🌿 About the Meadow School
The ‘Meadow School’ is an educational offer focused on nature that helps children learn about Latvia’s natural meadows, their plants and their importance in preserving biodiversity.
Learning takes place through hands-on activities, games, experiments, creative tasks and exploring meadow plants. During the sessions, participants develop critical thinking, teamwork skills and a respectful attitude towards nature and its resources.
The Meadow School offer is suitable for nursery groups and primary school pupils. State-funded STEM lessons are also available to educational institutions.
A meadow is not just a place – it is a living classroom where everyone can become a friend of nature and a guardian of the meadow.
🔬 STEM offer for schools
‘Meadow School’ is taking part in the project ‘STEM and civic participation activities for a broader educational experience and career choices’, implemented by the State Education Development Agency .
The “Meadow School” programme, approved as part of the project, is designed to link theoretical knowledge with practical activities and to foster children’s interest in the natural sciences, the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Visits to the programme by educational institutions that are project partners are funded by the European Social Fund Plus and the Latvian government.
Target audience: pre-school children
Objective: to foster a respectful attitude towards nature and natural resources in children.
🌼 Introduction
Using large-scale flower models, children will learn about the common dandelion and the common ragwort as beneficial plants, and the snake’s head fritillary as a poisonous plant. The puppet Antiņš acts as a botanist, whilst Čauka plays the role of a pupil.
🧩 Practical activity
On a metal board featuring a picture of a meadow, the children will use pegs with pictures of plants to piece together the complete image of the meadow.
🍵 Conclusion
The children are shown various dried meadow plants, which they can examine and smell. Each child can choose their favourite plant and make a cup of tea.
At the end of the session, the children discuss water as a natural resource and the importance of treating nature with care.
ℹ️ Practical information
- Duration: 40 minutes.
- Facilitators: a facilitator dressed as a meadow flower, and the puppet characters Antiņš and Čauka.
- Venue: on a visit to an educational institution or at the organiser’s premises.
- Address: “Dare atpūties pļavā”, Antiņciems, Lapmežciems Parish, Tukums Municipality.
Target audience: Pupils in Years 1 and 3
Related natural science topics:
- 1.4. How to study natural areas?
- 3.1. What do different natural areas have in common and how do they differ?
Objective: to explore, distinguish and model natural areas observable in the immediate surroundings, with a particular focus on the importance of natural meadows.
🌍 Introduction
Pupils will compare man-made and natural areas, discussing the plants found in them.
🔐 Escape game
In an open space – outdoors or indoors – pupils will learn about a bog, a forest clearing and a meadow by completing tasks. By solving the puzzles, they will need to find the key words to open the safe.
🍵 Hands-on workshop
Pupils will learn how natural resources and plants can be used in everyday life. Using prepared, dried meadow plants, each pupil will make their own tea.
💚 Conclusion
The session will conclude with a discussion on the importance of natural meadows in preserving biodiversity.
ℹ️ Practical information
- Duration: 40 minutes.
- Activity components: an escape game and a practical session or creative workshop.
- Facilitators: facilitators dressed as meadow flowers, together with the puppet characters Antiņš and Čauka.
- Venue: either at an educational institution or at the organiser’s premises.
- Address: “Dare atpūties pļavā”, Antiņciems, Lapmežciems Parish, Tukums Municipality.
📍 Venue
STEM sessions can be delivered in two ways:
- an off-site session at your school or pre-school;
- at our premises – “Vidnieki”, Antiņciems, Lapmežciems Parish, Tukums District.
✅ What do the children gain?
- an understanding of the importance of natural meadows;
- the ability to distinguish between natural and man-made areas;
- knowledge of meadow plants and their uses;
- the ability to recognise poisonous, protected and invasive plants;
- practical experience of working with plants;
- critical thinking and problem-solving skills;
- a respectful attitude towards nature and its resources.
📚 Additional offer
The ‘Save the Meadow’ mission is an exciting nature discovery programme in which participants explore the world of natural meadows, become meadow saviours and gain a practical understanding of Latvia’s natural diversity.
The programme can be tailored to the group’s age, preferences and interests. You can choose one of the activities or combine all three parts of the programme.
🔐 Escape game
Together with the characters Antiņš and Čauka, children tackle the problem of overgrown meadows, complete various tasks, learn to identify plants and discover the balance of nature.
The escape game develops critical thinking, teamwork skills and an understanding of the plant world and the importance of natural meadows.
