Day of action with the Unterammergau elementary school

Unterammergau - More and more children are not or only marginally familiar with the forest ecosystem. The BayWa Foundation is now counteracting this trend across Bavaria with the “The Forest School” project, which introduces children to nature in a playful way. On excursions to local forests, accompanied by forest educators, you will get to know different tree species, experience the forest with all your senses and find out which animals live there. They document the knowledge they have gathered in a specially developed forest diary, which at the same time offers teachers support for their lessons.

The highlight of the day is the joint planting of trees. The BayWa Foundation's “The Forest School” project was awarded the “UN Decade of Biological Diversity 2019” award from the United Nations as an exemplary project for Germany. Schools can apply for a day of action. The applicable distance and hygiene rules are observed.

According to the 7th Youth Report, the distance between young people and nature is increasing.

The BayWa Foundation is responding to this development with the new “The Forest School” project, which is suitable for primary school children from the third grade.

Children can playfully discover nature on excursions.

Forest educators explain what energy the forest passes on to people and who actually lives in the forest.

The children playfully get to know the different tree species and discover that a sustainable forest only works if every component does its part.

Insects in particular play a role: Why can the bark beetle, for example, be a beneficial insect and a pest at the same time and what important role does it play in the forest ecosystem?

950 trees have already been planted

The children also contribute to environmental protection themselves. Because they are allowed to plant their own little tree in the forest school. As a result, they develop a special bond with the forest. Planting is the highlight of every day of action. Students can later visit their tree with the family and watch it grow and thrive. Around 950 trees have already been planted in this way. The children document their experiences in a specially developed forest diary. It contains valuable information about the forest and its inhabitants. It is designed for long-term use and at the same time supports the teachers in class and the parents at home, because the content can be continued with the children.

“We want to awaken the joy of nature and raise children's awareness.

In this way, they take on responsibility and learn that each and every one of them counts when it comes to protecting nature, ”says Maria Thon, Managing Director of the BayWa Foundation.

“The response is great: The children live in nature and are enthusiastic about the variety of animals and plants!

We are therefore pleased to continue offering the project at numerous schools in the future. "

43 schools are already participating in the BayWa Foundation's “The Forest School” project.

Other schools can apply to the BayWa Foundation at www.baywastiftung.de or by email to waldschule@baywa-stiftung.de.

The currently applicable distance and hygiene rules are observed.

Award in the context of the special competition "Social Nature - Nature for All"

The project “The Forest School” was awarded the “UN Decade of Biological Diversity 2019” prize from the United Nations as an exemplary project for Germany as part of the special competition “Social Nature - Nature for All”.

The competition directs attention to the opportunities that nature offers for social cohesion.

The award is given to exemplary projects at the interface between nature and social issues, which show what concrete measures look like in practice.

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