Category: Social Responsibility

The birth of the “Greek islands trail: Cyclades”

The Greek Islands Trail is a long-distance trail made up of the best trails of each of the Cyclades islands.

It’s a years-long dream coming to fruition. A path that will pass through all the Cyclades and that will be the most important long route in the country.

As Greece is known abroad with white and blue colors, the trail in question comes to highlight this image, as well as the culture and rich geology of the Cyclades to the international hiking public. Our vision is for Greek islands trail to become one of the top trails in the world.

The aim of the «Greek Islands Trails – Cyclades» is to connect the best trails of each island of the Cyclades in a single hiking route from island to island. It is hoped that this route will be the main entrance and introduction to global hiking tourism in our country.

The «Greek Islands Trails – Cyclades» program is implemented with the funding of the initiative of the Museum of Cycladic Art, Cycladic Identity, with the support of the South Aegean Region and local bodies.

For more information about Cycladic Identity visit www.cycladicidentity.gr

HIKE PROJECT: VIA EGNATIA

 

Via Egnatia is the ancient road that connected Via Appia with Byzantium, an earlier settlement in the area of the later Constantinople – today’s Istanbul. It is – as the saying goes – one of all the roads that led to Rome – the most important in the Eastern Roman Empire based on historical descriptions. It was built between 146 and 120 BC and it was named after the Roman Governor of Macedonia, Gnaeus Egnatius who was the founder of this road. We find this information inscribed on the milestones located along the road, recording the distances of said points from the ends of the road.

This road – like any other road – did not suddenly emerge at that time, but thanks to the road-making knowledge of the Roman engineers it acquired some exceptional characteristics for its time, which even today impress the surveyors of the area’s antiquities. The total length of Via Egnatia from Durrës to Byzantium is estimated at 1,120 km or 746 Roman miles.
After Via Francigena and before Via Eurasia, the participants of the HIKE program will have the opportunity to hike on parts of Via Egnatia in the wider area of Edessa. Based on the historical descriptions, this part of the ancient road comes in a SE direction from the area of Ohrid through today’s settlement of Florina, continues east towards Edessa and turns SE, to approach the area of Ancient Pella and then continue towards the city of Thessaloniki.

During the 2 weekends of this project, traces of the ancient road will be followed between the settlements of Edessa, Agras, Nisi and Arnissa to the west of Edessa and Ekklisiochori and Prophitis Ilias to its east.

In addition, this program aspires to inspire local people to follow a healthy lifestyle, through physical activity and social cohesion.

Following in the footsteps of historical travelers, participants will have the opportunity to connect with the past and forge new bonds with their local heritage and fellow citizens. Through a mix of workshops and activities, the initiative will highlight the health benefits of hiking and thus boost hiking tourism.

The Launch of the HIKE Project

The Launch of the HIKE Project

Embark on a Journey to Well-being: The Launch of the HIKE Project

 

The European project “HIKE: HIKing for a healthier lifestylE along European Cultural Routes” kicked off on 1 April 2024.
This Erasmus+ Sport project aims to increase healthy and active lifestyles via engagement of local communities into hiking and related sports activities along historic routes, such as Via Francigena, η Via Egnatia and Via Eurasia – Tolerance way.

With a budget of 200,000 euros allocated for a duration of 18 months, the project activities will unfold in three countries – Italy, Greece, and Turkey, and bring together three associations – Turkish Culture Routes Society (project leader), the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways (AEVF), and the Social Co-operative Enterprise “Paths of Greece”.

A series of free hiking events are scheduled along the trails:

  1. Via Francigena in the Puglia region, Italy (September 2024)
  2. Via Egnatia near Edessa, Greece (October 2024)
  3. Via Eurasia – Tolerance Way, in the vicinity of Izmit, Turkey (November 2024)

With an ambition to inspire locals to follow a healthy lifestyle, through physical activity and social cohesion. Accompanied by experienced hikers, participants will be invited to follow in the footsteps of historical voyagers, connect with the past, and forge new links with their local heritage and fellow walkers. Through a blend of workshops and activities, the initiative will highlight the health benefits of hiking and thus strengthen hiking tourism.

The project will include the celebration of the European Week of Sport 2024 (23 – 30 September 2024), with events designed to portrait walking and hiking as a universally accessible, all-year-round activity for participants of all backgrounds and abilities, offering a welcoming environment for sports enthusiasts and novices alike.

Apart from promoting the creation of walking infrastructure for both locals and visitors, the initiative will empower local municipalities and associations with a methodology for organizing hiking events.
Join us as we embark on this extraordinary journey of discovery and well-being and stay tuned to receive updates on the upcoming hikes that are going to be organized through the HIKE project!
https://ec.europa.eu/info/fundingtenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-%20details/43353764/101134001/ERASMUS2027?order=DESC&pageNumber=1&pageSize=50&sortBy=ti%20tle&keywords=HIKE&programmePeriod=2021-2027

Educational program: “Exploring the hill of Lycabettus”

Educational program: “Exploring the hill of Lycabettus”

 

On March 30, the first step was taken in a plan that had started before the appearance of Covid-19 in our lives.

