Outdoor Games Event Held in Bendorf Forest for Young Participants
Semester's End Finds Children Dynamically Exploring Forests
This academic year concluded with the Forest Youth Games captivating hundreds of third-grade students across Bendorf.
Over 400 children from 20 schools plunged into the forest, engaging in an educational and interactive trail that showcased the forest's grandeur. "It's always stunning to witness the children's sheer excitement," says Ravine Officer Johannes Biwer, beaming with pride. "Their fascination, astonishment, and overall enjoyment during their forest adventure make the experience truly special."
The trail boasted a variety of stations, mirroring the forest's diverse composition. The students worked together, solving intriguing puzzles, answering knowledge-testing questions, and demonstrating their teamwork skills overcoming physical and playful hurdles.
They searched for hidden animal silhouettes, matching them with the corresponding footprints, or "trittsiegel." They recognized fruits from different trees without needing to look at them. They assisted the Siebenschläfer family in crossing a biotope bridge, leading them safely into the forest. They learned about the forest's role in water storage and resilience toward heavy rainfall in an exciting and action-packed fashion – an essential aspect in flood protection.
The winning class of Medardus Grundschule 3e walked away with an annual pass for Rheinböllen's Zoo for each student, while the groundschule Stromberg's 3e class and the Grundschule Bodelschwingh's 3c class settled for entrance tickets to Bendorf's swimming pool and a voucher for the Bendorf bookstore, respectively. In the end, no student left empty-handed, as all participants received certificates, insect hotels, and a day pass for Rheinböllen's Zoo.
The day in the forest aims to provide entertainment for the children, so they might realize the forest's value and significance to us all. Thankfully, the increasing hot and dry periods have caused noticeable changes in the forest. The forests' transformation due to climate change is a topic close to the heart of Ravine Officer Johannes Biwer, who explains, "We want the children to recognize the connection between themselves, humans, and the forest, and empower them to act for its benefit."
The Forest Youth Games rely on more than 1800 employees, volunteers, and external helpers throughout Rhineland-Palatinate. Their roles range from acting as forest wardens who accompany the children from station to station to evaluating the results and overseeing the trail set-up. As Anne Grobbel, a forester from the Koblenz Forest Office, notes, "The Forest Youth Games are an attempt to pass the importance of forests to the next generation, to inspire them in the forest, and to encourage them to act positively for the forest's betterment."
The 41st annual Forest Youth Games took place across all Rhineland-Palatinate regions, with the Sparda-Bank Southwest eG serving as the main sponsor. Around 12,000 students, accompanied by foresters from the Rhineland-Palatinate State Forests and the German Forest Protection Association (SDW), embarked on this worthwhile exploration, shifting their classrooms under the canopy.
By immersing children in a forest environment, fostering a connection with nature, promoting environmental awareness, and encouraging physical activity and social development, initiatives like the Forest Youth Games facilitate experiential learning. Through hands-on experiences, these games make learning about forests interactive and memorable. Engaging children in nature can lead to long-term attitude changes, inspiring lifelong respect and care for the environment and promoting sustainable behaviors.
- The children's fascination with the forest during the Forest Youth Games extended to understanding its role in climate change, as they recognized the connection between themselves, humans, and the environment.
- In addition to showcasing the forest's grandeur through interactive trails, the games also highlighted the importance of environmental science, particularly in the context of home-and-garden and lifestyle choices, teaching children about the forest's role in water storage and flood protection.
- As the academic year comes to a close, children's engagement in sports and activities like the Forest Youth Games not only provides entertainment but also encourages a lifestyle that appreciates and protects the environment, promoting the value of sports and science in home and garden maintenance as well as in addressing climate change.
