Youth centers jointly explored Piusa

To mark the start of the school holidays, on April 25th, the Ilmatsalu, Lille, and Anne youth centers embarked on a joint trip to Southern Estonia. The main destination was the Piusa Caves Visitor Center, after which time was spent at Meenikunno by Lake Valgjärv.

The day began with a trip from Ilmatsalu at 9:30 AM. After a lively bus ride, we had an interesting guided tour in the Piusa caves and got to craft bats and sand bottles. In the caves, we also managed to spot hibernating butterflies and sleeping bats. The young people grilled their own lunch in the beautiful natural setting by Lake Valgjärve. In addition to grilling sausages and marshmallows, they hiked around the lake, played ball games, and had a small competition, with the winners being rewarded with a box of sweets.

Youth worker Sära Sthella Tohv, who accompanied the young people, states: “We have mistakenly assumed that young people are not very fond of nature. On the contrary! They are very interested in the life around us, and when we shared forest wisdom with them, they were able to contribute a lot themselves. It is our responsibility to give them the opportunity to spend time in nature in diverse ways.”

Tartu Youth Work Center will continue to organize outings aimed at young people, information about which can be found on our website and the youth centers' Instagram. Outings, like all other youth center activities, are free for young people.

Additional information:

Youth Work Specialist Sära Sthella Tohv

Email: Sara.Tohv@raad.tartu.ee

Phone +372 5303 3606

news:

Youth Counselor Oksana Knjaz: “None of us has to handle everything on our own!”

Every young person has their own story, questions, and challenges. Sometimes, all it takes to move forward is for someone to help them clarify their thoughts and identify possible solutions. The youth counselors at the Tartu Youth Work Center support young people in precisely these moments, offering them the chance to talk about both everyday worries and more complex issues. Let’s meet Oksana Knjaz, a youth counselor working at our Anne House.

Read more »

Design socks for the Tartu Youth Work Center!

The Tartu Youth Work Center’s sock design contest is about to begin! Design socks using the provided sock template. You can find the template here or get a paper copy from your youth worker. You can create your design by hand or digitally. Include your name, contact information, and—if you’d like—a brief explanation of your design. Submit your finished work by October 25 at the latest to helene.toomeoks@tartu.ee or give it to your youth worker.

Read more »

Youth Counselor Kairi Kivaste: “My job is to listen and provide guidance, together with the young person”

There are times in a young person’s life when they don’t have to face their thoughts, worries, or questions alone. The Tartu Youth Work Center employs two youth counselors whom young people can turn to when they need someone to listen, help them make sense of a situation, and work together to find possible solutions. The youth counselors also support youth workers and help them identify and resolve

Read more »

Tartu, the Youth Capital, Opens a New Playground at the Anne Youth Center

Today, October 2, at 3:00 p.m., a new playground will open in the courtyard of the Anne Youth Center (Uus 56, Tartu), providing younger visitors with more opportunities for active leisure.The playground is part of a comprehensive plan for the Anne Youth Center’s outdoor area, which is being implemented in stages. In the coming years, the plan is to develop the entire outdoor area to create a space that meets the needs of young people of all ages.

Read more »

Summer Work Camp 2026: Friends, First Paychecks, and Experiences That Last a Lifetime

The summer of 2026 at the Tartu Youth Work Camp offered young people much more than just work experience. Feedback collected at the end of the camp clearly highlighted the things the young people valued most: new friends, their first earned paycheck, special experiences, and shared activities. New friends were the biggest win. Most often, the camp participants highlighted the opportunity to meet new

Read more »

An interactive adventure game titled “The Lost Trail” is being created at the Ilmatsalu Youth Center based on an idea from young people

What happens when you give young people the chance to think for themselves, experiment, build, and actually bring their ideas to life? An interactive adventure game called “The Lost Trail” is currently taking shape in Ilmatsalu, and local youth have been involved in its creation from start to finish. From an idea to an actual game… It all started when some young people stopped by the youth center and complained that in Ilmatsalu there wasn’t

Read more »

Tartu, the Youth Capital, Tested a Mobile Youth Work Bus 

What if, instead of waiting for young people to come to the youth center, the center went to where the young people actually are? Over the past four years, the Tartu Youth Work Center has been developing mobile youth work in Tartu’s public spaces. This summer, a mobile youth work bus (the MoNo bus) was tested for the first time to see if this kind of solution would help reach young people,

Read more »