“Geoparks in plain language”: an innovative educational project

As part of the Geopark, the Tonneville school participated throughout the 2026-2027 school year in a unique correspondence project, which allowed an exchange between children living in different geoparks in France.

"Geoparks in Words" is an educational initiative that revives the art of letter writing as a tool for discovery and knowledge sharing. This project brings together students from different territories that have been designated or are candidates for UNESCO Global Geopark status. The ambition is twofold: to deepen knowledge of one's own territory while fostering cultural and scientific openness to others.

Six Geoparks participated in the project during the 2025-2026 period: Luberon, Transmanche, Normandie-Maine, Causses du Quercy, massif des Bauges, and La Hague. The project ran from September to June.

Each class committed to corresponding with a class from another Geopark according to 5 cycles corresponding to defined themes and sending creative letters, accompanied by drawings, reports, stories or naturalist fact sheets! The La Hague Geopark exchanged with the Bauges Massif Geopark.

The project engaged the classes during 5 key moments:

1. Presentation of its Geopark and its school (September)
2. Heritage and know-how (October-November): presentation by Laurent Legrand on the history (+ ecological role) and construction of dry stone walls.
3. Local legends and myths (December): Rhino's intervention saw it for theatrical walks in the temporary exhibition "Goblin Hunt".
4. The geology of our territory (March): intervention by Yohann Poprawski in Goury on the themes of climatic variations and sea level and granites, followed by an activity on fossils in connection with the temporary exhibition presented at Tourp, Maison de la Hague.
5. Observing living landscapes and biodiversity (May): Presentation by Marie-Léa Travert for a guided tour of the Vauville pond nature reserve. And an outing in the Biville dunes with the outreach team.

Creation of a collective work:

Each class created a graphic design in the form of a postcard highlighting key elements of their Geopark: the geological, natural, or cultural identity of the territory. The children were guided in this process by the La Pointe Collective.

In 2026-27, we'll do it again!

For the 2026-2027 school year, given the success and enthusiasm generated by this project, no fewer than 11 Geoparks will participate, with 1 to 2 classes per Geopark.

 Three themes will be addressed:

1. Discovering its territory

The class will set off to discover its own territory, which has been awarded a label (or is in the process of being awarded a label)

(labeling) UNESCO Global Geopark: an opportunity to explore its landscapes

unique, its geology and to understand why it is internationally recognized.

• Understanding the history and identity of the territory

Sharing information about the historical remains of the Geopark and traditional skills,

human activities that have shaped the territory and the lifestyles of the past and

Today.

• Observe the living landscapes and biodiversity

An investigation into the natural environments and emblematic species of each Geopark, the

Links between geology, landscapes and biodiversity: the challenges of preservation.