On Saturday, 6th of September from 12:00 until 18:00 the traditional OAK DAY will take place at the Turaida Museum Reserve, as well as the opening of the new permanent interactive exhibition “Nature’s Treasures” in the Turaida Forest Park.
The program is designed to be interesting for both adults and children and is especially suitable for families with kids.
12:00 Opening of the artist Anita Paegle’s illustration exhibition “The Mosquito Fell from the Oak” at the Turaida Museum Reserve’s smithy building. The children’s vocal group Siguldiņa will perform. This exhibition is also part of the Sigulda Children’s and Youth Literature Festival program.
13:00 Opening of the new permanent interactive exhibition “Nature’s treasures” in the Turaida Forest Park. Didzis Jaunzems Architecture Design.
From 13:00 Creative, educational, and entertaining activities for children and adults at the Under-the-Oak Stops, where invited researchers, craftsmen, and museum reserve staff will share their experience and knowledge.
UNDER-THE-OAK STOPS:
- Nature Class – Discover the value of nature in a fun and engaging way with nature education games in the mobile classroom, led by Nature Education Specialist Anda Andrušaite from the Nature Conservation Agency and Zanda Segliņa, assistant coordinator of the LIFE Osmo Baltic project;
- STEM (an educational field based on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) – Nature workshop;
- Scents of Nature – A meeting with dendrologist and long-time Director of the National Botanical Garden Andrejs Svilāns, sharing stories about Latvia’s rich dendrological heritage;
- The Hermit Beetle – A meeting with entomologist Voldemārs Spuņģis, PhD in biology, insect researcher, and expert in the world of tiny creatures – also known as a wasp, grasshopper, and fly tamer – along with Maksims Balalaikins, PhD in biology and leading researcher at the Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies of Daugavpils University.
- The Secrets of Ponds – Dive into the underwater and above-water world with researchers from the Hydrobiology Laboratory of the Institute of Biology at the University of Latvia, led by Dāvis Ozoliņš;
- Birds – Conversations about and around birds with Viesturs Ķerus, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Ornithological Society;
- Photos under an Oak – A masterclass and exhibition by renowned Latvian nature photographer Andris Eglītis in the forest park;
- The Oak of Songs – Honoring the oak through songs, games, and dances with folklorist and musician Aiga Auziņa;
- The Power of Forest for Health – A meeting with sauna master and herbalist Inta Brikmane, featuring a tea tasting;
- Oak Wool – Demonstrations by textile artist Ritvars Točs on extracting and processing wool from trees, shrubs, and plants. Opportunity to taste acorn coffee and purchase woolen products made from trees;
- Bee Embassy – A meeting with Ainārs Mitrofanovs, Chairman of the Board of the Beekeeping Cooperative Union “Sigulda Honey,” and beekeepers from the “Bee Friend” project, with candle-making, beekeeping product tasting, and purchasing;
- The Bee House – Introduction to beehive therapy and a short walk to the bee houses created by Montas Voldiņa.
- Wooden Spoon Workshop – Demonstrations by craftsman Juris Renčs, with the opportunity to purchase apple and plum wood spoons and spatulas;
- Oak Charcoal – Drawing with charcoal and creating an exhibition of drawings together with Turaida Museum Reserve specialist Daiga Kļaviņa;
- The Crow Sitting in the Oak – Crafting birds from natural materials under the guidance of Margita Poriete
- Little Acorn – Making jewelry and toys from natural materials together with preschool educator Lauma Boguļko.
- Mauriņi Delights – Tasting treats from the hosts of the guesthouse “Mauriņi”.
The “Drabešu Manor Musicians” will fill the forest park with older and lesser-known songs.
This year’s special addition, the “Nature’s treasures” exhibition, has been created with financial support from the Interreg Estonia-Latvia Programme 2021-2027, under the European Territorial Cooperation Goal, through the “Garden Pearls II” project. The exhibition’s design was crafted by Didzis Jaunzems Architecture, skillfully creating interactive objects for nature exploration, especially for families with children. Visitors will be able to explore a real insect hotel, measure towering trees, and learn about the mysterious life of the hermit beetle in the Turaida Forest Park.
For the fourth year, the Turaida Museum Reserve will celebrate OAK DAY, offering educational workshops under the unique title “Under-the-Oak Stops”. This year, at sixteen stops, both adults and children can spend many hours enjoying useful activities. These workshops will be led by experienced researchers and experts – including a dendrologist, entomologist, habitat expert, hydrobiologist, ornithologist, sauna master, folklorist, nature photographer, beekeeper, cook, and artist. In collaboration with the Nature Conservation Agency, there will be a Mobile Nature Education Class. For the first time, a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) nature workshop will be held, focusing on the education of these subjects. Starting from the 2025/2026 school year, the Turaida Museum Reserve will offer educational activities in nature studies for primary and secondary school students.
In collaboration with the Sigulda Children’s and Youth Literature Festival, an illustration exhibition by artist Anita Paegle, titled “The Mosquito Fell from the Oak”, will be opened in the smithy building. The exhibition will be open for viewing until October 31.
During OAK DAY, the Turaida Forest Park will be filled with music from the children’s vocal group Siguldiņa and the Drabešu Manor Musicians. Māra Zemdega, the owner of the Mauriņi Guesthouse, will take care of the delicious treats.
The OAK DAY program has been created in collaboration with Daugavpils University, the Nature Conservation Agency, the National Botanical Garden, and BKS Sigulda Honey.
For more information, contact:
Head of the Communication and Educational Work Department
Gunta Zaķīte
Tālr.29384512
Foto: Edgars Semanis
