The Nature Program

There have been a lot of exchange students in Estonia who are rather skeptical when our volunteers suggest going into the forest to hike, eat berries, pick mushrooms etc. They often react by asking: how do you know that the berries are edible and not poisonous? Maybe there is a worm in the berry? However, you can trust us with the berries because we have been picking and eating wild berries and mushrooms since we learned to walk.

Estonia is a small country both from its size and population and it is located by the Baltic Sea. The country has no high mountains or large rivers, however it definitely has something really special – wild untouched nature.

There are still many natural bogs remained in Estonia where we go hiking. There is a big chance to meet a moose or some other wild animal in the bogs. But there’s no need to be afraid of them! This is also what we teach in the Nature Program – you can live side by side with animals. When leaving the bog there is even a bigger chance to meet a deer eating by the edge of the forest. Fortunately there is still a number of places in Estonia where wild animals feel safe.

Going to a forest is not a special thing for us; it is natural part of our lives. Of course we could also buy nature products from supermarkets, but the jam made by berries you’ve picked yourself tastes much better than the jam made in a factory.

All above described we would like to offer to our exchange students coming to Estonia within The Nature Program.

Photo: Tiina Kiil