Nature schools and groups
Meriharju Nature House is a certified member of the national Network of Nature and Environmental Schools (LYKE). We provide environmental education and training for an ecological lifestyle.
The unique location of Meriharju amidst the magnificent forests of Uutela near inviting shores makes it the gem of Eastern Helsinki, where it is easy to be enchanted by nature.
Come with your class to find the spark to move around in nature!
Meriharju Nature House offers comprehensive, action-based and experiential nature school programmes for 4th to 9th graders and for upper secondary level.
The main focus of the activities is on action-based learning, experiences and insights. The programmes support and complement pupils’ studies at school and therefore form part of their broader school-based learning.
Registration for the nature schools: https://kultus.fi/en
Please register no later than 3 weeks before the start of the programme.
Meriharju Nature School programmes
The nature school programmes mainly take place in April–May in the spring and in September–October in the autumn. You can apply for the nature school programmes twice a year. You will find more detailed information about the programme timetables when you register at kultus.fi/en.
Exploratory learning: Food web (designed for 6th to 7th graders)
Spend a day doing exploratory learning! We explore how all organisms are connected to each other through the food web. We spend one part of the day outdoors on the beach and in the forest, and the other part inside at Meriharju Nature House. During the day, pupils focus mostly on their own research in small groups. Their topic is the food web of one organism, which they work on using their iPads.
Duration of the programme: three and a half hours
Maximum number of participants: 24 pupils
Experiential nature excursion (designed for 4th to 6th graders or 7th to 9th graders)
An excursion to the stunning natural environment of Uutela using all our senses. We do a variety of action-based exercises that support and enhance our relationship with nature.
Duration of the programme: two and a half hours
Maximum number of participants: 24 pupils
Baltic Sea day (designed for 5th to 7th graders)
A nature school programme focusing on the Baltic Sea, which is produced in cooperation with the SATAKOLKYT project. Through activities, we explore the characteristics of the Baltic Sea and consider some challenges related to it, as well as possible solutions. We learned how we can take care together of the Baltic Sea, the fragile gem of the North.
Duration of the programme: three and a half hours
Maximum number of participants: 24 pupils
Forest day (designed for 5th to 7th graders)
Forest-themed nature school day, during which we explore Finnish forests from different perspectives such as folklore, the impact of forests on well-being and Everyone’s Rights. During the day, we consider how we can see forests from various perspectives, and how we can spend time in them in a way that pays attention to nature and other people.
Duration of the programme: three and a half hours
Maximum number of participants: 24 pupils
Phenomenon: Endangered animals (designed for 5th to 7th graders)
The programme on endangered animals is an inspiring and phenomenon-based learning programme consisting of three meetings. The aim is to deepen our understanding of endangerment and the interdependence of all organisms through an exploratory and action-based approach. Working in small groups, pupils do research and produce a creative output on one chosen endangered animal species. The programme is organised in cooperation between the Korkeasaari Zoo nature school Arkki and Meriharju Nature School.
Duration of the programme: two three-and-a-half-hour meetings at Meriharju and one five-hour meeting at Korkeasaari Zoo
Maximum number of participants: 24 pupils
Nature-based team-building in the Edible Park (designed for 7th to 9th graders)
An inspiring team-building day in nature in the Edible Park in Mustikkamaa.
Book an inspiring team-building day for you class, which you will spend in a garden environment close to the sea in the Edible Park in Mustikkamaa. During the day, we will do team-building exercises and clean the beaches of Mustikkamaa in the spirit of the SATAKOLKYT project. The nature-based team-building days take place at the beginning of the autumn semester, and you can search for them at kultus.fi/en.
Duration of the programme: three and a half hours
Time: team-building days in nature will be held at the beginning of the autumn term
Maximum number of participants: 25 pupils
Nature-based team-building at Meriharju (designed for 7th to 9th graders)
An inspiring team-building day in nature in Uutela.
Book an inspiring team-building day for you class, which you will spend in the forest and by the sea in the magnificent surroundings of Uutela, near Meriharju Nature House. We will do team-building exercises in nature and spend the whole day outdoors. The nature-based team-building days take place at the beginning of the autumn semester, and you can search for them at kultus.fi/en.
Duration of the programme: three and a half hours
Time: team-building days in nature will be held at the beginning of the autumn term
Maximum number of participants: 25 pupils
Nature school season
The nature school season mainly takes place from April to May in the spring and from September to October in the autumn. There are two application periods for nature school programmes per year.
Registration: kultus.fi