International Comparative Research of Experience Trails in German-speaking Countries and in Hungary

Abstract

The emergence of experience trails is linked to the nature trails. In recent decades, nature trails have changed significantly, like other environmental educational places and facilities. The German-speaking countries (Germany, Switzerland, Austria) played a very important role in the development of nature experience trails. The research focuses on the experience paths that appeared later in the history of the educational nature trails (1990s). The purposes of these investigations were to explore model German, Austrian and Hungarian experience trails, to find their literature, to explore the history of their development, to explore their appearance, to carry out observations, to develop an evaluation system for experience paths and an objective evaluation of these trails. In this research the German-language literature was first studied. After that the selection of experience trails was examined based on the literature criteria. This was followed by field surveys in the three mentioned countries. Experience trails can be new ways for us in the environmental pedagogy to learn more about international and domestic good practices, to better disseminate knowledge and attitude in these field facilities.