Monitoring programmes for different species are extremely important, as they show us, in the long term, whether we have reason to be concerned about a particular species. The conservation activities we carry out are equally important, as they are the only way we can try to support endangered species. Ecological education activities are just as vital, because only by knowing nature and the species around us can we take care of the environment.

The year 2025 was once again full of ecological education activities. Throughout the year, we conducted thematic activities for 39 classes, reaching approximately 1,000 children. Our activities were diverse. Some took place in classrooms and included workshops for making bird feeders, bird recognition games, songs, and stories about the fascinating lives of animals.

We are pleased with the high number of requests, but it is even more rewarding when we are invited back to the same class and can explore topics in greater depth, such as bird migration, winter feeding, animal tracks, or nest box building. We visited 17 such groups, who eagerly awaited us each time, and occasional questions such as, “Are you leaving already?” or “When will you come again?” confirmed the children’s interest.

We managed to visit schools not only in Târgu Mureș, but also in Miercurea Ciuc, Berghia, Crăciunești, Miercurea Nirajului, Mădăraș, Nazna, Reghin, Periș, Voivodeni, Corunca, and Sângeorgiu de Mureș.

For more than two decades, we have been engaged in ecological education, which has allowed us to develop and test numerous effective activities over the years. Nevertheless, we believe there is always room for improvement, which is why our colleague responsible for ecological education, Andrea Miholcsa, participates annually in various courses and training sessions to discover new techniques and ideas.

Among other things, this year she took part in an introductory course on the forest bathing method, known in Japanese as shinrin-yoku, a recreational practice that awakens the senses and provides a mindful immersion experience. Andrea applied the knowledge she gained at the 33rd Bolyai Summer Academy, organised for teachers in pre-university education. The activity was highly successful; moreover, the teachers at the „Palkó Attila” Secondary School in Aluniș asked us to organise a similar activity for their pupils, which took place in October.

There is much more to tell. We held our traditional Nature Discovery Camp, full of adventure, educational games, excursions where we explored local species, and stormy evenings when we read stories. We were also present at the Zoo, where, on the occasion of World Animal Day, we organised an activity focused on eagles. We tried to be as active as possible in the community and organised several family activities as part of the “Family Days in Nature” project.

We look to the future with confidence, and in 2026 we promise to start with the same enthusiasm and the same desire to bring nature into schools and kindergartens.