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JSC “Latvia's State Forests” together with Jelgava Spīdola State Gymnasium Creates a Teaching Guide Called “School Forest”

Last year was productive for studies in the forest for Jelgava Spīdola State Gymnasium, which together with JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM) and the Interdisciplinary Education Innovation Centre of the University of Latvia has summarized the gained experience in a new teaching guide called “School Forest”.

This teaching guide provides recommendations of the city centre school on how to fully ensure students' connection with nature while achieving a quality learning outcome. In order for the tool to serve as an example and inspiration to other Latvian schools, specialists of the Interdisciplinary Education Innovation Centre of the University of Latvia are involved in the development of the material. “The learning platform “School Forest” promotes competence education as an environment where it is possible to ensure the connection of learning with real life according to the “School 2030” requirements, by integrating the tasks of natural sciences, mathematics, sports and health in the learning process,” says Uldis Dzērve, specialist at the Interdisciplinary Education Innovation Centre of the University of Latvia.

The learning platform “School Forest” provides for the involvement of the whole school in the implementation of interdisciplinary research work in the forest, as well as for the long-term cooperation of State forest territories specially selected for each school.

Jelgava Spīdola State Gymnasium has been implementing the “School Forest” initiative in the forests of the Zemgale region for three years, by providing transport for students. Ilze Vilkārse, Director of the Gymnasium: “The “School Forest” programme is an opportunity to show that what is learned at school actually exists in nature. What we are looking at in a school microscope can be picked up here. But all formulas are taken from nature. We want to teach our children a responsible attitude towards the environment. That’s why we teach them in the forest.”

The first School Forest was established in the LVM West Vidzeme region in 2013 together with Riga Teika Secondary School, but this year, Kalnsēta Primary School in Saldus with its forest in the South Kurzeme region has also joined the initiative. All schools that participate in the activities of LVM educational programmes have an opportunity to acquire their own School Forest – a certain State forest territory for regular nature studies. At the end of each school year, by evaluating school applications, LVM will enter into an agreement with the most active school of the year.

It is planned that in February 2022, teachers will have an opportunity to participate in on-line continuing education courses related to the latest environmental education materials and activities offered to schools by LVM. For more information: www.lvm.lv/talakizglitiba