2013

Close competition to make finals among most erudite and skilful in Forest Olympics

For the second year in a row, the semi-finalists of the Forest Olympics gathered on the premises of the “Get to Know a Tree” exhibition to prove their erudition and skills in forests. Out of nearly 100 participants, JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM) awarded 12 best with spots in the June 28 finals, where they will compete for the main prize – a nature expedition in Norway.

Each school also had a home assignment – to depict the theme of the 2013 Forest Olympics, Geography in Forests, in a creative manner. Cūkmens (Pigman), the main character of LVM campaign “Don't Litter in Forests!”, observed and assessed the enthusiastic performances of participants, full of singing, dancing and acting, lauding the most original ones. Afterwards, Cūkmens signalled the start of a two-hour orienteering competition, during which all participants had to complete complicated tasks in forests – finding 32 control points, answering questions about forest management, performing physical and creative tasks. Only few points separated the winners of the competition. The semi-finals proved that all participants were well-prepared and fought hard until the end.

The participants of the 2013 Forest Olympics finals, which will be held in Tērvete Nature Park on June 28, will be:

• Limbaži Secondary School No.3 teacher Ināra Pilskunga and seventh graders Rota Lāce and Toms Blomkalns,
• Mazzalve Primary Scool teacher Anda Freimane and third graders Diāna Vanaga and Reinis Zariņš,
• Krāslava Primary School teacher Silva Skride and seventh graders Viktorija Konstantinoviča and Deivids Barkovs,
• Jersika Primary School teacher Anna Greidāne, ninth grader Viktorija Afanasjeva and eighth grader Dairis Vilkājs,
• Babīte Region Local Government Sala Primary School teacher Anita Anspoka and fourth graders Austra Guna Reinholde and Armands Niedra,
• Salacgrīva Secondary School teacher Indāra Ceika and second graders Līva Tauriņa and Emīls Meļķis

225 teachers from 84 schools across Latvia participated in the 2013 Forest Olympics. This year's theme - “Geography in Forests” - raised interest among all teachers. All teachers and students grades 1-9 can participate in the Olympics, organised within the framework of LVM environmental education program “Learning about Forests” and the Mammadaba Master Classes. The Olympics are held in nature and LVM award the winners with an exciting nature expedition abroad.

Information prepared by: LVM Communications Department, phone: 67805432.