What should not bother you
(friendly advice from the organizers)

"Eye to see hand to touch"
(Bulgarian proverb)

This competition is of a new and different type from other competitions. You get the chance to participate in a noble experiment, the success of which will open up opportunities for many students to get to know and love karst. Every new thing has many unclear moments and challenges but we will overcome the together by helping each other. If karst is a thrill for you, do not hesitate and join.

In conducting the competition, guiding principles are:
  • Maximum creative freedom to express the knowledge and skills of the participants;
  • Activities in direct contact with unfamiliar karst environment;
  • Leading role of teamwork ("together we can more");
  • Providing prerequisites for overcoming uncertainty and support of the quest for high performance;
  • Provoking creativity;
  • Establishing constructive contacts between participants based on common interest in karst.

Gutta cavat lapidem non vi, sed saepe cadendo – sic homo fit sapiens non vi, sed saepe legendo (Latin)
Ovidius
The drop excavates the stone not by force, but with frequent fall,
so man becomes a scholar not by force but by frequent reading.
Ovidius

# Karst is taught by Karstology and Speleology, as well as by a number of other sciences studying its individual elements. Therefore, scientific publications on karst and caves are among the "most abundant", incl. in Internet. But most of them are difficult to understand for non-professionals. When preparing for the competition, given the limited time available, please use scientific-popular books and karst textbooks. Such are available in many languages.

# Please read and learn, but keep asking yourself the question Why? - It will make you think over what you read, what you have learned and what you have seen. And look for new facts and arguments to explain what is not clear…

# If you are using some interesting and accessible information during your preparation, please do not hesitate to share it with the other participants in the competition - do not perceive them only as competitors, but as future friends. This is more important than ranking because the karst unites people and creates wonderful contacts.

# You live in the times of modern technologies, especially ICT. But on karst terrain please do not count on them alone. Search and learn classic old methods of working in a karst environment that will ensure success in coping with any circumstances. Being able to adapt to the specific situation using your own knowledge and skills is more important than relying on ready answers from Internet.

# Not the knowledge of facts, but the ability to interpret them, and especially direct field observations would make the focus of this competition. Being able to observe, compare, analyze, judge is more important than reproducing memorized textbooks and books or reading on the Internet.

# In your preparation, please emphasize the essence of karst and how it is specific, in what it is different. Pay attention to what you will need as knowledge and skills in your fieldwork. Also consult with your mentors - they can best direct you to the appropriate karst literature and help you with field training.

Experientia est optima rerum magistra. (Latin)

Experience is the best teacher.

# Karst cannot be studied in a classroom or a lab, or by a computer in Internet. The essence and characteristics of karst are best perceived in terrain, in direct contact with the karst environment. It creates creativity and positive emotional attitudes, of which there is a lasting interest in karst.

# The competition will also have training elements - demonstration of different research methods, talks about monitored objects and processes, collaborative analyzes and experiments ... They will expand your karst knowledge and skills while also provoking your readiness and creativity on the basis the experience and knowledge you have previously gained in the preparation for the competition.

# The fieldwork will use the organizers' experience of the Karst Travel Schools held in Bulgaria with the participation of pupils from different countries. The routes and sites included in the competition program are secure and qualified volunteers are provided to take care of your health and assist you in fieldwork.

# If you have chronic health problems, please consider carefully and responsibly whether to join the competition. If they are still not an obstacle, tell the organizers in advance to take precautions to avoid worsening of your health.

# In this competition, the emphasis is not "medal struggle", but demonstration of abilities to apply knowledge and skills in a real karst environment. At that, personal expression in a competitive environment is not the main thing, but teamwork will be important, namely the success of a team depends on the joint work of its members (synergism will be the leading indicator, meaning that team decisions > the simple sum of knowledge and skills of the individual members).

# If you are interested in karst and wish to participate in the competition, but there are no teachers in your school who can organize and prepare you, please look for contacts with your peers and friends from other schools. There may be some additional chances to form a team with them. In this way you will create a new opportunity for inter-school professional contacts in the development of innovative educational forms for/through karst.

# You are not alone in your desire to participate and prepare yourself. Please seek help from karst and cave specialists, they will be happy to help you and respond to your request to become your mentors. You can find them at Universities, research institutes, state institutions or NGOs, administrations of protected karst territories or speleological clubs. True karst researchers are looking for followers to pass on their experience. Preparing to participate in this competition can create useful contacts for your future professional realization.

Homo quantum scit, tantum potest. (Latin)
Man can as much as he knows.

# In preparation for the competition, please look for contacts with the local people who live in karst areas. They can tell you many useful things from their own karst experiences, share concerns, ideas, etc. In most cases they will listen to your knowledge and your problems. During the competition you will have the opportunity to establish contacts with the local people from the Brestnitsa Karst Geosystem ... Science must be accessible to people and then they will be able to understand and enjoy its achievements.

# The competition will take place in an unknown karst territory. It has long been inhabited and is subject to a variety of human activities. Local people are friendly and cordial, and also very hospitable. Contacts with them during the competition will be a part of the nice atmosphere. You may share or discuss with them if you like, and they have a lot to tell and show you.

# During the time free from the competition, your team will have the opportunity to tell and show the most interesting facts about karst in your country and your home place, to demonstrate the achievements of your team members, to present ideas and initiatives that will become a basis for new friendships and contacts. Make the most of this opportunity - you are guaranteed creative freedom within the cultural program of the competition.

Multi sunt vocati, pauci vero electi. (Latin)
Many are called but few are chosen

# With your enthusiasm and inspiration, we can turn this competition into a unique karst festival in which to "immerse" the local community. Let's do it together and leave a wonderful inspirational memory.