Detailed program

Information on the Nature Program to YFU applicants

 This specialized year program is aimed for those young people who are interested in nature and environment. It is not just the field trips that we offer during the exchange year but a whole concept about nature and environment what we have greatly combined with the classical program contents.

The aim of the program is to introduce and give students the opportunity to experience the nature of Estonia. Since it would be quite difficult to take part in biology and geography classes in a foreign language, the program focuses more on field trips during the exchange year.

In the following you can see the schedule for the Nature Program. This is only an example. Due to wheather conditions or student's wishes it can change from year to year.

Time	Visits and activities
August	Pre-orientation
September	Canoeing (Ahja river /Võhandu river)
October	The island of Piirissaar Virgin forests of Alutaguse
November	Oil Shale Mine Park in Kohtla-Nõmme  Lahemaa National Park  The North Coast
December	No activity due to Christmas celebrations in Estonian families and schools.
January	Skiing in Kõrvemaa
February	Mid-Term Orientation Trip to Vormsi island on a ice road; The peninsula of Noarootsi
March	Alam- Pedja Nature Conservation Põlula Fish Farm – salmon marking
April	Matsalu National Park – arrival of migratory birds, bird watching and marking
May	Road trip to Southern Estonia and Northern Latvia
June	Re-entry Orientation

The following describes these field trips and activities:

August

Post-arrival Orientation

Photo: Kristo Vaamari

The pre-orientation will be carried out together with all the other exchange students. This will give the nature program students the opportunity to meet all the other exchange students. Besides that, the pre-orientation includes Estonian learning classes and Estonian culture studies that are carried out by trained volunteers for this particular orientation. 

September

Canoeing (Ahja river /Võhandu river)

Photo: Kristo Vaamari

Ahja river is a perfect water body for canoeing. It is deep and wide enough and also has rapids which at the same time have a very big importance for fish.

October

Piirissaar Virgin forests of Alutaguse

Photo: Kristo Vaamari

Island of Piirissaar is in the middle of the large water body, situated at the place where Lake Peipus and Lake Lämmijärv meet. The natural beauty of the island and its image of fishing and onion growing life-style deserves preservation.

It is 10 km by a fishing boat from Laaksaare to get to the island. (In the cold winter, when the lake is covered with a solid thick layer of ice, an ice road is opened.)

November

Oil Shale Mine Park in Kohtla-Nõmme Lahemaa National Park The North Coast

It is very important that the students will not only get to know the beauty of Estonian's nature but also of its environmental problems. 97 % percent of energy used in Estonia is produced of oil shale and 220 km2 of this mining area lies underground. This intense production has always had and still has a negative impact on the environment. The visit to Oil Shale Mine Park will give students the opportunity to learn in more depth about the environmental problems in Estonia.

January

Skiing in Kõrvemaa

Photo: Kristo Vaamari

The students will be taken to a skiing trip to a nature reserve on the area of Kõrvemaa. There are different landscapes like kames and drumlins. The skiing trip includes carrying one's own camping equipment and preparing to stay overnight in the woods covered by snow.

February

Mid-term Orientation Trip to Vormsi island on a ice road; The peninsula of Noarootsi

Photo: Kristo Vaamari

Besides participating in the analysis of the mid-term orientation the students will have time explore the nature of Vormsi and catch fish from ice holes. 

March

Alam- Pedja Nature Conservation Põlula Fish Farm – salmon marking

Photo: Matis Miller

The Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve was established by Estonian law in 1995 and since 2004 is designated as a Natura 2000 site. The protected area is also recognized as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

Põlula Fish Farm is the only national fish farm in Estonia. The students will have an opportunity to study about salmon in Estonian rivers and rehabilitation of the salmon population. In addition, students will be given an opportunity to mark the salmons before dropping the fish into natural rivers.

April

Matsalu National Park – arrival of migratory birds, bird watching and marking

Photo: Kristo Vaamari

The only bird-marking centre in Estonia is located in Western Estonia, in the area of Matsalu National Park. Besides the bird watching activity, the students will be given an opportunity to participate in bird marking procedure.

May	Road trip to Southern Estonia and Northern Latvia

Photo: Kristo Vaamari

The students will be taken to different parts of Southern Estonia and to Gauja National Park in northern Latvia. This trip has a relaxing character compared to other events all over the year.

June	Re-entry Orientation

Photo: Kristo Vaamari

Before going back home the students have a chance to share their experiences with the other exchange students and become aware of the changes they themselves have been trough this year. YFU volunteers will help the students to make the adjusting back home easier. Furthermore, during this orientation the students will sum up and give feedback of all the activities and visits that were included in the Nature Program.