DABA Hub Mobility Trip Through Student Eyes

Upon completion of the mobility trip to Stavanger (March 31 – April 5, 2025), we asked our

students to provide their feedback.

Find their insights below. Excitement and joy were evident in the reflections they gave us.

Workshops and Debates

“When we arrived in Stavanger, Norway, for our ecological project, our first activity was a

creative LEGO-building session. We were given a complex set of LEGO pieces and had to build

a composition based on a series of questions about ourselves. It was a great experience – we

shared stories and got to know participants from countries like Norway and Estonia.

The second activity was a workshop, debate tournament called the "Norway Beaver Cup"

organized by us, 11th-grade students Nikole and Liza. We presented the rules of the tournament

and helped students from other countries understand what debate is and how it works. Some

students argued about the environmental damage, while others raised points about practicality

and alternatives. The main topic was “Plastic packages should be banned” and we explored

different perspectives on this important issue. Our mascot was a beaver – a clean and sensitive

animal that refuses to live in polluted environments, symbolizing our project’s values. 

The highlight of the debate tournament was the award ceremony, which took place right after

the final debate round. The best speaker award went to Anna from Latvia and Sarah, Evan,

Patrick from Norway. Students, who impressed everyone with their strong arguments and

persuasiveness.

The final activity on Monday was Logo and Board Game design. We split into two groups: one

designed ecological-themed board games, while the other created logos for our project. On

different days, we all gathered to present our work, voted for the best logo, and tried out board

games.

Overall, these activities not only taught us about ecological issues and teamwork but also

helped me to express my ideas, collaborate with people from different cultures and solve

environmental problems. It was truly an unforgettable experience.”

Nikole (Latvia)

Beach Cleaning

“We went to clean a beach in Norway called Vistestestranden in Randaberg (Norway), and it

was a really nice experience. The bus ride took about 30 minutes. I went with students from

Estonia, Latvia, and Norway. On the way, we talked about school, music, and what we thought

the beach would look like. Some of us were excited, and some weren’t sure what to expect.

When we got there, the beach was really beautiful. They gave us gloves and bags, and we

started picking up trash. There were three spots to find along the beach, so it felt a bit like a

game. Most of the trash was small—like candy wrappers, plastic rings, and pieces of packaging.

After we finished cleaning, we all had lunch together. We made our own sandwiches and

brought fruit to share. We sat and talked about what funny or strange things we found in the

trash, and also about our countries and languages. I’ve never done anything like this before, but

I really enjoyed it. It felt good to help the environment and spend time with new people.

The local journalist interviewed our peers – Liza and Nikole from Latvia and Patrick and Evan

from Norway.

On the way back, we were tired but happy, and many of us said we’d love to do it again.”

Nikolas and Sophia (Latvia)

The Norwegian Petroleum Museum in Stavanger

“During this week we visited “The Norwegian Petroleum Museum” in Stavanger that showed us

how offshore work became Norway’s most important industry.

Our group did a lot of activities. One of them was a quest where we answered questions about

the oil industry. During the quest, we learned about how oil rigs are built, how they work, the

quality of oil, and the tools used in the early 1900s — and how they have improved over time

until nowadays.

The guide also showed us the safety rules and let us try an emergency exit. It was a long tube

that goes down from the top of the oil rig to the bottom, used for quick evacuation.

In this fascinating museum, not only did we get a close look at a variety of unique exhibits, but

we also took an interesting and informative quiz that helped us to better remember the most

amazing and important facts. This interactive format allowed us to learn a lot of additional,

fascinating information about the museum, the process of extracting valuable oil, and what the

oldest and strongest fossils existed in Norway during the period of oil extraction.”

Diana, Arsenijs, Alexander (Latvia)

Hiking and Climbing Mount Preikestolen

Our day began at 8:00 AM at Montessori Norlights School, where we were first introduced to

important safety instructions before setting off on our hike to Preikestolen. We learned about the

proper clothing for hiking and the essential rules to follow on the trail. Once we had packed our

lunchboxes, excitement and a bit of nervous anticipation filled the air, we were ready for the

adventure ahead.

At 10:00 AM, we arrived at the starting point of the hiking trail, and our journey to Preikestolen

officially began. The hike was 4,000 meters long and led us through a variety of

landscapes—quiet forests, towering mountains, rocky paths, and shimmering lakes. The path

had many angles and challenges, from steep climbs that made our legs burn to flatter sections

where we could catch our breath and look around.

