Capacity Building for the Educational Service of Gaia Biological Park
Vila Nova de Gaia, 2023-2024
Photo from the training session “Principles of Sheep Shearing” organized by Saber Fazer at the Gaia Biological Park
In 2023, we were asked to train the educational staff at the Gaia Biological Park with the goal of developing new activities related to the Wool Cycle for various audiences, making use of the park’s existing resources.
The Gaia Biological Park already had a small flock of Bordaleira da Serra da Estrela sheep, whose wool had been used to organize various activities in previous years, but the team felt the need to expand their knowledge in this area and also to improve the annual shearing process carried out at the Park itself.
To this end, training sessions were organized on wool processing and sheep shearing, with a view to using wool from the Park’s own flock and incorporating the wool production cycle into the annual educational activities.
In 2024, a request was made for new training, this time in the production of textile flax, again with the aim of eventually integrating this activity into the educational offerings of the Gaia Biological Park.
Following this project, the staff began incorporating activities related to the Wool Cycle into the Park’s annual educational program, and the Flax Cycle began to be organized annually.
“Principles of Sheep Shearing” Course
The purpose of this training was to equip the staff who manage the herd at the Biological Park with the skills needed to independently carry out the mandatory annual shearing, thereby providing the raw materials necessary for the Educational Department to carry out its activities.
“Wool—From Sheep to Yarn” Course
The goal of this course was to equip the Educational Services team with knowledge on the topic of wool—from sheep to yarn—enabling them to organize activities centered on this theme for all types of audiences.
“Textile Linen Production” Course
The goal of this training was to equip the Educational Services team with the skills to produce flax for textile purposes using the regional Galician flax variety, thereby enabling the organization of activities on this topic for all types of audiences.
