NaturGut Ophoven

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The main building of NaturGut Ophoven

The NaturGut Ophoven is a environmental education center for children and adults in Leverkusen . It was founded in 1984 as a nature and school biology center on the site of an old manor in the Opladen district .

features

The greenhouse with solar installations

As one of the oldest buildings in the city, the center includes the remains of a castle from the 13th century. The facility is surrounded by forest and meadows. NaturGut Ophoven is the first CO 2 -neutral environmental information center in Germany and includes the EnergieStadt children's and youth museum and a six-hectare site with ponds, meadows and gardens.

Schoolchildren and kindergartens can attend adventure programs on nature and environmental protection, climate change and renewable energies. NaturGut Ophoven works according to the principles of education for sustainable development. The aim of the pedagogy is to sensitize the participants for a sustainable approach to nature and fair access for all people to their natural basis of life.

history

The art installation "Der Recyclist" on the grounds of NaturGut Ophoven

In December 1983 around 20 nature conservationists founded the “Friends of the Nature and School Biology Center”. In March 1984 the city of Leverkusen handed over parts of the Ophoven estate to the “Friends of the Nature and School Biology Center Leverkusen eV”. This marked the beginning of the construction of the environmental center by voluntary conservationists.

The tenant house and barn roofs were the first municipal building biologically renovated by the city of Leverkusen. Bird nesting boxes were built into the outer walls under the motto “Fly in and feel good”.

In 1988 the City Council of Leverkusen set up the city-sponsored center for environmental education. Since then, the city of Leverkusen and the development association have been working together with the same objective for environmental education.

Gradually, various demonstration systems, ponds , hedgerows , adventure and resting areas, a school garden and an apiary were built on the site . In 1995 a nature trail was built around the site, which encourages the viewer to experience nature from a different perspective. The concrete steps for planning this path were published in the book “From the educational path to the adventure path”.

For a number of years now, the metal artist Odo Rumpf's solar works of art have graced the site. Two solar flowers, solar flashes, a solar avenue and the metal sculpture “Recyclist”, welded together from recycled motorway signs and equipped with solar cells, stand for the sustainable use of resources at NaturGut Ophoven.

In 1998 the renovation of one of the two old barns began. The outer walls of the listed building were preserved, while the inside was the action-oriented adventure exhibition EnergieStadt, the first part of which, the EnergieStation, was opened in 2000 by Environment Minister Bärbel Höhn . Two years later, the “StadtSpaß” section of the exhibition followed on the upper floor of the building. The EnergieStadt children's and youth museum has belonged to the Federal Association of German Children's and Youth Museums since 2006 and to the Association of Adventure Museums on the Rhine since 2008.

Part of the exhibition on the upper floor was rebuilt so that in spring 2013 the new part of the exhibition “The search for climate luck” could be opened. Here children and young people acquire knowledge about climate change in other parts of the world and work together to develop ways of dealing with this problem.

In 2013, the site was developed into the first Climate Adventure Park in Germany. Numerous installations and stations are intended to sensitize visitors to the causes and consequences of climate change.

Competence center for climate education

Discover renewable energies in a playful way
Adventure exhibition “In search of climate luck”, themed area Australia

Climate protection and renewable energies are focal points and an integral part of the entire work at NaturGut Ophoven. Courses in the Children and Youth Museum EnergieStadt as well as on the premises draw attention to the influence of nutrition, mobility and consumer behavior on climate change and give suggestions on how to live more sustainably.

The association organizes the energy saving project "energieLux" at municipal schools and kindergartens. Through educational work and campaigns, pupils, teachers, educators and kindergarten children should learn to use the earth's resources more efficiently.

In 2013, the nationwide first handbook for educators on the topic of climate protection appeared: “Small thumb - big effect. Climate protection in kindergarten ". The manual provides tips and information on how to deal with this topic in kindergarten.

In addition to the educational work, the Friends of NaturGut Ophoven, BUND and NABU have also been running the “Climate Protection - Everyone, Every Day” campaign since 2008. The information and publicity campaign in Leverkusen and Cologne uses banners, flags and a wide variety of press events to make citizens aware of the importance of climate protection. There are numerous activities, lots of tips and suggestions on how the climate can be protected in daily life.

As part of the climate protection campaign, the center organized four times in a row from 2010 onwards, together with the city of Leverkusen, the Leverkusen economic development agency, the local Chamber of Commerce, the local trade association and large partner companies, the “climate morning pint”. A technology fair for Leverkusen entrepreneurs to draw attention to energy-efficient processes and technologies.

