Exhibition celebrates first anniversary of Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre
After 106 years of the opening of the Capelinhos Lighthouse and 51 years of the beginning of eruption of the Capelinhos Volcano, the Interpretation Centre, created to interpret this place which was classified as belonging to the Natura 2000 Network, is celebrating its first anniversary. By initiative of the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea, which manages the Centre with the support of the Azores Sea Observatory, this event is celebrated with the opening of the exhibition “First anniversary of the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre – retrospective exhibition” (Primeiro Aniversário do Centro de Interpretação do Vulcão dos Capelinhos – exposição retrospectiva,” organised by the Cook Islands Association. The exhibition will be open to the public at the entrance hall of the Interpretation Centre from August 18 to September 24.
During the 306 days of operation, this Centre has welcomed more than 23 thousand visitors from 30 different nationalities, from England to Singapure, New Zealand to Poland. Nonetheless, Portuguese visitors are the majority of the visitors (65%).
Managed with the support of the Azores Sea Observatory, the Interpretation Centre counts upon 19 employees during the high season and 12 during the low season. Under its socio-educational service, the Centre has promoted in a partnership with other entities has promoted various activities, such as ballet, music concerts, several exhibitions, book launching and a children’s book fair.
The educational activity has not been neglected. Two structural projects have been developed, the “Schools Project” (Projecto Escolas), which monitors youngsters and children on school visits adapted to their school level and to their provenance; and the “Disseminating Science Project” (Projecto Divulgar a Ciência), which aims to disseminate the scientific culture to a wider audience.
Under the “Schools Project,” guided visits, experimental activities and educational games, involving 1100 students from preschool to secondary school and vocational training, from Azorean schools (88%) and Mainland Portugal (12%) took place between February and June. Regarding the Azorean students, those who have benefit the most from this initiative are from Faial Island (86%); however, the Centre has also welcomed students from other islands of the Archipelago, such as Pico (7%), São Miguel (4%), São Jorge (1%) and Terceira (!%).
With regard to the “Disseminating Science Project,” various activities were held inside and outside the Interpretation Centre. For example, the “Holidays in Eruption” (Férias em Erupção), an educational activity under the water theme took place during the month of July, involving 90 children and youngsters aged between 6 and 12, from six of the thirteen villages of Faial Island.