Environmental education and the Nature Centre

Lead-in paragraph

Learn about the environmental education organised by the Helsinki Environmental Services and the activities of Harakka’s marine Nature Centre. On this page, you will find free environmental education activities and materials for daycare centres, schools and city residents.

Ympäristökasvattaja jakaa lapsille luuppeja metsässä — Photo: Raisa Ranta

Harakka Nature Centre

Located near Kaivopuisto, the Harakka Nature Centre offers experiences, activities and information about the Baltic Sea, archipelago nature and a sustainable lifestyle. Harakka Nature Centre operates in historical premises on the lovely island of Harakka, which has an unparalleled wealth of vegetation and birds. A few minutes away by ferry, you are by the open sea in the delicate nature of the archipelago!

Learn more about the Nature Centre’s services

Learn more about the services for daycare centres and schools

Ilmari – Climate-Smart Mover

The Ilmari – Climate-Smart Mover project is part of the traffic environmental education organised by the City of Helsinki's Environmental Services. Ilmari, an environmental educator, will tour Helsinki's primary schools in 2023 and offer workshops with activities for schoolchildren in the 5th and 6th grades. Ilmari can also be spotted at events for the whole family in 2023!

Open Ilmari's website

Kulkuri, ambassador of sustainable mobility

Kulkuri, ambassador of sustainable mobility is part of the City of Helsinki’s environmental education activities. Aimed at the 1st and 2nd grades, Kulkuri encourages schoolchildren to make sustainable mobility choices and to bring information on the topic to their homes. Kulkuri visits the comprehensive schools of Helsinki in spring and autumn.

Open Kulkuri's website

Materials for environmental education

Forest adventure booklet (pdf)

The forest adventure booklet invites you on responsible forest trips. Helsinki has a variety of forest areas, some of which are protected and more sensitive by nature. Let's get inspired by the surrounding nature together.

Children's environmental guide (pdf, Finnish)

The children's environmental guide has activities to do and colour for each month of the year.

Seashore calls - book, (pdf, Finnish)

Seashore calls -book is a beach guide for dreamers and hikers exploring by the sea. The book provides tips for activities and protecting the sea.

Helsinki`s green treasures - 200 natural attractions book (pdf)

The Helsinki`s green treasures – book presents 200 stunning natural sites in Helsinki. The book explores everything from nature reserves to natural monuments. The sites are divided by region according to the map.

Nature tour calendar for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area (pdf, Finnish)

Free guided nature tours organised in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area’s municipalities are compiled annually into a shared calendar. Learn more about local nature in Helsinki or take a guided tour in other municipalities.

Ode to Helsinki’s nature - nature tour videos

Explore Helsinki's nature with the lead of a guide. The Oodi Helsingin luonnolle nature tour videos published on the Helsinki channel take you from the seashores to the heart of the woods. The videos have been recorded in 2020.