The award given to the Krka National Park as the most outstanding volunteer organizer

The award given to the Krka National Park as the most outstanding volunteer organizer

The Krka National Park has won the award for the most outstanding volunteer organizer in the legal entity category at the award ceremony for the most outstanding organizer of volunteering in Šibenik-Knin County in 2022, as organized by the Youth Association "Mladi u EU" in cooperation with the Youth Council of the City of Šibenik and the Youth Council of Šibenik-Knin County. In addition to the Krka National Park, the Aurora Association from Šibenik, the Šibenik Consumer Association, and the European Development Center for Initiatives were also nominated in the category of legal entities.

This year, 66 volunteers passed through the volunteer programme at Krka National Park. The long-standing interest in this type of activity has stimulated the Park to construct accommodation facilities as part of the Krka Eco Campus in Puljane. Individuals have obtained the opportunity to get involved in activities in the protected area, through four volunteer programmes: market researcher, Krka riverbank cleaner, archaeological assistant, and educational and creative assistant. The volunteer programme is a step forward in valorising the Krka Eco Campus in Puljane, where the Public Institute of Krka National Park has developed a significant educational and accommodation complex to facilitate the development of volunteer activities in the Park.

The Titius volunteer centre is a modern, polyvalent facility with a fully equipped laboratory for scientists and archaeologists, and hostel type accommodations with 38 beds. The laboratory is on the ground floor, the common room, bedrooms and disabled-access bedrooms are on the first floor, while rooms with bathrooms are on the second floor. The volunteer centre also includes a dining hall and internet café.

In the past year, students participating in volunteer programmes have stayed here. These were students of the Archaeology Department of the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zagreb; Geotechnical Faculty, University of Zagreb; Faulty of Philosophy, University of Split; Department of Teaching, Department of Early Childhood Education and Department of Sociology of the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Split, and students from Šibenik College. The volunteer programme is directly linked with the volunteer study programmes, allowing students to expand their knowledge, while contributing to the implementation of activities in the protected area. Volunteers had the opportunity to get to know the local area and the cultural and historical sites of Krka National Park. Cooperation between the National Park and volunteers contributes to their better understanding of the protected area, the scientific and educational progress in the Park, and conservation of the environment.