On 2 July, Marimurtra Botanical Garden presented Faust’s Backpack, a new free family activity that invites visitors to discover the Garden through observation, play and science. The initiative has been developed thanks to the support of a 2026 grant from the Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la Innovació (FCRI) and was created with the aim of bringing scientific research closer to the public through a participatory and hands-on experience.
The presentation brought together representatives from various institutions and organisations involved in the project, including the Blanes Centre for Advanced Studies (CEAB-CSIC), Meteocat, the FENOCAT project, as well as representatives of Blanes Town Council, members of the Board of Trustees of the Fundació Carl Faust and members of the Marimurtra Botanical Garden team.
An adventure to become scientists for a day
Faust’s Backpack is designed for families with children aged 6 to 14. Over approximately two hours, participants explore the Garden equipped with a backpack containing a range of exploration tools, including binoculars, a magnifying glass, a compass, a map and a challenge booklet.
Along the route, participants solve riddles, observe nature, interpret clues and complete different challenges related to biodiversity, the history of Marimurtra and several research and citizen science projects currently being carried out in Catalonia. Each completed challenge provides codes that, at the end of the activity, allow participants to open a treasure chest and receive a diploma and a small reward as explorers.
Discovering today’s scientific research
One of the activity’s main strengths is that it connects families directly with real scientific projects. Throughout the route, participants discover initiatives led by organisations such as the Catalan Institute of Ornithology (ICO), FENOCAT (Meteocat), Marine Forest (CEAB-CSIC), Mosquito Alert (CEAB-CSIC) and GRECO (University of Girona), learning how anyone can contribute to scientific knowledge.
In this way, the activity not only encourages observation of nature but also sparks scientific curiosity and highlights the importance of research and citizen science in addressing today’s environmental challenges.
A new commitment to science communication
With Faust’s Backpack, the Fundació Carl Faust strengthens its commitment to science communication, environmental education and the promotion of scientific vocations, making Marimurtra Botanical Garden a place where nature, knowledge and experimentation come together.
The activity is free of charge (with a refundable deposit for the equipment) and can now be booked through the Marimurtra website.
More information and bookings: https://marimurtra.cat/motxilla-de-faust/
