1st meeting (in Lithuania)

First Study Trip to Lithuania

In June 2026, four of our employees set out on their first study trip to the Kaunas region of Lithuania. The goal of this job shadowing experience was to observe our international partners directly at work and gain valuable inspiration and best practices for the further development of the Baťa Canal.

Everything took place as part of this project:

Project Title: International Cooperation of the Baťa canal, o.p.s.
Project number: 2025-2-CZ01-KA122-ADU-000371811
Beneficiary: Baťův kanál, o.p.s.
Implementation period: January 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
Grant amount: 14 073 EUR

Practical implementation of three key topics at the first meeting in Lithuania:

01. How to spark the general public’s interest in the region, its history, and learning new things ▿

Improving existing approaches to engaging the public:

We explored where and in what format to best target the public so that educational materials reliably reach their target audience.
We gathered practical insights into which approaches have proven effective for our international partners and where, conversely, the energy and resources invested were ineffective.
We learned how to prepare engaging introductions to educational materials so that they would immediately capture attention and create the necessary “WOW EFFECT.”

Making Educational Content More Engaging and Targeted:

We focused on how to seamlessly follow up an engaging introduction with educational content of equally high quality and appeal.
We mastered techniques for creating content that not only engages the public but also directly sparks their motivation to explore further.
We discussed how to effectively combine experiential and educational elements in our materials, how to adapt content to specific age groups, and how to utilize modern forms of online learning.

02. Organizing Education for People with Disabilities ▿

Ensuring the equal participation of people with disabilities in educational activities:

We learned inclusive teaching methods that, in practice, enable the active participation of all participants regardless of their abilities.
We explored ways to structure event schedules and formats so that they can flexibly accommodate the various specific needs of participants.

03. Environmental Education and Natural Compliance with Environmental Rules ▿

How nature conservation rules are presented elsewhere:

We explored the ways in which our Lithuanian partners communicate nature conservation rules to visitors.
We investigated the specific teaching methods they use and the actual practical impacts (i.e., how naturally people adhere to these environmental rules).
We examined the content of the educational materials themselves and how they logically tie into other environmental activities in the region.

Selected from the Program (June 16–17, 2026):

June 16, 2026

A working meeting focused on presenting tourism in the Kaunas region, including promotional tools and educational activities (with an emphasis on environmental sustainability and working with people with disabilities). Meeting with city hall representatives and sharing experiences in the creation of educational materials. Professional visit to the visitor center and nearby tourist attractions.

June 17, 2026

Educational boat cruise from the pier in Zapyškis to Kačerginė, combined with a guided tour and educational activities directly on the waterway.
A follow-up cycling segment of the program featuring presentations about the region directly at the destination sites.
A ride on the historic “Vilkynė” ferry to Vilkija as inspiration for supporting local initiatives.

Summary:

Our first trip to Lithuania was incredibly inspiring. It provided us with a wealth of new insights and raised important questions that we will seek to answer in the next phase of the project.

As early as August 2026, we will welcome invited Lithuanian experts right here at the Baťa Canal. Before the end of the project period, we will also make one more follow-up study visit to Lithuania.