First Anniversary for the Maison Neuve ATE: Curiosity, Creativity, Respect!

Tuesday, June 30, 2026, will remain a milestone date for the schools of Saint-Chamassy and Alles-sur-Dordogne. Under a beautiful summer sun, the students gathered to celebrate the conclusion of the very first year of the Maison Neuve Educational Terrestrial Area (ATE), established on the site of the local former gravel pit.

At the conclusion of this first year, the Saint-Chamassy ATE received official certification from the French Office for Biodiversity © EPIDOR

Budding Scientists in the Field

Throughout the year, the students of Saint-Chamassy truly made this 22-hectare area their own. Accompanied by their nature guide Merlin, from the Neotopia association (which specializes in environmental education), they conducted a genuine scientific assessment. Their investigations covered several areas:

• Water: They measured pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen levels. They notably observed that following the February floods, the water quality of the Dordogne river was poor due to a lack of oxygen.

• Wildlife: With the intervention of Maxime Levasseur from the Fishing Federation, they studied fish and crayfish. They learned that the white-clawed crayfish is a key bioindicator species.

• Flora: The children collected plants found across the site to create a herbarium.

The ATE is a complementary resource for the school curriculum where students can apply concepts learned in class, such as biodiversity, water quality, creating a herbarium, writing reports, etc. © EPIDOR

A Day of Sharing and Plans for the Future

The highlights of the day included an official certification ceremony and a presentation of the site by the Saint-Chamassy schoolchildren to the students of Alles-sur-Dordogne, who will carry the torch next year. A large treasure hunt to discover the local flora and fauna kept everyone busy throughout the afternoon.

The adventure doesn’t stop here! The students are already teeming with ideas for next year. In particular, they hope to set up camera traps on the site and purchase microscopes and binoculars to further their observations.

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