Fight boredom, whatever the cost. The Var community network is working hard to offer a summer that is anything but idle for children and pre-adolescents in priority neighborhoods in the department, including those in Dracénie.
After the intervention of the artistic association Trait Libre at the foot of the Trois Coteaux residences in Dracénoises last week, here are the teams of Petits Débrouillards in the heart of Collettes, this Monday, July 29, 2024.
The organization – of national, even international scope given its birthplace in 1986, in Quebec (Canada) – managed, in the space of two hours, to transform the concrete jungle overheated by the sun into a coral reef teeming with life.
“We had fun with the theme of sound in 2023. This year, the ocean was chosen to talk about science with young people,” rejoices Gérard Lippmann, science mediator.
From practice to theory
Arriving in the middle of the buildings, the association’s tent stands out with its fluorescent yellow, on which is displayed the slogan: “Bring your science, not your strawberry.” But despite the garish aesthetics of the device, there is no crowd. Five children, at most, take turns on the stand run by Gérard and his young colleague, Justin Pedussel.
Far from being discouraged, the two men carry out various experiments and quizzes on marine biodiversity. “The fish’s tail looks like a mackerel!”Maher guesses correctly, pointing to a partial photo of the animal. A few minutes earlier, the little boy was carefully dipping a hard-boiled egg to watch it float in a jar filled with different liquids: water, dishwashing liquid, vinegar…
“By presenting them with concrete experiences, it allows children to internalize general concepts such as density, Archimedes’ thrust, etc.”Justin reveals. When asked how many grams of salt are in a liter of sea water, the small group cries out in unison: “35 grammes!” (34.7 on average, Editor’s note). A sign that the intervention of the Petits Débrouillards is bearing fruit.
Raise awareness
An inflatable structure was stored by the association in the middle of the buildings to serve as an experiment zone. Photo Arnaud Ciaravino.
“It is very important to instill a scientific culture from a young agesupports Gérard Lippmann, with three years of experience in the association. With pedagogy, we hope to make them aware of the fragility of nature, of its richness, too. This goes beyond a simple activity on the ocean.”
During the evening, other less amusing but equally important aspects of this theme are addressed: marine pollution, endangered species, climate change, etc. “Earlier, I explained to one of the children, who had pulled out a branch of a mulberry tree, why he shouldn’t do that.generalizes the scientific mediator. My goal was not to reprimand him, but to make him aware of the impact of his actions, to explain to him the usefulness of this mulberry tree in the ecosystem…”
For Nathalie, Conrad’s mother, the intervention of these associations is essential: “I try to keep my son interested in these kinds of things, but having real professionals do it is great. Conrad loves it, anyway.”
Additional information: . The association will be performing every evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Les Collettes until August 2; at Les Négadis from August 12 to 16; at Brignoles from August 19 to 23 at Carami; and at the Moulin de la Tour garden from August 26 to 30 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Le Muy.
