Playing, learning, doing handicrafts and singing are all the rage - just like in a normal day care center.
But the kindergarten teachers almost always spend time outdoors with the boys and girls: The BRK forest kindergarten near Denklingen was started under the direction of Jana Koch.
Denklingen -
"We currently have five forest kindergartens in the Landsberg district," informs Anna Diem from the district office.
The new forest kindergarten at Ziegelstadel in Denklingen is an independent facility and not part of the regular day care center in Denklingen.
Jana Koch was won over as head.
Like her colleague Heike Bahr, she has ten years of experience in the forest kindergarten.
Nanny Nicole Herrmann completes the team.
From 2022: Up to 18 boys and girls
The first few days there were five boys and girls, meanwhile the group has grown by seven more children to twelve.
From 2022 there can be up to 18 boys and girls.
There are currently three places available in the forest group.
Nothing can be seen of the gray and white container that was placed in the community forest in Denklingen near the corridor boundary.
It has been paneled with wood on the outside to match the surroundings.
In addition, a second door has been installed, which leads directly to the shelter on the west side, which has been designed entirely with wood.
The trailer can only be used in exceptional cases
95 percent of the three specialists want to be outside with the children, as Jana Koch looks ahead.
Only in really bad weather such as persistent frost, heavy rain, storms or thunderstorms can you use the heated hut that has been set up for the needs of the children.
Jana Koch and her teammates Heike Bahr and Nicole Herrmann are happy about the possibilities of educational work in the forest: “The children can test their limits at their own pace, gain courage and gain self-confidence.
The children gain serenity and concentration through the wide space, the tranquility and the experience of nature in the annual cycle. "
Already on the first two days, the teachers with the boys and girls are a little way into the forest.
There is no need for toys, and no corridors are cut.
Rather, they built a teepee together, erected a bridge, served a soup with pine cones and in their imagination put a snoring sloth on a branch to sleep.
Morning circle under the porch
Under the front of the hut, the specialists hold the morning circle with the children after arrival.
Before they can be picked up again either at 1 p.m. or 2 p.m., everyone gathers for the closing group;
they sit on trunks that have been cut to size.
The mascots are the fluffy bear Finn and the raven Rudi, for whom a small house has already been prepared in front of the hut.
The first impressions were absolutely “positive”, said a mother from Denklingen when she picked up her boy after the second day.
Another woman standing by nodded in agreement.
Parents can easily reach the forest kindergarten by bike. It is one kilometer from the center of Denklingen. It is also possible to come by car - thought in bad weather. However, there is a danger point on the way to the parking lot behind the hut. This means the junction with the cycle path from Denklingen to Leeder. Its route has a steep gradient south of the intersection with the path into the forest. A cyclist who was brought to the hospital by ambulance by Red Cross helpers fell on this section recently.
The danger point is to be defused.
One variant is to make fixtures or to put up signs on the hilltop in front of the downhill section.
That is the responsibility of the municipality, which has already bought the hut with the porch for the forest kindergarten and graveled up the area.
info
If you are interested, parents can contact Jana Koch on 0160/9771 9062.
