Entering the second project year 

After the summer holidays, our second project year began with presentations in partner schools at the start of the new school year and with a project meeting in Finland. 

International Baltic Sea Day and many more joint theme days

In our project, the partner schools celebrate theme days connected to our project topics. This year, the Baltic Sea Day celebration was part of the BSP network activities: We marked the International Baltic Sea Day by organizing our Nordplus Junior project meeting in Helsinki. The idea behind the BSP network’s International Baltic Sea Day is to celebrate the day by visiting one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. During our project meeting in Finland, the partners of the Nordplus Junior project Our Baltic Sea held a workshop day at Suomenlinna in Helsinki. Suomenlinna is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites in Finland. 

Other project meetings we have and will celebrate in autumn term 2025: 

21 September: International Day of Peace

26 September: European Day of Languages

16 November: International Day for Tolerance

20 November: World Children’s Day

10 December: Human Rights Day

Project meeting in Finland 8 – 12 September 2025

The fourth project meeting of our Nordplus Junior project took place in Finland from 8 to 12 September. Martinlaakson lukio from Vantaa hosted the meeting. Guests from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia were warmly welcomed by one of the local students who played Myrskyluodon Maija on the grand piano, which perfectly suited the theme. 

The host school students had planned fun activities for the young participants, while the teachers had the opportunity to visit lessons. In the Nature League (Luontoliitto) workshop, participants received a comprehensive introduction to the Baltic Sea theme.

The week’s program was diverse. In Aalto Junior workshops, participants learned about designing more sustainable urban structures and utilizing cellulose to develop more environmentally friendly materials. 

At Harakka Island workshops, they explored the characteristics of the Baltic Sea and environmental issues such as microplastics accumulating in fish. 

In Suomenlinna workshops, meeting participants learned more about the Baltic Sea and also about cultural heritage.

eTwinning collaboration involving more students in meaningful project activities

The eTwinning collaboration in our project brings together students to explore the environmental, cultural, and societal value of the Baltic Sea. Through the eTwinning activities “Influencing decision-makers: The importance of protecting the Baltic Sea” and “My unique relationship with the Baltic Sea”, participants reflected on their personal connections to the sea while developing awareness of environmental challenges facing the region. Students researched threats to the Baltic Sea, shared local perspectives, and proposed ideas for sustainable protection. The eTwinning collaboration encourages active citizenship by empowering young people to express their views, engage with decision-making processes, and understand how individual and collective actions can contribute to protecting a shared natural heritage.

Read more about our eTwinning activities: 

eTwinning: Influencing decision-makers: The importance of protecting the Baltic Sea

eTwinning: “My unique relationship with the Baltic Sea”

Ensuring smooth and effective project management

In our project, the project management team gets regularly together. These project management meetings provide us a space to plan activities, monitor progress, and address possible challenges promptly, helping everyone stay aligned with shared goals and timelines. Open discussion and regular updates support clear communication and quick decision‑making, reducing misunderstandings and delays. At the same time, meeting online strengthens collaboration and team spirit, as participants build trust, share ideas, and get to know each other better. This ongoing interaction fosters a sense of belonging and teamwork, bringing the people working on the project closer together and enhancing overall cooperation. It’s always a big pleasure to meet your Nordic and Baltic friends! 

The Nordplus Junior project Our Baltic Sea aims to enhance students’ knowledge and understanding of the environmental, cultural, and societal significance of the Baltic Sea through cross‑border cooperation and project‑based learning. By bringing together partner schools from Nordic and Baltic countries, the project supports the development of environmental awareness, sustainability thinking, and a shared regional identity connected to the Baltic Sea.

Through international meetings, thematic days, workshops, and eTwinning activities, students actively engage in collaborative learning, intercultural dialogue, and democratic participation. The project encourages young people to reflect on their own relationship with the Baltic Sea, to explore common environmental challenges, and to propose solutions that promote sustainable development. In addition, the project strengthens key transversal competences such as communication skills, critical thinking, digital competence, and teamwork in an international context.

For teachers and project partners, the cooperation fosters professional exchange, innovative pedagogical practices, and long‑term networking within the Nordic and Baltic region. Overall, the project contributes to the Nordplus objectives by promoting inclusion, active citizenship, environmental responsibility, and high‑quality international cooperation in education.

During the spring term 2026, our project will focus on completing final collaborative activities, and disseminating results.

Looking forward to the next project meeting in Denmark in January 2026!