Awards and Partnerships
Collaboration Networks
The Tartu Environmental Education Center is a member and partner of the following Estonian and international collaboration networks:
- A full member of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and a member and coordinator of activities in Estonia for its Eco-Schools Global program.
- A member of the UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (ASP) Baltic Sea Project and the coordinator of its activities in Estonia.
- Founding member of the Estonian Association for Science Education.
- Member of the Estonian Association of Hobby Schools.
- Member of the Estonian Environmental Education Association.
Awards and Honors
2025 – General Education Golden Apple
Recognition from the Education and Youth Board (Harno) for outstanding Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps projects that have made a significant contribution to the development of education and youth affairs.
The Golden Apple in the general education category was awarded to the project “Together Towards Improved Quality of Environmental Education.”
During the project, specialists from Estonia and Finland developed an interdisciplinary circular economy curriculum and created practical materials to help enrich and develop environmental education in schools.
Fairtrade@Work Certification 2023
In 2023, Tartu Nature House received the Fairtrade@Work certification issued by Fairtrade International.
Keskkonnakäpp Awards
The Environmental Award, an annual competition for environmentally friendly educational activities organized by the Environmental Board, has recognized Tartu Nature House and its partners as follows.
- Outstanding Contributor 2019 – The Estonian Green Movement and Tartu Nature House for the initiative “Environmentally Friendly Public Events.”
- Community Engager 2019 – Katrin Saart, Margit Lehis, Eeva Kirsipuu-Vadi, and Katrin Juhanson for the initiative “Environmentally Friendly Student Science Festival.”
- Happy Learner 2018 – SA Saadjärve and Tartu Nature House for the H2O interactive tour.
- Happy Learner 2017 and People’s Choice 2017 – Tartu Nature House and the Võrtsjärve Study Center of the Estonian University of Life Sciences for organizing fishing camps for children and youth.
- Dedicated Activist 2017 – Gedy Siimenson, a teacher at Tartu Nature House, for promoting the principles of sustainable development.
- Smart Consumer 2017 – Pille-Riin Pärnsalu, a teacher at Tartu Nature House, for organizing a craft supply reuse fair in the city of Tartu.
- Community Contributor 2016 – Gedy Siimenson, a teacher at Tartu Nature House, for the initiative “International Student Research on the Baltic Sea.”
- Smart Consumer 2016 – “With New Energy,” an exhibition of creative works by students with special needs.
- Outstanding Activist 2015 and People’s Choice 2015 – The Estonian Ornithological Society and Tartu Nature House for organizing a charity trivia game.
- Outstanding Contributor 2014 – Kati Kekkonen, a teacher at Tartu Nature House, for actively sharing environmental information.
Estonian Science Popularization Awards
The Estonian Science Popularization Awards, presented by the Estonian Academy of Sciences and the Estonian Research Council, have recognized the following activities and initiatives of Tartu Nature House.
- Second Prize for Best Science and Technology Popularizer, 2018 – Aivo Tamm, an educator at Tartu Nature House, for organizing and leading a children’s zoology club in the category “Science Communicator, Journalist, Educator, etc.”
- 2016 Grand Prize for Nationally Recognized Science Popularizer – the H2O interactive game in the category “Best New Initiative in Science and Technology Popularization.”
- First Prize in the 2008 Estonian Science Popularization Award—the traveling exhibition on urban nature “I’m Not a Visitor, I Live Here” in the category “Activities and Series of Activities in the Popularization of Science and Technology.”
Other Recognitions
Green Office of the Year 2019
Green Office of the Year 2019 – Recognition from the Estonian Association for Environmental Management for adhering to sustainability principles in creating a healthy work environment, using natural resources, and organizing procurement and purchasing.
Environmental Deed of the Year 2013 – Certificate of Appreciation
Certificate of Appreciation from the 2013 Environmental Achievement of the Year competition – The Ministry of the Environment recognized the completion of the Tartu Nature House.
Environmental Deed of the Year 2013 – EKO
Environmental Deed of the Year 2013 (EKO) – The Estonian Chamber of Environmental Organizations selected the nature houses opened in Pärnu and Tartu as the best environmental deeds of 2013.
Youth Work Organization of the Year 2012
Youth Work Institution of the Year 2012 – Tartu City’s recognition of excellence in youth work.
Environmental Achievement of the Year 2007 – First Prize
First Prize in the 2007 Environmental Initiative of the Year Competition – The Ministry of the Environment recognized the Tartu Nature House for its successful management of the Latvian-Estonian cooperation project “Learning About Nature and Teaching Outdoors Through Cross-Border Cooperation.”