That is the educational program: “Exploring the hill of Lycabettus” that we developed, in collaboration with teachers, through which we aim to bring children into contact with the natural environment, using experiential and interactive activities.

The general objective of this educational scenario is to offer students opportunities to acquire knowledge and develop skills, values and mindsets that will allow them to observe, describe and interpret the natural environment, as well as its relationship with the anthropogenic, through the hike.

In addition, one of the main objectives is to cultivate the perception that hiking is not just a physical exercise, but also an opportunity for meaningful contact with their surrounding nature and culture. With this activity, the children get to know and walk along some of the already existing walking routes of their city and explore their special characteristics.

Also, the children will learn what a trail is, where we find trails and what the degree of difficulty of a trail depends on. What is a hiker’s gear and why is it necessary. What is the language used by hikers, through the signs they use, and how this language transcends the borders of countries, since from a common code of signs, people who speak different languages can understand the route of a trail.

So, on the morning of Thursday, March 30, the children of the 1st Primary School of Neo Psychiko walked a circular route on the hill, which they mapped, took photos and noted its points of interest.

They learned to distinguish the marking of the paths and the reasons why its presence is necessary.

At the same time they explored nature, noticed its contrast with the city, wondered about human intervention and heard about the history of the area.

They understood that hiking is not only walking, but contact and love with the nature that surrounds us!

Of course, along with the children,  their teachers also enjoyed the trip! After all, hiking is a “sport”, truly for everyone.

We hope that these kinds of experiences will follow the children as they grow up, and will be the trigger for their own journey on the paths of the world.

 

Trails and Wildfires

Trails and Wildfires

 

A difficult and cruel Greek summer is slowly coming to its end. A summer stigmatized by the prolonged, exhausting heatwave in many parts of the country, but mostly by the smoke of wildfires, keeping our mind focused on the climate crisis that makes its face increasingly obvious. Our hearts and minds extend to our fellow citizens suffering from the wildfires’ consequences, their desperation over lost fortunes, their fear that their homes and way of life will never be the same again, the lost forests, the creatures of the earth that failed to escape or still suffer from the effects of the fire on their bodies.

We must, however, look at the bigger picture, and at how we can prevent and facilitate the management of similar situations in the future. Trails are an excellent tool, as they facilitate access to remote, densely wooded areas. Their constant care and maintenance, so that they can ultimately function – and – as fire zones at the critical moment, is crucial.

Frequented paths are also an excellent prevention tool, as they contribute to the detection of dangerous piles of concentrated waste or other combustible material, cables neighboring trees, or illegal activities that cause sparks. Moreover, walking paths can prevent malicious arson plans, as the frequent movement of hikers discourages such preparations.

On our front, we are working towards enabling hikers to be more informed as well as active allies of the forest and specialized civil protection services which are chronically suffering from a severe lack of staff and budget. By using the dedicated websites and applications for the paths available, they can immediately inform the competent management organization of the respective path on which they are walking about any dangerous points crossed, requesting the appropriate intervention.

And finally… awareness!!! Citizens who hike and enjoy excursions and activities in the countryside, who are in contact with nature, and do not see it as something dangerous and remote from them, but as an element continuing and complementing themselves, their daily life and their well-being, will be less indifferent, and will push the authorities to adopt the necessary measures and policies so that scenes like the ones that made our hearts dark this summer are kept to the minimum possible.

Click edit button to change this text.

 

We support Project Pathways in Ikaria island!

We support Project Pathways in Ikaria island!

Put on the ecotourism radar by recent media coverage and its classification as a blue zone, Ikaria has seen a sudden surge in visitors. Every year, more and more campers and hikers from all over the world are attracted to the island by its rugged and uncharted terrain. However, with so many visitors leaving behind new paths and clearings, the tourist footprint is beginning to take its toll on Ikaria’s delicate ecosystem.

Far from trying to stop visitors from seeing the island’s magnificent natural beauty, Project Pathways is an initiative to promote sustainable tourism. However, we can’t do it alone! With a task force of volunteers, the Ikarian Centre aims to reopen and remark the island’s overgrown pathways. Clear, well-marked pathways will allow walkers and more adventurous hikers to have maximum access with minimal environmental impact.

The project will start in Arethousa, a village of historical and cultural importance. In the face of the Greek financial crisis, building sustainable hiking paths will help the local community to develop eco-tourism. We also hope to empower the local community, proving that a healthy environment and local traditions are valuable for sustainable development.

Summary:

During 12 days in June, volunteers will work on a 3-km path leading to a beach that is currently only accessible by sea.

When: 4-16 June 2016

Where: Arethousa, Ikaria

Accommodation: Shared accommodation provided at the Ikarian center

Answers to some frequently asked questions, and the application form can be found on the project’s website: www.ikariancentre.com/lang/en/pathways