‘STEAM Hub’ at Forest Days in Tērvete will invite children and families to create, explore, and discover the professions of the future

Author
Latvijas Finieris

May 21, 2026

science communication

On May 22 and 23, 2026, at the Forest Days organised by “Latvian State Forests” in Tērvete Nature Park, the “STEAM Hub” initiative will continue its outreach to a wider audience, inviting children and families to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics through practical experience and engaging activities.

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“STEAM Hub” brings together companies and organizations that believe that Latvia’s future growth is based on people who create, explore, and develop new ideas. The aim of the initiative is to build an environment where children and young people can, through experience, discover their interest in STEAM fields and professions of the future. “STEAM Hub” was first presented last year during the XIII Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival, while this year the initiative is expanding its activities in public events.

At Forest Days in Tērvete, “STEAM Hub” will become a place to experiment, ask questions, construct, think, and discover that science and technology can be the beginning of an exciting adventure. The creators of the “STEAM Hub” initiative emphasize that family and shared experience play a significant role in children’s interests and career choices; therefore, the activities at Forest Days are designed so that both children and parents can participate together.

The co‑founder of the initiative, Vice President of the “LMT Group” Ingmārs Pūķis, emphasizes:

“In our view, Latvia’s development is based on high‑quality education and curious young people. Our goal is to show that mathematics and logical thinking can be an exciting challenge, not just a school subject. In the age of technology, these very skills are becoming the foundation for future opportunities. Since such knowledge is useful for everyone, we hope that this initiative will inspire children and young people to understand STEAM fields in much greater depth.”

Each of the platform’s partners has prepared a unique programme that will allow participants to explore science through elements of play. In the activities organised by the “LMT Group”, children and families will be able to test their mathematics and logical thinking skills by solving tasks of varying levels of difficulty and trying to unlock coded systems.

Meanwhile, JSC “Latvijas Finieris” will invite participants to experience robotics in practice — in a robot combat arena, they will be able to try out robots created by school pupils and students, as well as take part in building simpler robots. During the activity, children and young people will become familiar with laser cutting, 3D printing, electronics, and programming as a creative and engaging process.

Member of the Management Board of “Latvijas Finieris”, Gunita Meiere:

“Today, the forest sector is a technologically advanced, innovative, and knowledge‑based industry. It is important for us to show children and young people the future of the bioeconomy and the use of wood — in it, there will be an increasing amount of science, engineering, and creative solutions.”

Meanwhile, the association “Latvijas Koks” will offer bioeconomy activities and experiments that will help to understand the importance of wood and renewable resources. Visitors will be able to participate in the digital game “Koksne”, explore the strength of constructions, as well as learn about the principles of solar energy use in the “Innovation Grill”.

Member of the Management Board of the association “Latvijas Koks”, Sigita Alksne:

“We want to show that technology, engineering, and the process of creation are not something complicated or inaccessible. It is precisely hands‑on experience that helps children see how exciting the world of STEAM can be and how much can be created within it by themselves. Experimenting, creating, and innovating are natural abilities for children. Our task is to help them recognize and strengthen this ability so that it becomes part of their natural way of thinking and acting. This is the foundation that can later be used in the next stages of education and in the work environment with confidence, courage, and a willingness to seek new solutions.”


 

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