First forest adventures: Augsburg children rediscover nature!

First forest adventures: Augsburg children rediscover nature!

Under the dense canopy of the Siebentischwald in Augsburg, preschool children from Oberhausen are currently experiencing how exciting and educational nature can be. Together with their teachers, Adam and Victoria, two curious children, built a nest for birds. An exciting tour of discovery, because many of the little adventurers had never seen a forest before. Experience educator Manuel Glückler accompanied the children through this green classroom and showed them pictures of birds that they could identify without hesitation. It's amazing how much the children learn about wildlife as they explore the forest floor and even discover the gall wasp nursery.

“The children rarely have contact with nature,” notes educator Marinela Barth, “so it is important that we give them such experiences.” Visiting the forest is not only a fun adventure, but also promotes child development. Children learn to actively shape their environment and lose confidence in their abilities less quickly. The “Get Dirty” program, in which five groups from four Augsburg daycare centers take part, was launched in Munich in 2018 and is supported by the Munich Beisheim Foundation. It includes two forest days and two farm days per year and aims to raise environmental awareness among the little ones.

The importance of experiencing nature

Why are such experiences so important for children? In today's urbanized world, many children spend their time in front of screens or indoors. As a report from kindergartenpaedagogik.de shows, this trend is often associated with health problems such as obesity, allergies or ADHD. Promoting nature experiences not only helps to counteract this development, but is also essential for healthy growth. Children have the right to experiences in nature that sharpen their senses, strengthen motor skills and promote social interactions.

The importance of these experiences is also reflected in the activities that children can undertake in nature. Hiking, cycling or even treasure hunting sharpen the senses and challenge little explorers. These experiences are essential not only for physical but also for social development. Outdoor activities develop children's confidence and curiosity while they learn to explore their surroundings through play. Little child big future highlights that such experiences also increase children's creativity and understanding of nature.

A call to nature

Marinela Barth’s words are a powerful reminder: “We have to get children back into nature.” Kindergartens are under pressure to offer children more freedom and real experiences in the “big outdoors”. Educators need patience and a plan to introduce curious children to the different facets of the environment. Simply spending time outdoors can be a source of knowledge and joy for children, strengthening their basic trust in the world and at the same time encouraging a declaration of love for nature.

As nature experiences show, the forest is much more than just a place for relaxation. It is a space that helps children to shape their environment in a playful and creative way. In doing so, we are forming a generation that not only loves nature, but also actively works to protect and preserve it. A visit to the Siebentischwald is just the beginning of a journey that still has many exciting adventures in store for the little explorers. Let’s let them spend more time outside – where life’s real lessons await.