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Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi UNESCO Global Geopark NEWS

19.5.2026

Encounters of 300 Upper Secondary School Students During Joint Theme Days

Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi UNESCO Global Geopark participated in the joint theme days of six nearby upper secondary schools (Lappajärvi, Evijärvi, Vimpeli, Alajärvi, Kauhava and Härmä) on Monday 4 May and Tuesday 5 May 2026. The theme of the students’ theme days was Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi Geopark. This year, the aim of the theme days, organised jointly by the schools, was to familiarise young people with their own local Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi Geopark area and the Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi UNESCO Global Geopark.

“As a result of the cooperation between the six schools, these spring theme days for upper secondary school students are organised annually. In previous years, the theme has included, for example, water, and this time the chosen topic was Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi Geopark,” says Marko Timo, Principal of Vimpeli Upper Secondary School.

“Cooperation with the Geopark is both welcome and desirable. Especially from the perspective of young people, we hope that the Geopark will inspire and encourage them to become entrepreneurs and remain in the area, for example as tourism entrepreneurs, of whom more are needed here,” Timo continues.

Approximately 300 students took part in the theme days. On Monday 4 May, Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi Geopark’s Executive Director Vilma Knibbs gave a lecture at Vimpeli Upper Secondary School to 150 students on the formation of Europe’s largest crater lake, as well as on the process of obtaining UNESCO Global Geopark status and its significance for the region. At the same time, Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi Geopark’s geologist Teemu Öhman gave a lecture on the same topic to 150 students in Lappajärvi.

During the days, Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi Geopark’s geologist Teemu also guided the entire group of 300 students on tours of the meteorite exhibition explaining the formation of the Lappajärvi impact crater, while Executive Director Vilma introduced students in the field at Lakeaharju in Vimpeli to the Lappajärvi impact crater and the special features of the Geopark area.

“Educational cooperation is one of the most important forms of partnership and local participation for Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi Geopark. We are looking forward to future cooperation opportunities with educational institutions in the region,” says Knibbs, who started as Executive Director of the Geopark in early April.