Abstract
In this article, the development of the geographical features of the Ile-Alatau National Park by the project method is presented as one of the effective ways to form professional competencies and environmental culture of students. In a pedagogical university, this method is possible in the presence of a well-formed developing educational environment, as an opportunity to form in students (future teachers) not only the desire to learn for themselves, but also the need to teach others, discover the world for their students, develop their inclinations and abilities. The types, tasks, stages of the organization of ecological trails are studied. The objectives of the creation and use of ecological trails are considered, the method of projects is proposed as a way of forming students' professional and general cultural competencies. The educational professional-developing environment should prepare the graduate for the realities of an updated education, orientation in various educational systems, curricula, programs, textbooks, educational technologies at the level of knowledge, skills, creativity, value orientations, to form competencies and needs for independent acquisition of knowledge and skills, primarily pedagogical content. The development of ecological trails contributes to the more successful conduct of educational, scientific, research work, creates conditions for the education of an environmentally literate person, allows teachers to acquire the necessary environmental experience that contributes to the development of scientific projects of students.