Nido del Lupo – Socio-pedagogical Circus School

Nido del Lupo is a Swiss educational institution located in Alvaneu Dorf, in the canton of Grisons. Its name, which means "Wolf's Nest" in Italian, designates a small structure specializing in the socio-educational support of young people going through difficult personal, social or family situations.

The establishment was created in 2007 as an extension of the activities of Zirkus Lollypop , a Swiss educational circus founded in 1994 and particularly committed to artistic projects for children and teenagers.

This origin explains the central place that circus arts occupy in the educational project of Nido del Lupo.

Unlike a traditional amateur circus school, Nido del Lupo is a residential institution that accommodates a small number of young people requiring individualized support.

The facility has seven places and is primarily aimed at teenagers and young adults aged 13 to 20 .

It offers a protected environment combining accommodation, daily support, schooling, professional discovery and artistic activities.

The four learning domains

The project is based on four main areas of learning:

• the school
• circus pedagogy
• work projects
• managing daily life

The institution has its own internal school , allowing the teaching to be adapted to the background, abilities and needs of each young person.

Particular attention is also paid to career guidance .

Practical projects allow participants to discover different work environments, develop their skills and gradually prepare for their integration into working life.

Circus pedagogy

Circus pedagogy is one of the major specificities of Nido del Lupo.

The circus is not only considered as an artistic or sporting discipline, but also as a means of developing personal and social skills .

Through training and group projects, young people can experience new situations, discover their abilities and learn to gradually overcome challenges.

Circus activities allow participants to work on:

• concentration
• perseverance
• coordination
• trust
• relationship with others

Working together also encourages cooperation , responsibility and mutual respect .

Links with Zirkus Lollypop

Nido del Lupo maintains close ties with Zirkus Lollypop , with which it develops projects combining circus, theatre and artistic creation.

This collaboration allows young people to participate in collective productions and discover different dimensions of live performance .

The creations notably combine movement, body expression, theatre and circus techniques.

Preparing a show thus becomes a complete educational experience, from the first explorations to the presentation in front of an audience.

Individualized support

The structure also places great importance on individualized support .

Each young person benefits from tailored support, designed to strengthen their autonomy and gradually prepare them for their personal, academic or professional future.

The deliberately limited number of places promotes a human-scale operation and a close educational relationship.

The association also develops activities related to youth and local life, particularly in the Albula region.

Status and recognition

Nido del Lupo is now run by the public benefit association salto sociale – Zirkuspädagogik Graubünden .

The establishment is recognized within the framework of the Swiss intercantonal system relating to social institutions and has the necessary authorizations for its residential activity.

A unique structure in the Swiss circus landscape

His project illustrates a particularly interesting use of circus arts as a tool for educational and social support.

Nido del Lupo thus represents a unique structure in the Swiss circus landscape: at once a living space , an internal school , a socio-pedagogical institution and a space for artistic creation , it places the circus at the service of the personal development and autonomy of young people.