On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the 1st Elementary School of Kalambaka successfully hosted an educational event organized by the UNESCO Meteora–Pyli Global Geopark in collaboration with the Trikala Primary Education Directorate, in celebration of UNESCO’s International Geodiversity Day.
As part of the initiative “The Geopark’s Rocks Through the Eyes of Children”, sixth-grade students from the elementary schools in Kalambaka had the opportunity to experience the region’s geological heritage firsthand and discover the stories hidden within the rocks and geological formations that surround them.
Through the geologist’s presentation Dr. Sot. Valkaniotis , the children learned—in a simple, age-appropriate way—about the Geopark and its rocks, how they are formed, and the valuable information they can reveal about the geological evolution and history of the area.
The activity gave students the opportunity to explore geology from a different, hands-on perspective, helping them realize that the rocks and mineral formations they encounter every day around them are not merely elements of the landscape, but valuable components of Earth’s history and an integral part of the region’s natural and geological heritage.
At the same time, to mark International Geodiversity Day, the launch of the “EGN Fossil of the Year 2027” art contest was announced; the contest is being organized as part of an initiative by the European Geoparks Network (EGN).
Participants are invited to choose a fossil found in the Geopark area and depict it artistically in their own creative way. The contest is open to everyone, regardless of age, and entries may be submitted until December 31, 2026.
The winning entry will be honored by the Geopark at a special event in January 2027 and will then represent the Meteora–Pyli Global UNESCO Geopark in the European competition “EGN Fossil of the Year 2027”, the winner of which will be announced in May 2027.
More information about the contest and the Geopark’s activities is available on the website www.meteorapyligeopark.gr.
The Meteora-Pyli UNESCO Global Geopark continues to invest in geoscience education and in connecting the younger generation with the region’s unique geological heritage, highlighting knowledge, awareness, and the protection of the natural environment as key elements for its preservation for future generations.
