Written by: Anželika Dautartė, VMU

Read also in:

Discovering Nature-based Solutions at the VMU Arboretum

What does learning look like when tree-lined pathways replace the classroom and living nature takes the place of textbooks? On 15 May 2026, students and teachers from the Karaliaus Mindaugo Vocational Training Centre explored this question during an educational visit to the Arboretum of Vytautas Magnus University.

The activity was organised as part of the ᴇNᴀBʟS project and the activities of the Lithuanian Living Lab, aiming to strengthen cooperation between higher and vocational education and to demonstrate that Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) can be understood not only through theory, but also through direct experience in nature.

On that day, the VMU Arboretum became a living learning laboratory where students explored biodiversity, observed natural processes, and searched for answers to how nature itself creates solutions to challenges related to climate change, excess water, biodiversity loss, and human well-being. Throughout the educational activities, students were encouraged to experience nature through different senses – observing, exploring, photographing, analysing, and discussing how NBS can be applied in everyday environments and urban planning.

During the visit, students discovered an impressive diversity of plants – from the only naturally growing liana species in Lithuania to the ginkgo tree, often referred to as a living fossil. Each plant became a unique story about adaptation, ecological interactions, and nature’s ability to maintain balance. At the same time, students discussed how plants and green spaces can contribute to the implementation of NBS by reducing the urban heat island effect, absorbing rainwater, improving air quality, and creating habitats for living organisms.

Attention was given to experiential learning and creativity. Students selected the plants that interested them most, photographed their details, analysed their characteristics, and explored their ecological significance. The collected material will become part of future creative and project-based activities that combine science, art, and personal engagement with nature.

Activities such as these help young people better understand that Nature-Based Solutions are not merely theoretical concepts. They are real, nature-inspired approaches that help protect biodiversity, support climate change adaptation, and create healthier and more sustainable environments.

The activities of the ᴇNᴀBʟS project and VMU’s Living Lab once again highlight the importance of cooperation between science and vocational education. When learning moves into living environments and nature becomes a partner in discovery, students gain not only new knowledge, but also a deeper connection with the environment and a stronger sense of responsibility for its future.