LAND ART IN LANICE PARK

Profile

Students of any grade (from 1st grade on). 

We do not have specific conditions for student participation, but we would like to point out that the activities will be carried out mainly in a natural environment - outdoors. Therefore, it is necessary to consider factors such as health capacity, given the possibility of a dusty environment, flower pollen, etc.

Positions

8

Location

Zvolen, The Lanice City Park, https://maps.app.goo.gl/nfgT6MGj5dJB8r2r6 (48.574181, 19.113648), Slovakia

Dates

July 6 to July 18 + travelling days

Language

English or Slovak (you must be able to communicate in at least one of these languages).

Community partner

Slatinka Association is a civic association established in 1993 by a group of undergraduates and residents in response to the revival of the controversial Slatinka water dam project. The mission of the association is to protect natural values and the environment, especially in the Slatina river valley, through direct participation and increased public involvement in decision-making on projects and documents that affect the environment, and through environmental education for children and young people in particular. In addition, we do various activities with local people to improve the environment at specific locations in and around Zvolen. Since 2014, the Slatinka Association has been part of the Volunteer Centre of the Banská Bystrica Region's network. It is accredited as an organisation that meets higher standards for working with volunteers.

What are you going to do?

The Lanice City Park was created on the basis of civic activity "from below". Community events, volunteer brigades and planning meetings with residents, owners and the local government were led by the Slatinka Association and in 2016 culminated in the approval of a binding spatial plan. The most valuable part of the area - the small lake in Lanice (approx. 3 ha), represents a fragment of the original floodplain forest ecosystem. Nature conservation is a priority here, but the area is not protected by law - it is completely publicly accessible, used by locals for walks, schools for teaching, it is important for the water regime, biodiversity, microclimate. There is only a minimum of furniture by the lake (bridges, path, birdhouses, information boards), because it is intended mainly for "wildlife in the city". There is an area of ​​approximately 17.5 ha across the road designated for people - there are playgrounds for children and adults, paths, a large fireplace, and in the summer a country festival is held on a large meadow. The City of Zvolen takes priority in taking care of this area for people, but the lake - a dead arm of the Hron River - has been taken care of for years by volunteers from the Slatinka Association under a cooperation agreement with the local government.

Students will help care for this site in the summer of 2026 by removing non-native plant species (mowing and raking) and restoring approximately 300 m of paths around the pond (laying gravel). They will restore information boards (painting, cleaning) and one small wooden bridge (making wood by connecting smaller parts). However, the main activity will be the creation of art in nature - Land art - which will remain in the part of the park intended for visitors, children or local residents.

Students will prepare designs together and, at the end of the project, will also create "land art" in Lanice Park.

Students will dedicate 8 hours a day to the planned activities, including a lunch break and additional breaks as needed. Work will take place during the workweek (Monday - Friday); weekends are free.

The first week of activities will be organised specifically (with the support of the university) as follows: Monday - introductory program, Tuesday, July 7, all-day activities in Zvolen in Lanice Park, Wednesday - Friday land-art activities in Banska Bystrica (provided by the university). The rest of the program will be provided fully by the Slatinka Association.

Field support

Matej Bel University will provide field accompaniment throughout the project, as well as a person from the organisation who will accompany the experience in the field

Accommodation (Slovakia – Matej Bel University)

The host institution, Matej Bel University (Slovakia), will assist students in arranging accommodation in a university residence near the project site. The university will also help facilitate the check-in process.

Cost: 13 EUR per night/student (double room)

Details about:

• The total amount

• Payment method

• Payment deadline

will be communicated before arrival.

More information about the accommodation: https://www.umb.sk/student/sprava-ucelovych-zariadeni-umb/informacie/kratkodobe-a-dlhodobe-ubytovanie.html

Meals During the Stay

Students are responsible for covering their own meal expenses during the placement.

You will have the following options:

Self-cooking: Kitchen facilities are available in the student residence.

University Canteen: Lunch can be ordered in advance, approximate price: 10 EUR per lunch

We recommend budgeting for daily meals accordingly.

Transport

The student is responsible for arranging and paying for transportation to the project site and must inform the project's reference university of their arrival date and time at least 30 days in advance. Zvolen is 25 km from Banská Bystrica, and by train or bus it is a 20-minute ride. 

University of reference for the project

Matej Bel University (Táto e-mailová adresa je chránená pred spamovacími robotmi. Na jej zobrazenie potrebujete mať nainštalovaný JavaScript.)

https://www.slatinka.sk/projekty/projekt/4/prirodne-lokality-v-meste