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Athens Environmental Foundation
and Jean-Michel Cousteau’ Ocean Futures Society
are proud to present the
“Ambassadors of the Environment”
at the Grecotel Cape Sounion,
Greece
Click here for a
description of the Grecotel AOTE experience
The view at sunset from the Capte
Sounio Grecotel is breathtaking. This is the site
for the summer, 2007 launch of a new AOTE program. Photo credit: Karen Keltner, Ocean Futures Society
In an exclusive partnership with the Athens Environmental
Foundation (AEF), Jean-Michel Cousteau (JMC) and Ocean Futures Society (OFS)
are bringing their “Ambassadors of the Environment” (AOTE) programme to the
luxury Grecotel Hotel Cape Sounio from 2007..
AEF
has been in the partnership with JMC/OFS since 2004 and implemented this
program at a children’s camp in Greece in 2006.
When Grecotel officials met with AEF
officials in November 2006, there was an immediate mutual understanding
that the AOTE program performed at Grecotel hotels would greatly complement
Grecotel’s outstanding contributions to
environmental sustainability and match AEF’s objective to spread the
message to as many children as possible. Grecotel decided to launch this
educational program at the Grecotel Cape Sounio,
using the local consultancy of AEF with its full access to the AOTE
resources at OFS in the US.
Click here to View Jean-Michel
Cousteau’s Grecotel Message
Becoming
an Ambassador of the Environment
Ambassadors
of the Environment by Jean-Michel Cousteau introduces young people to
the natural wonders and rich cultural traditions of Greece. Sounio’s
ecological resources become a natural classroom and living laboratory in
which kids, teenagers and even their parents learn while having so much fun
that they never imagine that it’s educational.
Through
exploration and active study, our ambassadors have a deep appreciation and
respect for nature as well as an understanding of how to live more sustainably back home.
THE TEAM
The trainers who engage Ambassadors at Grecotel
Cape Sounio have knowledge of natural or
environmental science, are over 21 and have experience working with young
people. They are First Aid and Water Safety certified. They are qualified and
certified by Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Oceans Future Society, which is led by
renowned marine biologist, photographer and educator Dr. Richard Murphy,
who has worked with both Jacques and Jean-Michel Cousteau for more than 30
years. The quality standards of the program and are continuously supervised
by OFS and AEF.
Equipment & safety
From the moment
guests enter the Ambassadors Pavilion, they are met by the latest
technologically advanced equipment including video microscopes, underwater
digital cameras, iMac computers, equipment for creating media presentations,
star-gazing telescopes, plasma TV/DVD.
Parents can rest
assured that the marine activities equipment is the very latest and safest
from hypo allergic silicone junior masks; safety snorkels with non-return
valve; multi-sized lightweight fins with anatomical foot pocket; wet suits
of the finest neoprene quality; life jackets – all in a variety of sizes
for all ages.
For AOTE Marine activities, one adult supervises a maximum of three Ambassadors.
For AOTE general activities, two adults supervise a maximum of 10
Ambassadors.
For AOTE challenge (climbing wall) one adult supervises 2 climbers.
Why Cape Sounio?
The combination of ancient history and natural
wealth create the mythical uniqueness of the Sounio
area. The protected area of the Sounio National Park with its ancient metal mines and the imposing Temple of Poseidon embrace the hotel. Cape
Sounio Bay has some of the cleanest and clearest waters
in the Saronic
Gulf. It is protected from winds and rough
seas.
Sustainable
Living
In 1992, Grecotel became the first Mediterranean
hotel group to form an environment and culture department in its head
office. It is probably the only
resort hotel group worldwide to employ a professional
environmentalist. Environmental
initiatives, including the formation of an unique
agricultural department which supplies biological produce to the hotels,
have been implemented an all the Grecotels.
Here are just a few of the actions and their
results:
Reduce, Re-use and Recycle
It’s quite simple – if you don’t want to create rubbish - don’t buy
it! If you can re-cycle – separate it! And then look at everything else to
see if you can re-use it!
Since 1992, Grecotel has:
- Saved ….. electricity from energy saving light bulbs; central
room cut-offs etc. (- enough to light a … room hotel for ..years)
- Saved ….. water by reducing amounts in toilets, pressure in
taps and recycling waste water for gardens. This is equivalent of filling .. Olympic-sized swimming pools.
- Saved …. tons of oil – by installing gas & solar
energy. This would fill .. oil super tankers
- Reduced refuse by .. tons by recycling
and composting – enough to fill the Athens Olympic Stadium .. times
- Sent … batteries to
Germany for recycling
as Greece
did not have the facilities.
These batteries could have powered ………
- Replaced plastic
(PET & PVC) water bottles and aluminium cans with returnable glass
bottles. If spread end-to-end
they would measure ….. kms
(the distance to the moon?)
….. and many more amazing savings to make
Grecotel a really eco-friendly hotel chain.
