Children under the Ukrainian flag create the future: science picnics were held in the Korabelnyi District

At Mykolaiv Gymnasium No.29 in the Korabelnyi District on May 22, 2026 the third lesson turned into a large-scale research event. The institution held school-wide scientific picnics “Code of Invincibility: The Scientific Ornament of Mykolaiv”, which combined patriotism, the history of the hero city, Ukrainian symbolism, modern technologies and practical scientific research.

Such scientific picnics at the gymnasium have already become a tradition: they have been held since 2017. This year the event was built around the idea of invincibility, shared memory and knowledge that help children see Mykolaiv not only as their native city, but also as a space for development, creativity and future reconstruction. The school’s principal, Larysa Anatoliivna Hrytsiuk, addressed the students with a welcoming speech. She emphasized the importance of unity, strength of spirit and knowledge that open the path to the future for young people.

During the scientific picnics the corridors and classrooms of the gymnasium were transformed into a large interactive map. In it the traditions of the Ukrainian vyshyvanka were combined with science, technology, history and creativity. Students from first through ninth grades took part.

The children went through nine stations, each of which had its own theme, team of teachers and practical tasks.

• At station No.1 “Patterns of Victory: The Geometry of the Vyshyvanka” the youngest participants — first graders and second-grade students — explored symmetry in ornaments, built vyshyvankas from LEGO and created a shared paper “rushnyk of unity”. The children worked with Liubov Viktorivna Ridkoboroda, Anastasiia Nedavna, Dmytro Valeriiovych Nedavnyi, Olha Valeriivna Bondaruk, Svitlana Viktorivna Burin and Olena Volodymyrivna Tarasova.
• Station No.2 “Treasures of the Southern Bug” was dedicated to the nature of the native region. Under the guidance of Iryna Heorhiivna Kukharenko and Liudmyla Mykhailivna Slavynska fourth graders and class 7-B examined shell collections, models of sailing ships and took part in a tactile quiz.
• At station No.3 “Eco-Vyshyvanka: Second Life of Things” students from third and class 7-A learned about ecological awareness. Together with Nataliia Serhiivna Markelova, Svitlana Yuriivna Hrosheva and masters from MSYUT the children created eco-bags and models for sorting waste.
• Station No.4 “Laboratory of the Unbreakable City: The Power of the Elements” proved especially close to the reality of Mykolaiv residents. Combined teams of 5th and 8th grades, together with Svitlana Viktorivna Bratoshevska, Olena Anatoliivna Lutsenko, Serhii Vitaliiovych Syrota and Oksana Serhiivna Bairaсhenko investigated the city’s resources. Tasks included homemade filters for water purification, microscopic examination of soils and optical illusions.
• Station No.5 “Art Space: The Coffee Symphony of Mykolaiv” operated in the assembly hall. Here the children, together with Tetyana Vitaliivna Rybakova, Anna Vasylivna Silkina and Iryna Volodymyrivna Yakubets, created coffee paintings depicting the city’s landmarks and painted “aroma-maps” of mood for psychological reset.
• At station No.6 “Biochemical Code of the South” students of class 7-A, together with Nataliia Anatoliivna Haichenko and Mykola Volodymyrovych Kostiuk, studied the chemical composition of the native region, worked with the map “Green Lungs of Mykolaiv” and carried out color transformations using natural indicators.
• Station No.7 “Mykolaiv – Ukraine’s Shield: From Olbia to the Present” was dedicated to the historical continuity of generations and the resilience of the hero city. Students of 6th and class 7-B, together with Yevhen Oleksandrovych Moroz, presented models of famous buildings and played historical lotto.
• At station No.8 “The Word That Unites: The Poetic Code of Mykolaiv” pupils discovered language as the people’s spiritual vyshyvanka. Together with Svitlana Volodymyrivna Raspitin and Tetyana Vitaliivna Sinchenko they created lapbooks about Mykolaiv writers and a joint “Digital Poetic Tree”.
• Station No.9 “IT-Ornament: Digital Vyshyvanka” combined traditions and modern technologies. Together with Dmytro Serhiiovych Protsko and with the support of Nataliia Anatoliivna Haichenko students of 9-A and 9-V classes coded pixel ornaments and presented 3D models of the future Mykolaiv.

Special words of gratitude during the event were addressed to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is thanks to the Ukrainian defenders that Mykolaiv remains unbreakable, and children have the opportunity to study, hold scientific events, create and smile under the Ukrainian flag.

The gymnasium also thanked parents for their support, help in preparing exhibits and their ongoing participation in the life of the school family.

Thanks were also expressed to class teachers of grades 1–9, as well as to teacher assistants Oksana Petrivna Dubyna, Olena Valentynivna Bakhmutova, Nadiia Volodymyrivna Skrypkovska, Olena Viktorivna Lyuter and Valeriia Valeriivna Loboda for coordinating, accompanying and supporting the children during the event.

Each gymnasium student received their own “Scientist’s Passport”, in which they collected stamp-patterns after visiting the stations. When all tasks were completed, separate elements formed a shared ornament of the large gymnasium family — a symbol of knowledge, unity and invincibility.

Previously we wrote:

• Six educators from Mykolaiv, including from the Korabelnyi district, were recognized as the best in the region
• Young experts of the native language glorify the Korabelnyi district of Mykolaiv
• “Maviky” from the police and trench candles from children of Korabelnyi: Mykolaiv residents sent gifts to a combat unit
• Choose a sports class, theater lessons or a creative workshop with art therapy — all this is free at the gymnasium of the Korabelnyi district
• “The Path of Champions”: a new sports classroom has been opened at the gymnasium of the Korabelnyi district