As we climbed higher, the atmosphere was filled with laughter, encouragement, and shared

stories. Some of us talked about school, dreams, or random fun facts; others simply soaked in

the nature around us. There were moments of silence too - those peaceful stretches where we

could only hear the crunch of gravel under our shoes and the wind through the trees. Every now

and then, someone would say, “We’re almost there!” even when we weren’t - but it made us

smile and kept us going.

We felt a mix of emotions along the way - excitement, curiosity, and even a bit of exhaustion -

but mostly determination. Every step brought us closer to the top, and with every glimpse of the

view ahead, our motivation grew stronger.

After about 1.5 hours of hiking, including some well-deserved breaks, we finally reached our

destination -Preikestolen. Standing on the edge of the cliff, looking out at the fjord below, was

breathtaking. We spent around an hour at the top, enjoying the lunch prepared by our school,

taking photos, and simply soaking in the surreal beauty around us. The feeling of freedom at the

top was an indescribable mix of pride, wonder, and deep satisfaction. We were tired, but we had

made it together, and that made it even more special.

The way back down took just an hour, and though our legs were tired, our hearts were full. Once

we reached the bottom, we treated ourselves to some ice cream - a sweet ending to an

unforgettable experience. As we returned to school, I, Liza, carried more than just sore muscles

- I carried memories that will stay with me forever.”

Liza (Latvia)

The Magic of Collaboration

As you know, interactions play an entirely important role in our everyday lives. This week, I was

very glad to have an entirely unique chance to not only travel, but also build connections. 

But honestly, the story is not only about connecting with new people from different parts of our

world. On the other hand, it’s also about strengthening relationships with familiar people from

our lovely country - Latvia, who study in other schools. 

In particular, I strongly believe that my friends Sophia, Diana, Anna, a group of funny boys,

including Martin, Arseniy, Alex, Kristaps, Nicolas, also teachers Veronica, Liene and Dmitriy

gave this trip a spark and enriched our adventure. Honestly, I really appreciated these moments

when we were fishing by enjoying breathtaking scenery, hiking, staying at the same hotel by

playing UNO together and predicting the future by tarot card reading. I can say with confidence

that I can’t even imagine this trip without all of them because they instantly became completely

special for me. No matter how long actually the journey was. As we walked together through the

mountains, flourishing streets of Stavanger, we enjoyed sharing stories, dreams and capturing

memories by photographing every miracle. Each moment was filled with infinite laughter and

joy, making our bond even stronger. 

As our trip unfortunately came to an end, I suddenly realized that it was more than just vacation.

All in all, it was a meaningful experience that highlighted the importance of friendships in our

lives and matching interests. This journey definitely will always hold a special place in my heart

for both its beauty of nature and connections that blossomed in the stunning Norwegian

wilderness during our time here. To be honest, this journey can’t be forgotten and will last

forever in everyone’s hearts.”

Ariana and Martin (Latvia)

The BBQ Evening

“On the last evening in Norway, we had an incredible opportunity to spend time all together by

grill. The theme of the evening was "BBQ evening". We all had lots of food, and ate very well,

but we didn't only eat amazing food. We also had a special concert prepared in collaboration by

all partnership schools. It was unique because there were some improvised dances performed

together by students from different countries, a student from Norway played a violin, and we all

received certificates about completion of the mobility trip program.”

Kristaps (Latvia)

Feedback from the Estonian Teacher

“We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the participants of the international youth

project Daba Hub for your active involvement, meaningful collaboration, and the warm,

supportive atmosphere you created together. This has truly been a unique and priceless

experience for all of us.

A special thank you to Veronika and Joseph for the wonderful organization of the first mobility

trip — everything was so thoughtfully planned, and the variety of engaging and inspiring

activities made it truly unforgettable for all participants.

We’re especially thankful to Joseph for the warmest welcome and incredible hospitality. It was

an honor and a joy to be hosted in Norway and to have the opportunity to connect and

collaborate with the amazing students and teachers at Norlights Montessori School. This

experience has brought so much growth, inspiration, and genuine connection.

We’re already looking forward to continuing this beautiful partnership and can’t wait to welcome

the participants from Latvia and Norway in Estonia soon. The journey is just beginning — and

we’re so excited for what’s to come!”

Teacher Olesya (Estonia)