Ambassadors will explore these and many other sustainable living
guidelines to reduce their ‘footprint’ (impact) on the earth’s fragile
ecosystem.
Poseidon
& Poseidonias
Believe it or not,
under the Temple of Poseidon grows a “Poseidonias Forest”!
If you swim off
the beach you may have noticed the dense green seaweed under water.
This Poseidonias seaweed is a valuable indicator that the
local marine life is healthy and balanced.
It is found in only a few coastal areas of Greece and
is protected though the European Union as one of the most important marine
biotopes. Its main threat is from ignorance and lack of interest.
Its role is
important because:
- It oxygenates the
water (1 m² of Poseidonias emits 4 to 20
litres of oxygen per day).
- It helps in the
maintenance of the marine eco-system.
Over 400 types of seaweed and 1000 forms of animal life are
found amongst its fronds, and it offers a safe hiding place for eggs
and newly born marine animals/fishes.
- The roots anchor
the sand so that beach erosion is reduced.
This hotel collects
the surplus seaweed from the beach and takes it to our private composting
area from which it will be re-used in our hotel gardens. Ambassadors will snorkel over the
“underwater city”, photographing their favourite creatures using waterproof
digital cameras, and learn the “jobs” of each creature they see and understand
the food chain involving the fish and their neighbours. By learning
principles of interconnectivity from the Poseidonias,
Ambassadors draw lessons that apply to responsible living on land: energy
efficiency, waste reduction and integrated communities.
On night snorkel
outings they witness how the sea comes to life during the transformation of
its inhabitants from light to darkness.
The
Youngest Ambassadors
The future of the
ocean planet may be firmly in the hands of young people, so
younger children
certainly won’t be left out of these adventures of discovery as AOTE
Kids’ programmes
are customized for children aged four to seven. They enjoy guided nature walks,
beach exploration, team building activities and games. In their own area of
the Ambassadors Pavilion, smaller children are able to explore with
computers and scientific tools that are appropriate for their young, agile
minds. Tiny Ambassadors express their creativity through arts and crafts
activities inspired by their explorations and cultural experiences.
Ecological
Principles
• Everything runs on energy
• There is no waste in nature
• Biodiversity is good
• Everything is connected
Activity
Descriptions
Daily,
3-day and 7-day activities suit all skill levels.
This activity list describes and denotes the activities that are for
Kids (K), Youth (Y) or both. Kids “K” programmes are for 4-7 year olds and
Youth “Y” programmes are for 8-12 year olds. Activities may be changed if a
minimum of four Ambassadors have not pre-registered at least 24 hours in
advance
Some of the activities that are available
are:
Marine
Ecology
City Under the Sea Snorkel Discovery
A snorkelling exploration of the magical
world underwater.
Groups: children (4-7 years) and
pre-teens (8-12 years).
All children should be able to swim; those
without snorkelling experience will learn how to snorkel and observe the
safety rules before we take them on their great adventure.
Cape Sounio
and the Aegean Sea are home to many
wonders that are invisible to the casual visitor. This snorkelling
exploration offers glimpses into this hidden world below the surface and
demonstrates our connections to this underwater world. Under the guidance
of experienced divers and the supervision of certified life guards, our young
guests will learn to sharpen their eyes for the fascinating world under
water.
Underwater Photography Safari
Underwater photography with digital cameras.
Group: pre-teens (8-12 years).
All children should be able to swim and to
snorkel.
The underwater world of the Mediterranean provides an ideal platform to explore
the world of underwater photography. Learn how to use digital cameras to
capture your snorkelling experience and encounters with fish and other
marine life. Participants learn the basics of photography,
introduce digital concepts and how we can use a camera as a tool to promote
preservation and conservation of the animals and algae of the sea.
Returning from our underwater adventure, we digitally enhance our favourite
shots, download the photos on an accessible
website, and burn CDs for you to be able to share your pictures and new
found connections to the sea with your friends back home.
Tide Pool Detectives
Learning about the sea from a single drop.
Groups: children (4-7 years) and pre-teens
(8-12 years).
Scientists, like detectives, look for clues
and evidence to help them understand the processes and connections of life.
As tide pool detectives, we investigate and look for clues to understand
life and the animal and algae connections in tide pools. Youngsters
participating in this programme get the opportunity to further detect the
abundance of life that is in a drop of water. We will be strolling on the
hotel’s beautiful coastline, inspecting the tide pools and collecting
creature samples. These samples will then be examined in our video
microscope lab, to show and reveal the hidden microcosm of the sea.
Beach Boogie
Learning about life on the beach.
Group:: children (4-7 years).
Join us for discovery and excitement on and
in the waters of Cape
Sounio. We play team games, explore the shoreline
and use our underwater viewers to inspect marine life. If you’re feeling
extra adventurous, you’ll even have the chance to try out snorkelling, or
catch a wave on a boogie board!
