School Break City Camp – One Day, One Place, Lots of Fun!

March 26, 2026

We put together a varied program for every school break, but City Camp Day is the most special day of the entire break. On this day, young people from Tartu gather at a single youth center. While all five centers are usually open, during City Camp, activities take place in just one location. This gives young people the chance to visit a place they might not otherwise get to on a daily basis. This is how new friendships are formed, fresh experiences are gained, and participants take part in exciting workshops.

During the February winter break, a city camp was held at the Ilmatsalu Community Center. The day got off to an exciting start—two cadets from the Estonian National Defense College came to meet the young people. They talked about their daily activities and showed the young people their weapons. The young people got to try on military gear and ask the questions that interested them most.

The Nature House workshop took us on a journey into the world of Estonia’s forests. We talked about the animals that live in local forests and put our knowledge to the test—how well do we recognize animal and bird tracks? Can we tell which animal droppings belong to which animal? We got to see and feel how soft the fur of a fox, a beaver, and other animals is, and learn the difference between Estonian and American minks.

This was followed by a short orienteering game, in which the young people worked in teams to complete various tasks. Together, they “caught fish,” solved a secret code and a memory game, made a rope swing, and answered a picture quiz. Teamwork and ingenuity were the keys to success!

After all the exciting activities, it was time to refuel. Together, we prepared a picnic meal—rice with canned chicken. It tasted great and practically disappeared from the plates.

The day continued with a discussion on how to properly feed birds in winter and what to keep in mind when doing so. We immediately put what we had learned into practice—we made fat balls, which the young people were able to take home with them.

Tired but satisfied, we wrapped up the day with a group feedback session. The camp may be over for now, but there are still plenty of exciting events ahead!

Written by Valentina Nikolaeva, a youth worker at the Anne Youth Center

news:

The winner of the TNTK sock design contest has been announced!

The Tartu Youth Work Center organized a sock design contest with the goal of giving young people the opportunity to put their creativity to the test and contribute to the design of new TNTK souvenirs. A total of 14 entries were submitted to the contest. The winning design was selected by a jury consisting of young people from all of our youth centers, a representative from the Tartu City Youth Council, an artist, and the director of the Tartu Youth Work Center. The winner of the contest was a 16-year-old

A New Chapter in My Journey in Youth Work

Change, Learning, and Growth at the Tartu Youth Work Center A New Beginning in a New Place A while ago, a new chapter began in my professional life. I started working at the Tartu Youth Work Center as a senior youth worker. This brought with it a new work environment, new people, and greater responsibility, but also the opportunity to view youth work from a slightly different perspective than before. Starting a new job always means adapting.

Clubs at the Lille Youth Center 2026

As befits the start of a new school year, the Lille Youth Center is kicking off the new season with a bang and an expanded selection of clubs. All clubs will meet on Fridays, and activities related to the clubs’ themes will take place throughout the week. But what are our new clubs? We’re continuing with the hiking club, where we don’t just talk about hiking—we also learn essential life skills.

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.

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.

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

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.