When there was a severe blizzard in Rīga, on 4 November, in the surroundings of green grass and autumnal forest of the LVM Nature Park in Tērvete, the award ceremony of contest “Our little hike” organised by the Ministry of Agriculture took place. The contest “Our little hike” has now become a tradition and took place for the 10th time. Contest has been organised in collaboration with association “Zaļās mājas”.

Each year students of general and professional educational institutions and also from interest-related hobby groups and 4-h clubs participate in the contest. The task of this year's competition was to carry out a research about the various uses of wood in Latvia and in the world.  The slogan of 2016 contest – Wood is everywhere! And is there a better place to hold an award ceremony than in the LVM Nature Park in Tērvete – a place for a marvellous recreation for all generations, which is also developing into an environmental education centre?

The contest received 140 works of collectives: In the group of 1st-4th grade 42 works were competing; for the 5th-9th grade group 38 works were sent in; in the 10th-12th grade group 9 works were competing for the prize, but 51 works were competing in the group of interest-related hobby groups and 4-h clubs. Works were evaluated by Ēriks Hānbergs – writer and publicist, Natālija Buile – senior expert of the National Centre for Education, Māra Mīkule – senior desk officer of Forest Department of Ministry of Agriculture, Ieva Erele – assistant of CEO of Latvian Forest Industry Federation.

The jurors determined best three authors of works in each contest group – class groups or interest-related hobby classes. The award ceremony in the forest that is filled with fairytales and stories gathered approximately 180 students of Latvian educational institutions from all cities and regions of Latvia. The winners were greeted by Ēriks Hānbergs the chairman of jurors of the contest, Arvīds Ozols the director of Forest Department of Ministry of Agriculture, and Uldis Grīnfelds a representative of Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry.

All winners of “Our little hike” were greeted with ovations, applause and cheers. With genuine joy students were appreciating their surprise prizes, diplomas and gift cards for organising their unforgettable excursions. When winners were awarded, all participants went to test their practical and theoretical skills with the residents of the miraculous forest – Forest Witch, Dwarf family, Bunny and other – that had prepared erudite challenges about wood as a sustainable nature resource.

The LVM Nature Park in Tērvete congratulates the winners of contest “Our little hike”! Have a plenty of energy, tenacious spirit to explore, test, question, justify and prove your future works!