🌸 Hands-on workshop
After the escape game, participants take part in a tasting session and a creative workshop. Meadow plants can be used to make teas, seasonings and sweets, including ‘Meadow Ant’s Nest’.
The session makes use of large-format visual aids, plants, flowers, and a variety of scents and textures.
🍵 Mindfulness break
The mindfulness break is dedicated to peaceful relaxation and enjoying the presence of nature. Participants make tea from the plants they have learnt about, observe its colour and savour its aroma.
The activity is designed using a methodology developed with the help of a coaching specialist.
⏱️ Programme duration and target audience
- The full programme lasts approximately 3–4 hours.
- The duration of the programme can be adapted to the group’s preferences and needs.
- The offer is designed for pre-school and primary school children.
- School and nursery groups are invited to register.
Are you looking for a place where children can explore nature creatively and safely? We invite nursery and primary school children to embark on an exciting adventure that is educational, relaxing and provides a meal. All activities have been carefully planned and tailored to the children’s ages and interests. Our mission is to let children experience the true joy of being in nature, learn through play and acquire new, useful skills.
🌼 Programme of activities
🍵 Making and tasting meadow tea
Depending on the season, the children head out into the meadow themselves to find and gather plants for tea. In autumn, pre-prepared plants are used so that the children can learn to recognise and smell them. This is a wonderful opportunity to discover the healing powers of various plants.
🎨 Creative activities in the meadow
The meadow is like a huge playground! We invite children to take part in creative tasks that develop their imagination and understanding of nature. These activities take place under the supervision of teachers or parents. Everyone receives a special sticker for taking part!
🥣 Making soup over a campfire
Discover the magic of the campfire! Children actively take part in making soup from edible wild plants, whilst learning about nature’s bountiful gifts. The soup is served in authentic bowls with an egg, cream and rye bread, creating a cosy and authentic atmosphere.
🔥 Grilling sausages over the campfire
Who doesn’t love grilling sausages over a campfire?! This activity not only offers a culinary treat but also teaches safety in the great outdoors. You can bring your own sausages or buy them from us.
ℹ️ Important information
⏱️ Duration
The activities take place at a leisurely pace, allowing children to run about and explore their surroundings.
The event lasts approximately 3–4 hours, but may be longer depending on the group’s preferences.
💶 PRICES
- 1 activity: 5.00 EUR
- Any 2 activities: 7.00 EUR
- Any 2 activities and campfire soup: 10.00 EUR
- Our sausage: 1.50 EUR
- Forteachers and parents: free of charge.
Prices are tailored to your individual requirements.
🎒 What to bring
You are welcome to bring your own snacks.
During insect-watching activities, please dress appropriately – in long sleeves and long trousers. Waterproof footwear is recommended in wet weather.
➕ Additional information
You can visit the “Sanitas Pļavas veltes” shop (cash payments only).
We look forward to seeing you at “Dare atpūties pļavā”, in a real meadow and surrounded by nature, within the Ķemeri National Park!
To book, please get in touch with us!
When you go to relax in a natural meadow, you can follow a digital trail accompanied by a countryside guide.
Along the route, you can learn more about natural meadows, haymaking and plants. The game is included in the overall leisure offer or can be purchased separately.
You can find out more about DARE here:
www.plavuskola.lv/dare-atputies-plava
You can follow the latest events on our Facebook page:
DARE – Relax in the Meadow Facebook page
Venue:
“DARE – Relax in the Meadow”,
Antiņciems
Lapmežciems Parish,
Tukums Municipality, EN-3118
🎲 Additional activities
During your visit, you can also try your hand at Meadow Dominoes and the beanbag toss, which help you learn about meadow plants in a playful way, develop your observation skills and enhance your experience of nature.
💚 Why choose the Meadow School?
Sanita Matule, the head of the ‘Meadow School’, is a certified herbalist, aromatherapy specialist, holds a Master’s degree in forestry and is the owner of ‘Vidnieki’. In her day-to-day work, she looks after biologically valuable grasslands and their conservation.
The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Latvian Nature Fund and Ķemeri National Park. The “Vidnieki” farm has been awarded the Latvian Nature Fund’s “Natural Meadow Product” label.
By taking part in the “Meadow School” activities, participants not only gain knowledge but also support the restoration of the meadows at the “Vidnieki” farm and the conservation of biodiversity.
📞 Registration
We invite school and nursery groups to register so that we can explore the value of natural meadows together.
Telephone: +371 27891575
Email: info@plavuskola.lv