π Tender Overview
The State Forest Office invites students to "Lessons in the Forest". More than 800 Lithuanian students will exchange school benches for lessons in the forest. The first lesson of the project took place on October 19, at the AnykΕ‘?iai regional branch of VMU.
For the 2023-2024 academic year, the purpose of the pilot project "Lessons in the Forest" initiated by VMU is to contribute to the educational process of students by deepening natural science knowledge, performing more practical tasks in the forest, and to introduce forestry more broadly. By inviting to "Lessons in the forest" in regional units, VMU provides opportunities to change the classroom environment and integrate the activities of the forestry profession into the lesson topics, taking into account educational plans.
"We have been engaged in educational activities for many years, we take care of the Young Friends of the Forest, together with the students we plant trees, build nests, and participate in forest cleaning taluks. In the spring of this year, more than 2,000 schoolchildren came to our regional branches to learn about the forestry profession. We believe that during the practical sessions of the "Lessons in the Forest" project, which will be attended by competent and knowledgeable foresters, representatives of the younger generation will understand the importance of the forester's profession even better," says Valdas Kaubr?, Director General of the State Forestry Office.
Seeing the students' desire and need to become more familiar with nature and the profession of forester, VMU approached the municipal education departments presenting the idea of ??the project. He also cooperated with pedagogues teaching natural sciences, who would like to deepen their knowledge in the fields of forestry and nature knowledge with the student classes.
The municipalities of the cities and districts of Ukmerg?, AnykΕ‘?iai, Druskininkai, Ignalina, Kretinga, Panev?ΕΎys, Kazl? R?da, Kaunas were selected for the implementation of the pilot project. More than 30 general education institutions from eight municipalities joined the pilot project.
After listening to the wishes and suggestions of the community of educators and drawing up lesson plans, specific places for holding lessons were discussed, how many lessons the foresters will be able to organize during the academic year, what topics the lessons will be on and what the students will be able to see and do practically in the forest.
During the "Lessons in the Forest" project, teachers and foresters will diversify the lessons and provide students with more knowledge in each specific lesson. Students will consolidate the topic of the lesson practically together with the foresters by completing the lesson tasks and this will help the students to better master the lesson material. The educational process will become more interesting and meaningful for the students", says Izolda Baltut?, head of the staff of the State Forest Office.
"Lesson in the Forest" teaching is based on "applied tasks", the teacher with the help of a specialist encourages students to use "real things" and learn in real workplaces. By applying knowledge in the forest in practice, learning material is remembered better, as well as cooperation skills and other student competencies are developed.
VMU hopes that the successful, high-quality progress of the pilot project will create the conditions to invite an even larger number of Lithuanian school students to join the project in the next school year.
