INNO NATOUR
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Transcript of INNO NATOUR
INNO NATOURInnovation in Nature Based Tourism
ServicesSuceava, Romania May 15th-28th 2011
An Italian pre-case study:
“Middle-Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills”
by Francesca Savio
“MIDDLE-EARTH
COOPERATIVE, AN
OPPORTUNITY ON
THE EUGANEAN
HILLS”
“Middle-Earth cooperative”
Casa Marina since 2003
Visitors’ center, hostel and
environmental education laboratory.
On Venda Hill, Regional Park of
the Euganean Hills
Bapi Park since 2008An urban park managed by Middle Earth cooperative, where parties and ludic activities are organized. This is also the headquarter of the enterprise. Mestrino,
Padua.
“Euganean Hill” hostel since 2007
Provides hospitality to groups, nature-
learning paths, sport and school turism and
adventure camps. St. George Valley,
Baone.
LOCATIONS
“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills”
Venezian Hostel since 2011
Another location for group or family hosting.
Monselice, Padua.
“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills”
BRIEF HISTORY The “Middle Earth” social cooperative was founded in June 2000,
than it has committed itself to the following activities:
• from November 2000 to June 2010, management of the Ethnographic Park of the Rubano Forest which included a large natural area around a lake, a big house - ethnographic museum of rural
culture and visitors’ center –, an educational farm and Social gardens, cultivated by Rubano citizens in their spare time
• autumn 2003, conduction of “Casa Marina”• September 2005, organization of guided excursion and
educational tour within the Regional Park of Euganean Hills
“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills”
BRIEF HISTORY• 2006/2007, collaboration with the Body responsible for Urban
Basins PD3 and PD4 for the awareness towards recycling and reuse of waste, carried out in schools;
starting of the project “House of the Future” aimed to enhance and enrich pupils' knowledge on energy
• March 2007, administration of the “Euganean Hill” hostel, owned by the municipality of Baone.
• 2008, menaging of Bapi Park • 2009, collaboration with the Training Center of the Civil
Protection of Veneto Region• May 2011, administration of the new “Venetian Hostel”
“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills”
OTHER ACTIVITIES
ADVENTURE CAMPSDuring summer, Middle Earth arranges engaging and adventurous one-week stays featuring environmental
education activities for youngs and outdoor sports and games.
Battles with
blowpipe
Orienteering
Raft building
with stakes
and cords
Games in the wood
Mountain biking
Climbing
kayaking Riding donkeys
HOUSE OF THE FUTURE
It is a wheeled wooden house that can be
transported inschool gardens, squares,
or exhibition halls, showing some plants which use renewable energy. The "House of
the Future", in addition to being a model of
sustainable house, becomes a classroomwhere outdoor play is
also part of a tour dedicated to experiments.
“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills”
OTHER ACTIVITIES
“OPEN PATHS” PROJECTA service dedicated to
disabledpeople who are given the opportunity to take tours
withthe use of electric cars along a path around the specially
equipped Venda Hill, departing from Casa Marina, with the presence of a nature guide who escorts the group.
Photovoltaic
panelThermal
solar panel
Reconstruction of a
geothermical system
Model of a biomass
boiler
“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills”
OTHER ACTIVITIES collaboration with Energetic and Technologic Services of
Rovigo for awareness towards ecological activities
consultancy for municipalities and bodies training and refreshment courses for educators and nature
guides collaboration with Padua University and secondary school
institutes offering environmental specialization through the acceptance of trainees and interns who spend experiences at the Ethnographic Park or at Casa Marina
collaboration with local socio-health units for job placement of disadvantaged and disabled people at facilities operated by the cooperative, through periods of training aimed at increasing in these people autonomy, manual skills and professional abilities
“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills”
MANAGEMENT ASPECTS
Middle Earth is a “B” type social cooperative.It means that, indicatively, 1 out of every 3
positions destinated to working members has to be covered by a “disadvantaged person”.
For this reason the enterprise is exented from some taxes (IVA, INAIL, INPS).
It is made by 34 members: 21 workers and 13 voluntaries.
“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills”
MANAGEMENT ASPECTSBOARD OF DIRECTORS
Marco SicilianiGaetano BattocchioMariaserena Seren
Francesco LoreggianLuisa Betto
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIONGaetano BattocchioFrancesco Loreggian
RESEARCH & MACRO COMUNICATION
Marco SicilianiGaetano Battocchio
Areas of interest
Euganean Hillslocations
Civil protection others…
“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills”
PROBLEMS AND STRATEGIESPROBLEMS OCCURRED
STRATEGIES ADOPTED
Competitiveness with other enterprises
interested in providing tourist services
Preferential hiring of local staff
Day trips, shorter and cheaper activities options are offered
Nowadays families and schools spend less
Less immediate engagements and
higher management costs
More careful management of economic issues
“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills”
AREAS TO IMPROVE
• Decrease staff turnover• Lower precariousness of the concession for the structures
• Make the work amount more balanced in all seasons• Establish political relations
“Middle Earth cooperative, an opportunity on the Euganean Hills”
THANK’S FOR YOUR ATTENTION !