UPM to organise forest trips for 1,200 school students

UPM will organise forest trips for sixth grade students during the autumn with the aim to provide a positive forest experience and tell about sustainable forestry and the forest industry.

During the forest trips, the students will be introduced to the economic and recreational use of forests, conservation and the products made of renewable raw material, wood, said a press release.

Students will also have the opportunity to plant trees that will form a forest in the future. There are 31 schools participating in the trips and a total of approximately 1,200 students are expected to attend.

The forest trips will be organised in cooperation with the Finnish Forest Association and the Finnish 4H Organisation in the cities where UPM mills are situated in Finland, Kouvola, Lappeenranta, Pietarsaari and Rauma.

"We want to offer children a positive forest experience to help building a versatile and life-long forestry relationship. Forest trips support children's learning and increase understanding of forestry," said Inka Musta, Environmental Manager of UPM Wood Sourcing and Forestry.

"Forests and wood products are part of our daily life. We want to increase the appreciation for forests and wood as a renewable and recyclable raw material," Musta said.

In 2017, UPM organised similar forest trips for the first time. The students enjoyed the events, and the most memorable moments consisted of things such as watching the water flowing in a creek, planting plants and having a picnic lunch by the fire. Learning new was interesting and exciting. Planting trees, assessing the age of a tree, observing the various stages of forest, and how wood is present in many different everyday products, were new to many.

"These excursions are a great way to implement a new curriculum that encourages teaching outside the classroom. Both teachers and students praise forestry education in an authentic environment with the guidance of experts," said Suvi Pessala of the Finnish Forest Association.

"More similar excursions are requested as it is know that experimenting and doing is the best way to learn. Forest professionals are also interested in getting to know students' thoughts about the forest."