The center works with many partners, including the working group for nature and environmental protection ANU, the NABU-Leverkusen, the BUND-Leverkusen and the NABU-Naturschutzstation Leverkusen-Köln, whose office is also located in one of the NaturGut buildings.

Educational projects

experience nature

Over the years, NaturGut Ophoven has carried out numerous regional as well as international projects and participated in campaigns across Germany. Some examples:

The association has been participating in the national organic breadbox campaign since 2006. Every year all i-Dötzchen in Leverkusen and in the Rheinisch-Bergisches Kreis receive a bread box with healthy contents when they start school. This campaign is intended to encourage parents to give their children a (healthy) school breakfast. The children learn that a chocolate bar cannot necessarily replace a whole grain bread and fruit.

“Family Cruise” was a project in which low-income families could enjoy a week's holiday together on the estate. The time they spend together should enable them to clarify values ​​and ideas about their upbringing and thus to be strengthened for everyday upbringing.

The results of the two-year research project “We experience energy” formed the basis for a comprehensive practical manual. This book "A Kingdom for the Future - Experience Energy Through the Kindergarten Year", published in 2007, gives educators and teachers the theoretical basics and practical instructions to clearly convey the topic of "experiencing energy" to kindergarten children.

With the two-year project in the context of the Regionale 2010 ": Water connects - Everything in the river", the topic of water as a connecting and communicative, regional element was brought into focus.

The aim of the triangle project was to make Europe's children fit for the future and to actively involve citizens in the conscious use of energy. Since May 2007 the partner cities Leverkusen (Germany), Villeneuve d'Ascq (France) and Ratibor / Raciborz (Poland) have been working together for the first time in the field of climate protection to promote the conscious use of energy in kindergarten.

The European project Inspire helped to optimize teaching in schools by further developing the use of extracurricular learning locations, especially in the areas of renewable energies and climate change.

Awards

In 1997 the NaturGut was registered as a worldwide project at the EXPO 2000 world exhibition. A year later it was the winner of the state competition “Sustainable Urban Development Projects”. In 2003, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia was awarded “best practice” - as an exemplary, forward-looking project.

In December 2010 the center was awarded the honorary prize “Klimaschutz Aktiv NRW” from the Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Agriculture, Nature and Consumer Protection. This year, this prize was awarded for the first time to an organization for outstanding educational activities in climate protection in North Rhine-Westphalia.

In 2012 and 2013, the Leverkusen environmental education center, as a climate competence center, was one of 365 selected locations in the “Germany - Land of Ideas” initiative.

The award by the National Committee of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development as “Recognized Decade Project” for the years 2006/2007 was renewed for 2008/2009 and 2010/2011. In 2013 it was made an official measure of the UN Decade. NaturGut is the first environmental education center in Germany to receive this award. Decade measures set standards in the field of environmental education and the one-world concept and are intended to make a permanent structural contribution to the national anchoring of education for sustainable development in the German education system.

In April 2014, Minister of Science Svenja Schulze named the association a “place of progress” for its excellent educational offers and consumer information on climate protection.

NRW Climate Protection Minister Johannes Remmel recognized the NaturGut Ophoven as a prime example of climate protection. As part of the annual event “Climate Protection as a Motor for Progress in 2015 - Excellent Pioneers” in September 2015 in Cologne, NaturGut Ophoven was included in the ranks of the best projects in North Rhine-Westphalia. The project took first place in the "Conserve resources" category.

In 2014, NaturGut Ophoven received the title “Excellent Project of the UN Decade of Biodiversity” as part of the UN Decade for Biological Diversity. The facility and innovative educational work on the large “Amphibion” wetland, part of the site, were particularly honored.

In 2015, NaturGut Ophoven was one of the first educational institutions in North Rhine-Westphalia to be "certified ESD in North Rhine-Westphalia".

In 2015, NaturGut Ophoven was also recognized as a Climate Expo project.

For its outstanding commitment to the structural anchoring of education for sustainable development in Germany, NaturGut Ophoven was honored in August 2016 as a place of learning with an award from the UN World Action Program ESD. The jury found the work of the Climate Competence Center to be so comprehensive in terms of sustainable education that it awarded NaturGut Ophoven the highest level of distinction “3”.

