We are pleased to announce that the registration for Tartu Nature House 2020/2021 hobby classes is now open!
This year we are introducing a completely new english hobby class for foreigners and english learning children and pupils in Tartu. This new hobby class focuses on the countries, people and cultures within the world around us. Learn more about the hobby class “The worls around us” here and contact the teacher for more information. There are also estonian speaking classes that welcome foreign english speaking children in which the teacher will translate the activities and assignments. All the classes available for non-estonian speaking pupils can be found HERE.
The opening event of the hobby school will take place on the 1st of September at 16:00. There you can get acquainted with the activities of the Green School program, teachers and classrooms of this year’s hobby school.
REGISTRATE FOR A HOBBY CLASS HERE! (in estonian). If you need the sign up sheet in English, contact the study coordinator:Pille-Riin Pärnsalu, pilleriin.parnsalu@tartuloodusmaja.ee
Do you know how Great Crested Grebe – the bird of the year looks like? Who is the butterfly of the year and how it relates to mosaic? Tartu Nature House has created a versatile workbook about Estonian this year’s special species.
Get to know the bird of the year – Great Crested Grebe, the tree of the year – spruce, the animal of the year – bat, the mushroom of the year – Cladonia stellaris, the butterfly of the year – Euphydryas aurinia and the fish of the year – salmon. In the workbook you can paint, cut, fold, orient in the maze and gather exciting new knowledge. The tasks of the workbook are suitable for basic school I-II age level, but also for all smaller nature enthusiasts.
The workbook about this year’s special species is on sale in the shop corner of Tartu Nature House. It costs 3 €. It is also possible to order larger quantities for groups and classes by ordering info@tartuloodusmaja.ee
Under the leadership of Tartu Nature House a board game has been completed. It is called “Game of Lake Peipsi” and was completed within the Estonian-Russian cooperation project “GreenMind”.
Kindergartens near Lake Peipsi can use it to get to know the plants growing near Lake Peipsi and the animals, fish and birds living there. During the game, you will learn about the various dangers and sources of pollution that affect the health of Lake Peipsi. The game is designed as a helpful learning tool for preschool age children. It introduces the biota of Lake Peipsi and creates a good ground to discuss about environmental protection themes.
The board game set includes:
instructions on the boardgame box
board game base
wooden dice
playing cards (5 themes x 12 picture cards)
a book with additional information and descriptions
The game will be distributed to kindergartens near Lake Peipsi on the basis of a distribution plan created by the project manager. Selected kindergartens will be contacted.
Author of the idea: Ülle Kaasik
Instructions and map descriptions: Elo Hermann, Ülle Kaasik, Eeva Kirsipuu-Vadi
Language editor: Heli Saar
Design and implementation: Elo Hermann, Marge Nelk / loovlood.com
*******
The board game was completed within the activities of the “GreenMind” project, which is funded by the Estonian-Russian cross-border cooperation program 2014-2020 and co-financed by the Environmental Investment Center.
The traditional autumn mushroom exhibition of Tartu Nature House will take place again on September 22-25!
In the main hall of the Nature House, there is a selection of mushrooms from our forests, meadows, parks and lodges in South Estonia for admiration and acquaintance. The mushroom exhibition is supplemented every day with new exciting species, and every day from 2 pm there is also a mushroom expert from the Natural History Museum, who answers questions about mushrooms and, if possible, helps to identify the mushrooms brought by visitors. In the small mushroom laboratory you can get acquainted with the mycelium, spore leaves and tubes and animals living in fungi, in addition you can get acquainted with the life of mushrooms at the stand exhibition. Mushrooms growing in the park of the nature house are also marked during the exhibition.
For schools and kindergartens, we offer pre-registration mushroom-themed study programs that go through an exhibition inside or outside the instructor, fill out worksheets and visit a mushroom laboratory.
***** Mushroom exhibition “Fungime!” 22.-25.09.2019 Tartu Nature House, Lille 10 9:00 -18: 00
• Mushrooms from the forests of Southern Estonia
• A small mushroom laboratory
• Introduction to mushroom life on stands
• Consultation of mushroom specialists every day 14-18
• Marked mushrooms in the park of the nature house
*****
TICKET: Adults 2 €, preschoolers and Tartu Nature House hobby school students free of charge.
NB! Every day until 4 pm, the visit load of the exhibition is higher, because school groups visit the exhibition. The visitor load is lower between 16.30 and 18.00. Upon request, guests can purchase a disposable mask from the information desk.
The mushroom exhibition is supported by the Environmental Investment Center.
Additional information:
Liina Vakrööm
project manager
liina.vakroom@tartuloodusmaja.ee
53326476
Dear nature film lovers, MAFF is coming to Tartu again!
The guest screenings of the 18th Matsalu Nature Film Festival in Tartu will take place on 26-27. September in Tartu Nature House. This is a great opportunity for everyone who does not have the opportunity to go to Lihula to watch movies to take part in the festival.
The aim of the festival is to introduce and recognize new nature and environmental films and their creators. To offer the visitor the opportunity to participate in the best of the world’s nature films and thereby increase the viewers’ awareness and interest in environmental issues. The festival promotes a nature-friendly and sustainable way of life and respect for the deeply natural traditions of indigenous peoples.
