 2012 leading to a model eco-friendly building (low-energy construction standard, solar panels, heat pump, recuperation of wastewater and air). Capacity of Kapraluv mlyn is almost 60 beds + campgrounds. Large hall, classroom, clubroom, dining room and outdoor laboratory create enough space for meeting and educational activities.

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! The venue has got great history recorded in a book and several radio plays. It is named after inventor Alex Kapral whose daughters gave the property to the scout movement. During World War II the valley turned into a battlefield where hundreds of soldiers died. 40 years of communism turned the mill into a ruin waiting for scouts to bring it to life again. Location Kaprálův mlýn is located in the Czech Republic near the city of Brno. 134 km from Vienna and Bratislava, 207 km from Prague. Brno has got excellent transport connection by train, highways and there is an international airport as well. It takes 30 minutes to get from the Brno downtown to Kaprálův mlýn by public transport together with 15 minutes walk down to the valley. The remote standing property is placed in the Moravian karst just few minutes walk from outstanding natural phenomena: caves, insurgences and resurgances, wetlands, steppe grasslands and plant-rich forests. Due to karst morphology many habitats can be found close to each other. Říčka stream is running just few metres from the centre. This is an Eden of every keen naturalist. 4 hectares of land belong to the property. For maps follow http://www.kapraluvmlyn.cz/?idm=85 Locate: Latitude/Longitude N49 14.541, E16 44.039 Country: Czech Republic Region: Europe Contact: National Scout Organization: Junák – Association of Scouts and Guides of the Czech Republic, orig. Junák - svaz skautů a skautek ČR Kapraluv mlyn, Ochoz u Brna 235, 664 02, Czech Republic, phone: +420 544 212 993, e-mail: info@kapraluvmlyn.cz

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Environmental features of the Centre

The whole structure is insulated to low-energy housing standard. The water is heated by 300 vacuum solar tubes mounted on 20 solar panels. Their power can also be used in central heating. This is provided by 2 heat pumps (taking heat from the ground) and biomass (wood as a renewable resource). The heat loss is minimized by recuperation of the air and hot waste water. The heating system is programmed and can be remotely operated over the internet. Performance of the centre is extensively monitored. These data are used to tune the operation and also for research thanks to cooperation with Brno Technical University. Electrical appliances meet top energy efficiency standards (EU A levels, Energy Star) Special attention was paid to materials – most of flooring is made of wood and natural material Marmoleum. Some walls use clay plasters, some walls are made of straw panels. Most of furniture is wooden, treated by all-natural oils and waxes. We separate compostable waste, glass, paper, plastics and iron. Eco-friendly chemicals are used for cleaning. Garden of the Kapraluv mlyn hosts local apple breeds and we plant more of them in cooperation with scholars. Part of the garden is treated in permacultural way and used by children of a forest kindergarten that takes place at Kapraluv mlyn.

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! Access to surrounding environmental places of interest

Kapraluv mlyn is placed in the Moravian karst just few minutes walk from outstanding natural phenomena: caves, sinkholes and resurgences of underground streams. There are 11 different habitats within 1 km reach from Kapraluv mlyn including wetlands, steppe grasslands and plant-rich forests. Due to karst morphology many habitats can be found close to each other and most of them are in their natural stage. The valley is located on an important borderline among Pannonic (steppe), Hercynic (Western Europe) and Carpathian vegetation. This is the Eden of every keen naturalist. Uniqueness of the valley makes it frequent target of academic research providing plenty of material for environmental education. Other parts of Moravian karst with world-class showcaves can be easily reached by public transport. They are just 10-20 kilometres distant.

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Environmental Education Programmes Available

Unguided environmental education programme examples and samples: Nature Walks, Caving, Abseiling, Eco-energy (human-powered electrical generator + tasklist). Guided environmental education programme examples and samples: Nature Excursions (3 types), outdoor pursuits (caving, abseiling), residential programmes: Field Ecology, Natural History, Technology for the 21st Century (eco-technology), Our Earth (eco team-building), Eco-school, Wings and Roots (landscape ecology and human-nature interactions). Environmental Management of the Centre High environmental standards were transformed into rules for visitors. All the visiting groups also go through specially designed education programme for free and can take an informative leaflet. The staff members are obliged to respect internal policies that include environmental friendly practices including waste management, water protection and energy savings. Kapraluv mlyn was certified as „Regional Brand“ in 2014 meeting criteria in environmentally friendly operation and local involvement. This is manifested mainly by local conservation work that is undertaken by Kapraluv mlyn volunteers and also offered to groups that come for camping. Kapraluv mlyn is member of Pavučina – network of environmental education centres in the Czech Republic and closely cooperates with Masaryk University in providing environmental education lectures to the students.

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! Main achievements to date:

- Development of a ruin into an operating scout centre (1993-2008), - Complete reconstruction of the property (2008-2014 paper work, 2011-

2012 reconstruction), - Creation of environmental education programmes (2012 to date), - Establishing the Kapraluv mlyn brand in the field of environmental

education, - Starting the volunteer programme (September 2013 to date).

Goals for the future:

- make a small cottage near the campsite into model “island” building = off-grid (2014),

- develop more campsites (2014/15), - prepare self-guided programmes (2014/15), - “Euro Flower” environmental friendly services certification (2015), - finish construction of the house for volunteers – a structure made from

low-energy natural materials (wood construction, soil plasters, straw insulation) and photovoltaic system (2015/16),

- buy human-powered scooters for moving around (2016), - introduce animals to our pastures (sheep, goats and/or donkeys are

considered). Languages the centre can offer activities in: English, Russian, Czech. Other information: Size of the scout property is 4 hectares and there is no chance to expand the campsite as it is located in the protected landscape area near a nature reserve. So we always remain small with campsites capacity about 200 scouts. This is outweighed by the beauty of the surrounding nature and high quality environmental education programmes. We keep bees and produce our own honey that won the prize Honey of the Year 2013 in the Czech Republic.