🌿 About us
At the Gauja National Park Nature Centre, visitors can learn about the geology and natural heritage of the ancient Gauja Valley, including Devonian sandstone formations and caves, the many plant and animal species found in Latvia, as well as gain new insights into the Gauja River and its origins by taking part in hands-on activities – using games, interactive equipment and engaging visual aids.
Visitors to the Nature Centre can view rocks formed as far back as the Devonian period, examine rock samples under a microscope and with magnifying glasses, learn how the Gauja’s riverbed was formed and recreate it with their own hands, find out which species have lived in and around the river in the past and today, and be inspired to spend more time in nature.
📚 OFFER
The sessions are based on the curriculum and complement the school’s teaching programme.
The sessions take place both indoors and outdoors in the Gauja National Park.
🔎 Nature exploration and hands-on activities
At the Nature Centre, you can:
- learn about the geology and natural heritage of the Gauja Valley;
- explore Devonian sandstone formations and caves;
- learn about the plant and animal species found in Latvia;
- examine rock samples using a microscope and magnifying glasses;
- learn about the formation of the Gauja riverbed and build a model of it yourself;
- to learn about the species that have lived in and around the river, both in the past and today;
- learn through games, interactive equipment and visual aids.
👥 Target audience
Pupils in Years 1–12, students and adults in groups of up to 25 people.
The offer includes a range of activities for pre-school children.
🔬 STEM project activities
The Nature Centre also offers STEM project activities.
You can find out about the current STEM programmes, their target groups and full descriptions in the STEM activities catalogue below.
🔗 View the STEM activities catalogue ↓
💶 PRICES
- Nature education session at the Nature Centre and in the surrounding area – €45.00 per session (for groups of up to 30 people, up to 2 hours).
- Nature education session on an outing – 40.00 EUR per hour.
Travel expenses are added to the cost of field trips.
👉 See the detailed price list for the Nature Conservation Agency’s paid services
ℹ️ Practical information
- Group size: up to 25 people
- Advance booking: compulsory for group visits, preferably at least three days in advance
- Opening hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10.00–16.00
- Accessibility: the nature centre is accessible to visitors in wheelchairs
📍 Booking
Telephone:
+371 26433668 (Anda Andrušaite)
Email:
gauja@daba.gov.lv
Full range of non-formal education programmes:
See the Nature Conservation Agency’s nature centre programme offerings