Canoe & Snorkelling Exploration
Life on this ocean planet comes in a wild
array of shapes and sizes.
Group: pre-teens (8-12 years).
This activity will be supervised by
experienced instructors and accompanied by a lifeboat.
All children should be able to swim and to
snorkel.
Different species live in different places
and behave in wildly different ways. But despite their diversity, plants
and animals need a lot of the same things to survive: energy, a clean
environment with no waste, biodiversity, and to work together in a
connected community. Our young guests will learn canoeing and snorkelling techniques
before we set out canoeing along the coastline to explore the sea’s plant
and animal communities and their connections.
Terrestrial
Ecology
Smell, Taste, and No Waste
An unforgettable tour in an ecological
garden to see how nature works in coastal habitats.
Groups: children (4-7 years) and
pre-teens (8-12 years).
Throughout history each and every culture
has used the local plants for their survival. We roll up our sleeves and
watch life itself sprout up from the earth in our organic garden. We learn
eco-friendly methods to grow organic food and keep our environment healthy,
too, while also learning and practicing composting as a way to be more like
nature and have no waste.
Sustainable
Living
Solar Fun: Science, Art, and
Cooking
Solar energy is important but must be used
in a sustainable way.
Groups: children (4-7 years) and
pre-teens (8-12 years).
The sun is the closest star to Earth and is
the centre of our solar system. A giant, spinning ball of hot gas, its
light heats our world and makes all life possible. Through a series of
hands-on experiments, we learn how to use the sun to our advantage as we
create our own solar powered machines (of course, using recycled material),
make our own paper by using solar energy and explore the power of the sun
in many other experiments. And then we will enjoy tasty treats that have been
cooked in our solar oven!
From Junk to Funk
Learning about the three Rs–reduce,
reuse and recycle.
Groups: children (4-7 years) and
pre-teens (8-12 years).
Hike along the hills of Attica,
along olive groves, in our organic garden, and along the seashore to learn
about the Greek history, myths, and connections to the natural world. Along
our hike we discuss how in ancient Greece a respect and protection
for nature’s plants and animals minimized their eco footprint on the
environment by naturally living by the three R’s. By looking at our own
ways of living today, and ways that the hotel has improved its
eco-footprint, we learn how we can live more sustainably
and have lighter eco-footprints on the planet, while at the same time
making art from materials we originally thought were junk!
Team
Challenge Games
Team Challenge
Scale a six-meter climbing wall: can you do
it?
Groups:
children (4-7 years) and pre-teens (8-12 years).
One instructor supervises two climbers. All
necessary safety measures will be provided.
Learn climbing techniques and maybe even
discover a new-found talent or fine tune your abilities to negotiate the
variety of holds. Through a series of group initiatives and fun but
challenging games, we develop communication skills and the ability to work
together as a team, as well as leadership skills.
The Grecotel Challenge Cup
A nature challenge.
Groups: children (4-7 years) and
pre-teens (8-12 years).
All participating Ambassadors of the
Environment are invited to participate in the Grecotel Challenge Cup each
week after having participated in previous Ambassadors of the Environment,
Grecotel activities. Through a nature treasure hunt kids and youngsters
will use their knowledge of the ecosystems and animals that they learned
about to answer and find clues that will lead them to the treasure.
Ambassadors gain the treasure of environmental knowledge and leadership as
well as a newfound responsibility to protect the environment.
After
Sunset
Sea at Night or Plankton Night
Snorkel
Learning about nocturnal sea creatures.
Group: pre-teens (8-12 years).
Previous snorkelling experience required.
Nightlife in the sea is as strange and
different as it is in a human city. Many sea residents are nocturnal, never
seen by snorkellers during the day. Many fish
that are active during the day put on their pyjamas (change colour) and go
to sleep, while other organisms at night emerge under the cover of
darkness, turn on their night-lights and bioluminescence in the darkness.
With flashlights and trained Naturalists we take the intrepid and curious
on a snorkelling adventure of a lifetime to discover the fascinating world
of the sea at night.
Greek Starry Nights
Using the stars to navigate.
Groups: children (4-7 years) and
pre-teens (8-12 years).
Discovering the constellations in the night
sky instantly connects us with the history of our species, through the
myths and legends that have been constructed around them. We learn how
ancient navigators used the stars to make their way across uncharted seas
to discover new lands and return home safely. A closer look at these
glowing balls of gas help us understand what a star actually is, and
provide a picture perfect story of all the Greek stars/heroes that are
visible to all and thus known worldwide.
“Movie Nights
Jean-Michel Cousteau’s underwater
explorations.
Groups: open to all children &
teenagers who are resident in the hotel. No charge
Dive in with Jean-Michel Cousteau and his
dive team, swim with sharks, or pretend you are a fish during movie nights
at the AOTE activity centre. For those who dreamed of diving in the world’s
oceans can, without a SCUBA tank, get wet and learn about the diverse
animals and plants under the sea.
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