2021

More than 6 000 Students have Explored Forest in the Mother Nature Master Class This Year

With the beginning of the summer, the school year in the annual environmental education programme of JSC “Latvia’s State Forests” for grades 1 – 6 “Mother Nature Master Class” has come to an end; 6441 students from 134 Latvian schools took part in the programme this year. This is already the 15th school year, when students have the opportunity to learn from nature in the Mother Nature Master Class, within the framework of which schools are encouraged to hold classes outside – in the school yard and in Latvia’s State forests.

Within the framework of the programme “Mother Nature Master Class”, students are requested to complete three master works together with their teachers: “Outdoor Master Class”, “Wooden Craft Work” and “Forest Master Day”. The most diligent participants of the master class receive a diploma from the International Environmental Education Foundation (FEE) programme “Learning about Forest”.

A joy for both students and teachers

A survey of participants in the master class shows that almost half of the participants have been participating in the programme for more than five years. The majority of teachers welcome the Mother Nature Master Class, emphasizing that learning outdoors is fun for both students and teachers. Teachers write: “There were a lot of outdoor activities this year, they have become very popular. Thanks to the Mother Nature activities or annual outdoor activities, students are already accustomed and do not have questions about what we will do outside”. Every year, the participants of the master class are also given various teaching materials created by LVM. “The “Wooden Passport for Students” was a very good material that I use this year. I hope you will have many more creative ideas!” wrote one of the master class teachers.

As an award to the most active teachers, an educational summer camp is organized every year – continuing education courses, which are planned to take place at LVM recreation and tourism centre “Ezernieki” on 27 – 29 July this year. In the camp, teachers will have the opportunity to get acquainted with current events in environmental education and forestry together with LVM specialists, ornithologists, as well as special guests – nature researcher Māris Olte, as well as try out the new methodological tool “Forest Education Backpack” developed by the experts of the Interdisciplinary Education Innovation Centre of the University of Latvia in accordance with the “School2030” science curriculum.

Since 2006, more than 80 000 students have participated in the environmental education programme “Mother Nature Master Class” offered by JSC “Latvia’s State Forests”. Every year, in cooperation with the National Centre for Education, JSC “Latvia's State Forests” offers schools an opportunity to learn in nature. From pre-school children to university students and teachers, everyone has the opportunity to walk along Latvia’s State forest trails and enhance their school-based knowledge with hands-on nature assignments. Each year, more than 20 000 children, students and teachers explore the forest in the diverse LVM school programmes.