Teacher Virgilijus Seeks Dinosaurs After School Hours

Virgilijus Pajarskas, a geography teacher, has received a prestigious golden geologist's plaque, an award recognizing significant and long-term contributions to geology science, teaching, and academic endeavors. Pajarskas, who was inspired to teach by his own former educator, pursued geography after initially studying nature sciences alongside his father in his youth. He sees the award as validation of his career path and a renewed commitment to youth education and promoting geological sciences.

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This honorable award is like a confirmation for me that I am going in the right direction in life. It obliges me even more to get involved in youth education and the popularization of geological science.

Pajarskas distinguishes himself from conventional teachers by prioritizing hands-on activities outside the classroom over simply completing textbook programs. He heads "Amonitas," a unique youth paleontology club in Lithuania catering to students from sixth to twelfth grade. The club's name, derived from an extinct marine mollusk, symbolizes the continuity of life's evolutionary cycles. Through "Amonitas," Pajarskas immerses students in practical learning experiences, such as a geographical trail he established in a local park, where they analyze weather patterns, identify glacial erratics, and calculate river flow rates.

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Even when learning geography, children prefer to work practically.

Beyond local excursions, Pajarskas frequently leads overnight trips that blend geological and paleontological exploration with essential life skills and communal bonding. These expeditions involve daytime fieldwork, nature observation, and navigation practice, followed by evenings around campfires filled with singing, talent shows, and crafting with natural materials. This approach offers a vital counterbalance to the technology-saturated environment of contemporary youth. Pajarskas humorously notes that during these trips, a teacher must be available 24/7, acting as a parent, friend, and even a medic.

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A teacher who doesn't spare their time and energy, traveling with students, works 24 hours a day – they have to be a parent, a friend, and even a nurse.

One memorable incident occurred during a camp in Akmenė district. After a visit to a clay quarry, a student was discovered missing from the bus. A search ensued, with Pajarskas and others scouring the area, calling out for the student. They eventually found him engrossed in searching for fossils in a Jurassic-period deposit, so absorbed that he hadn't noticed his companions had left. The teacher described the moment as a shock, while the student simply looked up, holding a fossil.

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I was shocked, and he just looked up, holding a fossil.