On Tuesday, May 7, 2026, the eco-delegates from Lycée du Forez (Feurs) gathered for a day of hands-on action and environmental awareness at the Albatross Foundation’s park at the Domaine du Buis. From vegetable-growing workshops to bonding with animals and moments of reflection, here’s a look back at this memorable event.
1. A Morning with Your Hands in the Soil: The Art of Transplanting in the Field
The day began early in the morning with a focus on agroecology and the passing down of farming knowledge. Accompanied by the supervising staff, the high school students transplanted the seedlings they had sown in March. This demanding technique involved carefully parting the protective mulch to plant the clumps of young seedlings, while strictly adhering to the proper planting distances for each plant variety.
Workshop Summary (by Wiktoria M., Chloé C., and Liorris M.): While some delicate crops, such as tomatoes, failed this month, other varieties thrived remarkably well. This is particularly true of lettuce, corn, and peas, which are thriving in the estate’s soil.
Foodie Highlights (by Tom B., Zoé L., Maëlle G., and Mathias T.): The next session is already shaping up to be a festive one. The students plan to harvest potatoes, peas, and lettuce together to prepare a 100% locally sourced spring appetizer that the whole group will share during a potluck meal!
2. A Moving Moment: The Tribute to Jimmy
During this morning filled with activities, all participants observed a moment of silence. The community gathered to pay a heartfelt tribute to Jimmy, a beloved alumnus of the Lycée du Forez. The blue butterflies featured on the promotional materials serve as a reminder of this moment of remembrance shared by his classmates.
3. An Afternoon Spent Observing Wildlife with Flight’sBirds
After lunch, animal biodiversity took center stage, replacing plant life. The eco-delegates had the privilege of welcoming Quentin Rival, a professional bird catcher from the company Flight’sBirds . This immersive activity allowed high school students to discover the fascinating world of domestic birds.
On the agenda: close-up observation and behavioral study of pigeons, turtle doves, and a very special guest named Enjoy, a tiny bantam hen who quickly captivated the audience. The students were able to interact directly with the animals through supervised hands-on activities and observation, combining scientific wonder with respect for all living things.
4. Acknowledgments: An Exemplary Local Synergy
The success of this eco-citizenship event is due to the joint efforts of many local partners, whom the Foundation and the high school would like to warmly thank:
- Ghislaine Bouillet Cordonnier, for her consistently flawless organization and coordination.
- Aurélien Adam (La Ferme de l’Oasis) for his invaluable technical support.
- Quentin Rival (Flight’sBirds) for the quality of his teaching.
- Mr. Oriol and Mr. Georges, active and dedicated members of the Albatross Foundation.
- The five student webmasters from École des Mines / Centrale for their logistical and digital support.
- Hervé Deville, for generously making the exceptional Domaine du Buis site available.
- Jean-Yves Duron, mayor of Pouilly-Lès-Feurs, for his unwavering institutional support of Albatross.
- Jean-Pierre Taite, mayor of Feurs, for organizing and handling the logistics of the students’ bus transportation.
