During ”Green Week” (“Săptămâna verde”) —a time when schools all over the country focus on nature and sustainability—my 5B class at ”Alexandru Ioan Cuza„ School in Baia Mare had the chance to leave the classroom behind for a day. We headed to the Crăiască Forest in Ocna Șugatag, Maramureș County, as part of the European eTwinning project „Learning Beyond Walls, Under the Sky.” This project encourages students to learn outside, connect with peers from other countries, and think about how to care for the environment.
Guided by a forest expert, the students explored the educational trail through the Crăiască Forest, discovering step by step the beauty and diversity of the natural world. They admired centuries-old oak and hornbeam trees—some more than 300 years old—true witnesses of time and symbols of endurance and strength. Along the trail, the children encountered informative and interactive panels designed to stimulate curiosity and offer clear information about the forest’s flora and fauna. With enthusiasm and keen observation, they learned to identify various plant species, recognize birds by their songs and colors, and observe the bio fauna of the soil—ants, beetles, snails, worms, and other small creatures essential to the forest ecosystem. One of the most exciting parts was when they collected small insects into special transparent observation boxes equipped with magnifying glasses, allowing them to study ants, beetles, and other tiny creatures up close before releasing them safely back into their habitat. This hands-on activity turned curiosity into fascination and gave the children a real sense of how every small organism contributes to the life of the forest.
As a teacher of English, I integrated this experience into an interdisciplinary learning approach. The students practiced and used specific English vocabulary—tree, leaf, oak, hornbeam, bird, insect, biodiversity, ecosystem—and completed bilingual field journals where they recorded their observations and impressions. The activity naturally combined science, English language, and civic education, demonstrating that learning becomes truly effective when rooted in real-life experiences.
Later, as a follow-up activity, the students used the photos they took along the trail and the information they gathered to write short stories inspired by their forest experience. They incorporated details about the plants, animals, and insects they observed, as well as the lessons they learned about responsibility and environmental care. This creative extension allowed them to express what they had discovered in a personal and imaginative way, reinforcing both their scientific knowledge and their language skills.
The activity also served as an important lesson in responsibility and ecological behavior. The students learned to follow the marked path without straying from it, in order to protect the vegetation and natural habitat. They were also encouraged to respect and protect the infrastructure of the educational trail—its signs, markings, and information panels—and to become responsible visitors who enjoy nature without harming it. These simple, yet meaningful actions, helped them understand that environmental care begins with personal behavior.
At the end of the activity, each student received a pocket guide to the Crăiască Forest, an attractive educational booklet containing images and descriptions of the plants and animals encountered along the trail. This written guide, created as part of the local project for the trail’s rehabilitation, proved to be a valuable learning tool, enabling the children to continue exploring and learning independently at home.
Through the eTwinning project “Learning Beyond Walls, Under the Sky”, our students later shared their experiences with peers from other European schools, exchanging photos and reflections on the importance of environmental protection and the benefits of outdoor learning.
The experience in the Crăiască Forest once again proved that genuine learning happens beyond classroom walls, where curiosity meets reality. The students gained not only knowledge about nature but also essential life values and attitudes: respect, responsibility, teamwork, and a deep desire to protect what is beautiful and fragile around them.
For our students, the day spent in the Crăiască Forest was more than a trip—it was a life lesson and a moment of human connection, a reminder that nature remains our greatest teacher. And for us, the teachers, it reaffirmed that authentic education is not confined to textbooks and classrooms, but it is built where children learn to see, feel, and protect the world they live in.