Photo: A. Braun

Just a few kilometers from the Travemünde ferry port is the Dummersdorfer Ufer nature reserve, which the landscape conservation association of the same name has been working to preserve for more than five decades. The approximately 6,000-hectare area in Schleswig-Holstein is not only home to rare bird species and old breeds of sheep and goats, but also to the "Bergwichtel" nature kindergarten, which was founded in 2002. Its aim is to give children a deep connection to their environment in a playful way from an early age.

Life in the community here takes place outdoors all year round - come rain, snow or shine. This allows three to six-year-olds to experience the seasons up close and learn about the rhythms of nature as a matter of course - for example, through the birth of the lambs at Easter, which the children eagerly await time and time again. These recurring processes help them to find their bearings as they grow up and develop a sense of security and trust. On their daily journey of discovery - be it in their own vegetable garden, in the orchards or in the species-rich biotopes - the girls and boys also learn how important it is to understand and protect the flora and fauna that surrounds them. By interacting with chickens or ducks, for example, they also build up social skills, take responsibility and practise consideration.

The holistic approach of the non-profit facility has also met with great approval from parents. Due to the high demand, the association opened another kindergarten group in summer 2023. In order to be able to use the area around the nature conservation station and sheepfold as a sheltered space for play and exercise even in extreme weather conditions, a comfortably furnished shelter was recently erected. It serves as a place of rest and retreat to warm up on cold days or for communal meals. A newly planted embankment provides additional protection when the wind blows particularly strongly on the nearby Baltic Sea. Both measures were funded by the Darmstadt Software AG Foundation, among others. Project manager Elke Rahmann explains: "The children can experience the care of the historical cultural landscape of their region around the farm at close quarters. They perceive the people working there and themselves in a meaningful relationship to their surroundings and feel the self-efficacy of their actions."