“Plant-For-The-Planet” – Academy 2008

Forest Workshop for Schoolchildren!

From 31st October to 3rd November the Internationales Haus Sonnenberg in the Harz mountains was the venue for the first “Plant-For-The-Planet” – Academy. Groups of schoolchildren from all over Lower Saxony and a whole class from Saxony were coached on how to organize their own projects at home. The purpose of the meeting was to increase the children’s awareness of the issue of climate change and its impact. They were shown different ways to reduce the effects of global warming and how every single person can make a difference. The agenda consisted of talks, games and group work on a variety of topics. The focus was on climate change, its effects and ways out of the crisis. With the help of schoolchildren “Plant-For-The-Planet” aims to plant as many trees as possible, as quickly as possible. As everyone knows this will create many new forests which will be a highly efficient offset to reduce our excessive CO2 emissions.

Aims

The aims of “Plant-For-The-Planet” are basically those of the Forest Seeding Association (WaldSaat e.V.) and “Plant-For-The-Planet” has nothing at all against sowing forests. This method, which experts regard as the best and most natural method of reforestation, was practically unknown there. A good enough reason for the Forest Seeding Association (WaldSaat e.V.) to suggest they take part in the “Plant-For-The-Planet” workshop. A suggestion which was welcomed by the organizers.

Forest Seeding even at “Plant-For-The-Planet” - Academy

Stop 3: Forest Seeding

So both our foresters and Forest Seeding Association members, Sebastian Langen and Sven Gerling, travelled to the Harz to inform the children about forest seeding. The rangers of the Harz national park had organized a “forest rally” with different stops, each linked to an interesting forest theme. These included “planting a tree”, “bark beetles” and “ a miniature national park”. Sven and Sebastian took over one of the rally checkpoints and explained to the children how forests are created naturally and how a Squirrel Forest Campaign project works. Quite often the children had no idea when they were asked how a forest reproduces itself. Sven and Sebastian were able to help here. They played the Squirrel Game with the children and showed them how to sow a forest correctly with a handful of acorns and a trowel.

In everyday life both our foresters, Sebastian Langen and Sven Gerling, run their own firm “Gerling + Langen Wald & Forst-Service in Hilter in North Rhine-Westphalia, and in their free time they support the Forest Seeding Association (WaldSaat e.V.) as active members.

They would be pleased to advise and assist anyone wanting to organize a Squirrel Forest Campaign project in the northern part of North Rhine-Westphalia or in Lower Saxony.

Alte Straße 12
49176 Hilter - Borgloh
fon/fax: 05409/403437
sebastian.langen (at) waldundforstservice.eu
sven.gerling (at) waldundforstservice.eu

- Good vibes at the camp -

Pictures: Sebastian Langen, Sven Gerling, Plant-for-the-Planet