Science Camps as the Possible Way to Increase Pupils' Knowledge, Skills and Interest in geological topics

This dissertation focuses on non-formal education. It describes science camps with a geological topics which are non-formal events that may be visited by children and youth during their initial education. The aim of this thesis is to describe concepts of science (geological) camps and learn about the specific knowledge, skills and interests of their participants in the field of geology. The thesis is introduced in four independent studies which describe a completed mixed research and a solution by the researched targets. Camp groups from five non-formal educational institutions in the Czech Republic were examined. The analysis of camp concepts took place with instructors (N=21) during ten camp sessions. Thereafter two alternative content of camps were established: a field laboratory concept and a concept with equally represented focus on the participants' activity. In this part of research the questionnaires with open-ended questions were used, which were directed at instructors' statements about scientific and educational activities of participants. A data collection for the analysis observing specific geological knowledge, skills and interests of participants always took place at the beginning and at the end of the nine or ten camp sessions. Questionnaires (N=143 knowledge, skills; N=138..