Movies are in original language, with estonian subtitles.
Ticket information:
It is possible to book and buy festival passes and / or individual tickets for the film festival.
The number of seats in the hall of the nature house is limited and we follow the principle of dispersion.
NB! Students are free to watch the films, but pre-registration / booking is required via the link below.
More information & details about the tickets: info@tartuloodusmaja.ee or +372 36 6120
Ticket prices:
Full price
Discount*
1-day pass
12
8
on the desired day (26.09 or 27.09) guarantees admission to five MAFF films
2-day pass
20
12
guarantees admission to all festival films on both days
Single session
3
2
guarantees admission to one selected film at a specific time and date
Event organizers can find advice how to make their events more environmentally friendly from a new handbook.
Under Tartu Nature House’s leadership supported by a Estonian-Russian cooperation project “GreenMind” a “Practical guide for organizing environmentally friendly events” was composed that is available for everyone on the Internet. The guide helps to bring out the possibilities reducing the environmental impact and offers great examples of different festivals where it has already been successful. In order to facilitate the organizers work eco friendly services’ and products’ examples with tenderers contacts have been collected.
Irrespective of the size and nature of an event every organizer should think, how the gathering could be more environmentally friendly. Cooperating with Estonian big events organizers Tartu Nature House has put together a handbook consisting practical tips.
Due to COVID-19 the society has become very cautious and considering the protection of environment we have stepped back. For one example, the shops refused to sell food in customers’ own reusable containers and the use of single-use dishes, plastic bags etc. multiplied in emergency situation. It is necessary and possible to return to sustainable and eco friendly consumption after the pandemic and the end of crisis measures.
There are many festivals in Estonia where the reduction of environmental impact has been in focus for years. Plenty of tips and encouraging inspiration can be found for other organizers in the new guide, which can be downloaded from Tartu Nature House’s website. In addition, examples and references to environmentally friendly products and service providers have been assembled.
On June 5, a recognition event of the Eco-Scools program took place. The educational institutions that successfully participated in the program were recognized with the Green Flag eco-label.
The event took place in Tartu Lotte Kindergarten. This kindergarten was one of the Estonian educational institutions that received the Green Flag recognition this year. In total, green flags were distributed to 33 kindergartens and schools. Twelve educational institutions received this recognition for the second time. In addition, there are 43 educational institutions that received the Green Flag last year. The educational institution has the right to use the Green Flag eco-label for two years.
For the first time, the President of the of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid, who has been the patron of the Green School since the beginning of June, participated in the distribution of green flags. Before the official start of the event, President visited the Lotte Kindergarten. The kindergarten introduced its activities in the Green School program. The children greeted the President with songs, gave her as a gift a jar of their good wishes and ideas, and planted an apple tree in the garden together.
The President then gave an opening speech and recognized the educational institutions that successfully participated in the program with the Green Flag eco-label.
Introduction to the Green School
The Eco-Schools program is the best-known global environmental education program. The aim of the program is to integrate environmentally friendly thinking and behavior into the activities of kindergartens and schools.
The network includes 64 countries and more than 59 000 educational institutions around the world. Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in Denmark runs the program. The Eco-Schools program is led in Estonia by the Estonian Society for Nature Conservation, and starting from this year the activities are implemented by Tartu Nature House.
Eeva-Kirsipuu Vadi
Coordinator of Estonian Eco-Schools programme
eeva.vadi@gmail.com
Tartu Nature House will switch to a summer schedule starting from June 1st. With that our opening hours will also change – we will be open to visitors from Tuesday to Friday at 10-18 and on Saturday at 11-16. We are closed on Sunday and Monday. Please follow the rules of social distancing and hygene. You can always ask additional information from our administrator.
In the summer period we have a lot of fun things waiting for visitors:
We will open two new exhibitions: From 02.06 an exhibition on biodiversity loss and species extinction “Sixth Wave” and from 15.06 a exhibition called “Life in a Handful of Seawater” by the zoologist Lennart Lennuk.
There will be fun and educational theme days for children, where children aged 7-12 are welcome to experiment, craft, build and play. Our first theme day takes place on July 3rd.
We will rent out fun puzzles and outdoor games to play with family or friends in our park.
More information coming soon – we look forward to seeing you in the summer!
Tartu Nature House is not just an educational centre and a hobby school – nature friendly lifestyle and values are deeply integrated into the house itself. Our new house, built in 2013 is inspired by the pattern of the cracks that form on a log upon drying, which coupled with the park, forms an invisible united netting. In building The Nature House we have used durable, eco friendly and healthy materials and technologies as well as solutions used in passive houses. In one wing of the building are a rich in species conservatory and a room of animals, whose residents’ peculiarity, colourful life stories and relaxing antmosphere is best understood with the help of a guide.
Tours can be adjusted according to the group’s interests and an option to focus on a specific part or activity of the house is available. In warm weather an introduction on the landcaping of the park can be added to the tour. The tour is a perfect introduction or an interlude to courses, conferences, seminars or birthdays! It gives an opportunity for locals to discover new hidden oases in Tartu city.
Ask about custom tours for you: info@tartuloodusmaja.ee
