At 11 a.m., the members of the “Eco Club” from the Geological Museum of the National Academy of Sciences and the children from the Ajapnyak Social Care Center of Yerevan, accompanied by their caregivers and teachers, gathered as one at the entrance of the museum.
After receiving caps and badges bearing the Veolia Djur company logo—the sponsor of the event organized in honor of June 1, International Children’s Day—the children began their “Planet Earth Is My Home” lesson-tour.
Of course, the day carries its own meaning and is celebrated in Armenia with established traditions. However, the museum, the social care center, and Veolia Djur had decided to combine the useful with the enjoyable on this special day.
And the useful part, undoubtedly, was knowledge—knowledge about the homeland and its natural riches. That is where the idea of the excursion came from.
The first stop inside the museum was the fossil skeleton of an elephant, which, naturally, sparked the greatest interest among the children. They especially enjoyed learning the story behind the bones of this ancient giant. Edgar, a future composer whose parents are geologists, said that visiting the geological museum was a wonderful gift for him on June 1.
Yelena Khachatryan, a staff member of the Ajapnyak Social Care Center who accompanied the children, also remarked, “I can say this excursion is very interesting.”
The children moved from one exhibit to another guided by the museum’s tour guide Seda, exploring the displays. There was also an exhibition of artworks made by the children themselves, which caught their attention too. One child confidently observed, “The more places like this we visit, the better it is for us.”
Later, a visual lesson about the stones of Armenia was held—just as educational and engaging. Everything was new and surprising for the children, and their reactions were open and filled with joy.
The organizers are convinced that the best gift is knowledge. But what’s a celebration without fun? Veolia Djur’s surprises weren’t over yet. It was time for something sweet. After the learning and exploring came the moment of delight—a cake had been promised as the highlight of the event. It was waiting “impatiently” for the children at a local kid-friendly café.
Thanks to the many games, cheerful music, and the delicious, generously sized cake decorated with the day’s theme, “Let There Always Be Sunshine,” this June 1 is sure to be one the children will never forget.
