Dear Utopia

Abstract

The “Maison du Père Castor” located in the heart of the limousine countryside (FRANCE) promotes eco-responsible and social values. Workshops are offered throughout the year to raise children’s awareness of environmental protection in parallel to the reception of committed artists and reading time. Applying the principles of New Education of pedagogues such as the Père Castor or Maria Montessori, the facilitators encourage children to learn by doing, by valuing their abilities. Surrounded by woods and rivers, nature takes centre stage at the “Maison du Père Castor”. This beneficial and preserved nature offers a safe haven for everyone. The diversity of activities promotes intergenerational encounters and knowledge sharing. The cocoon hammocks in the wooded park offer an exceptional reading time, and, very soon, children with reading difficulties, will be able to benefit from animal mediation with the “Reading with the dog” programme. The “Maison du Père Castor” will be soon accessible by a soft path from the village. This adventure would never have been possible without the utopian vision of Paul Faucher, who kept since 1930 the original illustrations, the correspondence, the production files of authors and illustrators, which are listed since 2017 in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register