The document discusses lifelong learning in ecotourism. It provides details about Aivar Ruukel's experience in ecotourism in Estonia since 1994, including establishing the Estonian Ecotourism Association. It also describes the ECOLL project which developed an education and training program in ecotourism across several European countries from 2005-2007. The project included modules on topics like tourism's environmental impact, safety skills, marketing, guiding, cultural/natural heritage, and management.

1. Global Ecotourism Conference 2007 Lifelong Learning in Ecotourism Aivar Ruukel Estonian Ecotourism Association

2. Personal Profile 1994-96 Kodukant Ecotourism Initiative Since 1995 private tourism business in Soomaa national park Since 1996 Estonian Ecotourism Association, networking nationally and internationally

3. Personal Profile Since 2000 lecturer and trainer at courses and seminars nationally and internationally Since 2001 consultant nationally and internationally Since 2006 Student at Estonian University of Life Sciences

4. Issues Estonian Ecotourism Experience from Soomaa National Park ECOLL Project (Lifelong Learning for Ecotourism Development)

5. Estonia on the map

6. Estonian Ecotourism Kodukant Ecotourism Initiative Ecotourism Association – ESTECAS Our mission Our activities Seminars, Conferences, Fairs Plans, strategies at national, regional and local levels Ecotourism labelling process

7. Estonian Ecotourism Quality Label Established in 2000 Criterias: Accept carrying capacity Support local economy Green business perfomance Support conservation of nature and culture Responsibility, education and respect Safety and quality

8. Estonian Ecotourism Quality Label Destination analysis Environmental plan

9. www.ecotourism.ee

10. National Parks of Estonia Lahemaa Matsalu Vilsandi Karula Soomaa

11. Soomaa National Park established in 1993 400 sq.km RAMSAR area since 1997

12. Soomaa National Park - Bogs, forests, meadows, rivers - Home for eagles, black storks, flying squirrels, wolves, bears, lynx ...

13. Soomaa.com Private company Established in 1995 8000 quests in 2005 Operating in Soomaa NP

14. Canoeing trips on the rivers

15. Walking on the bogs

16. Skiing on the bogs

17. Five seasons – more reasons Regular floods – a fifth season

18. Five seasons – more reasons Regular floods – a fifth season

19. www.soomaa.com

20. Our policy The philosophy of SOOMAA.COM is ecotourism, which means to us : supporting preservation of cultural and natural heritage educating t ourists and public promoting local economic development

21. Local People The backbone of our activities is a network of farms along the rivers and people living there. involvement in planning guide services other services – food, transport, riding, B&B

22. Conservation of alluvial meadows

23. Conserving the culture of haabjas Haabjas- Estonian dugout canoe

24. Conserving the culture of haabjas

25. Haabjas-building workshops 1995 - 2000

26. Haabjas-building workshops 1995 - 2000

27. Haabjas and ecotourism New product - exclusive trips on the rivers

28. Haabjas and tourism Image building and promotion for Soomaa NP lot of attention from media in 2005-06 eight film-teams visiting Karuskose

29. Haabjas and tourism Promotion of Soomaa on festivals in Tallinn and Tartu

30. Partnerships and networks Partnerships Horizontally and vertically Within the business sector and across sectors

31. ECOLL Project period 2005 – 2007 EU Leonardo finance Vocational Schools from 4 Countries Võru County Vocational Training Centre – Estonia University of Lapland – Finland Schools of Economics no1 Nicolaus Copernicus- Poland Vocational Training Centre “Alfonso Motolese” - Italy

32. ECOLL Partners from business sector Finnish Nature-based Entrepreneurship Association Tourism Agency Wedrowiec (Poland) Touriusm Agency "Terrae Maris" Estonian Ecotourism Association Estonian Rural Tourism Association Soomaa.com (OÜ Karuskose)

33. ECOLL Objective is to develop programme for education and training in the area of ecotourism in accordance with the principles of lifelong learning.

34. ECOLL Target groups: Students who choose tourism as their vocational training program People who already work in the tourism sector People who live in rural communities with ecotourism potential

35. ECOLL Activities of each partner country develop the requirements for professional qualification adapt existing and develop new programs, teaching materials, and curricula test the new programs, teaching materials and teaching methods in the education environment and test their validity in the partner companies

36. ECOLL Learning Modules: Tourism Impact on Environment Safety and Wilderness Skills Ecotourism Marketing Foreign Language Guiding and Tour Leading Cultural and Natural Heritage Ecotourism Management

37. ECOLL Modules Tourism Impact on Environment

38. ECOLL Modules Safety and Wilderness Skills

39. ECOLL Modules Ecotourism Marketing

40. Foreign Language ECOLL Modules

41. ECOLL Modules Guiding and Tour Leading

42. ECOLL Modules Cultural and Natural Heritage

43. ECOLL Modules Ecotourism Management

44. www.ecoll.ee

45. ECOLL Summer Camp 03. – 07.of July 2007 in Soomaa, Estonia Welcome!

46. Thank you! Questions please? Contacts: Aivar Ruukel phone: +3725061896 [email_address] skype: sookoll3