2019

Vote for the Best Outdoor Learning Game Submitted for the LVM Forest Game Competition

The outdoor games submitted for the competition "LVM Forest Game" by students of grades 7 to 9 have been assessed, an experienced jury has chosen the first five teams to meet in the finals of the contest, which is to take place in Latvia's State Forests Nature Park in Tērvete on 24 May. In turn, video tutorials of the other 15 best semi-finalists have been published on JSC "Latvia's State Forests" (LVM) school programme "Learning about Forests, Latvia"  Facebook page, as well as on the company's Youtube channel, where everyone interested is encouraged to vote for their favourite game. The voting is open until 1 March.

Five teams that win most Likes will be nominated for the finals of the Forest Game; the other ten teams will receive Diplomas of Recognition.

In the finals, school students will compete in an exciting orienteering competition, which will not only test their knowledge of the forest and the forest sector, but will also focus on co-operation and team work.

The jury has nominated the following teams for the finals:

"Meža glābēji" (Ventspils Secondary School No. 4)

"Vecie zābaciņi" (Nikrāce Primary School)

Carnikava Primary School team

"Lēksim kokos!" (Sigulda Primary School No. 1)

"Lauztās priedes" (Jelgava Spīdola Gymnasium)

The works submitted for the "LVM Forest Game" competition were evaluated by a competent jury composed of representatives of the National Centre for Education, the Ministry of Agriculture, JSC "Latvia's State Forests", the Latvia’s State Forest Research Institute "Silava", society "Zaļās mājas" and JSC "Latvijas Finieris".

Inese Liepiņa, representative of the National Centre for Education, welcomed the fact that participation in the competition contributes to the introduction of a competence approach in schools. Māra Mīkule, representative of the Ministry of Agriculture, was impressed by the works submitted this year: "It is wonderful that students' abilities and creativity grow every year!"

Dagnija Lazdiņa, representative of the Latvia’s State Forest Research Institute "Silava", did not hide her joy about schools that have been participating in the competition for several years and are also represented this year. In turn, Pauls Beķeris, representative of JSC "Latvijas Finieris", appreciated the diversity of the submitted works, and admitted that it was a very exciting, responsible and difficult task to assess the works, since most of them were very good.

The LVM Forest Game is a creative and healthy competition of ideas for outdoor learning games intended for teams of school students of grades 7 to 9. The champions will be awarded the main prize – a natural expedition abroad offered by JSC "Latvia's State Forests". In the finals, both student knowledge about the forest and the forest sector, as well as co-operation and team work will be evaluated.

LVM Forest Game aims at promoting creative and healthy learning outdoors, as well as raising school students' awareness of the Latvian largest renewable resource – the forest. The Forest Game is organised by LVM in cooperation with the National Centre for Education within the framework of the international environmental education programme "Learning about Forests".

Competition partners: JSC "Latvijas Finieris", trail running series "Stirnu buks", the Latvian Orienteering Association, society "Zaļās mājas", the Ministry of Agriculture Department of Forest, the National Centre for Education, and the Latvia’s State Forest Research Institute "Silava".