Monitored Visits in urban parks of greater Belém, State of Pará, Brazil

Abstract

The ways to minimize or eradicate environmental problems have been the focus of discussions and forums since, at least, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, in 1972. In higher education institutions, extension projects on the issue are an important tool for raising community awareness of the rational use of the natural environment, such as “Monitored visits to urban parks in downtown Belém-PA”. The project was developed by professors and students from the Faculty of Tourism of the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), in partnership with the Emílio Goeldi Museum, with the objective of planning and implementing guided tours – and their developments – to the zoobotanical park of the Goeldi Museum, as well as preparing students to work at the institution, based on research, teaching and extension. The results showed an expressive participation of students of the tourism course and visitors, production of academic works and publication in scientific journals. The project, due to the proposed educational experience, based on interdisciplinarity and the association of theory with practice, in a formative way, provides museum visitors with greater information support during the visit and, therefore, the experience of new opportunities for action to future tourism professionals.