Guests

The increasing popularity of the NaturGut brought it increasing recognition. Local politicians are often visiting, as well as state and federal politicians such as Ms. Angela Merkel in her former role as Federal Environment Minister as well as Federal Environment Ministers Peter Altmaier, Barbara Hendricks and Johanna Wanka. The same goes for the NRW School Ministers, the former NRW Environment Minister Klaus Matthiesen, Bärbel Höhn, Jürgen Rüttgers and Eckhard Uhlenberg as well as the NRW Ministers for the Environment Johannes Remmel and Svenja Schulze. Johannes Rau visited NaturGut in 1996 as Prime Minister and again as Federal President in 2002. The foreign visitor groups also consistently include guests from China, Japan and Korea.

  • Visit by Federal Environment Minister Peter Altmaier, 2012

  • NRW Environment Minister Remmel on a visit

  • NRW School Minister Löhrmann visits

Web links

Commons : NaturGut Ophoven  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Climate protection exhibition for children and adolescents ( Memento of the original from March 25, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Allianz Umweltstiftung website. Retrieved March 22, 2016. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / Umweltstiftung.allianz.de
  2. ↑ Nature in the Big City Website of the City of Leverkusen. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  3. ↑ ClimatePartner makes NaturGut Ophoven climate-neutral ( memento of the original from October 17, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved August 2, 2016. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.climatepartner.com
  4. ↑ NaturGut Ophoven.Retrieved on August 2, 2016.
  5. ↑ Education for Sustainable Development ( Memento of the original dated August 2, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved August 2, 2016. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.weiterbildungsverbund.de
  6. ↑ 25 years NaturGut Ophoven. Accessed on August 2, 2016.
  7. ↑ A lot is done here for the environment. Website of the Kölner Stadtzeiger. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  8. ↑ NaturGut Ophoven: BNE competence center Article in the Nuancen Magazin of the NUA NRW. Issue 33. Accessed August 2, 2016.
  9. ↑ From the educational trail to the adventure trail. Accessed on August 2, 2016.
  10. ↑ Solar artwork for Naturgut Ophoven
  11. ↑ EnergieStadt on the NaturGut Ophoven in Leverkusen ( Memento of the original from August 2, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved August 2, 2016. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.lvr.de
  12. ^ Children and youth museum EnergieStadt in NaturGut Ophoven Website of the Rheinische Museen. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  13. ↑ Exhibition: Just on all continents website of the Kölner Stadtanzeiger. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  14. ↑ NRW Environment Minister Johannes Remmel opens KlimaErlebnisPark
  15. ↑ energieLux: First premium distribution to Leverkusen schools and daycare centers
  16. ↑ Unique handbook for the kindergarten. Accessed August 2, 2016.
  17. ↑ A lot is done here for the environment. Website of the Kölner Stadtzeiger. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  18. ↑ Adler asks you to visit the Rheinische Post's website for a morning pint . Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  19. ↑ Healthy breakfast for ABC shooters
  20. ^ Activity report of the Rheinenergiestiftung. Page 45. Family cruise ( Memento of the original dated August 2, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved August 2, 2016. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.rheinenergiestiftung.de
  21. ↑ "Water connects" Motto: Learning from and with each other Website of the Kölner Stadtanzeiger. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  22. ↑ Lord Mayor and Mayor congratulate on site
  23. ↑ Learning sustainability. Accessed August 2, 2016.
  24. ↑ NaturGut Ophoven Leverkusen (environmental education center) website of the city of Leverkusen. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  25. ↑ Film report NaturGut Ophoven SoSe'12 ' Website of the University of Cologne. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  26. ↑ Climate education center NaturGut Ophoven is a “Selected Location 2012”. Accessed on August 2, 2016.
  27. ^ Children's and Youth Museum EnergieStadt (NaturGut Ophoven). Accessed on August 2, 2016.
  28. ↑ Förderverein NaturGut Ophoven brochure of the UNESCO commission. Page 17. Accessed on August 2, 2016.
  29. ↑ An educational institution in Leverkusen makes climate change tangible for people Website of the NRW Ministry for Innovation, Science and Research. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  30. ↑ NaturGut Ophoven awarded by KlimaExpo.NRW Website of KlimaExpo.NRW. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  31. ↑ NaturGut Ophoven is a UN Decade Project for Biological Diversity ( Memento of the original from August 3, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Website of the UN Decade for Biodiversity. Retrieved August 3, 2016. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.un-dekade-biologische-vielfalt.de
  32. ↑ Naturgut Ophoven - from Gut to BildungsGut Website of the KlimaExpo.NRW. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  33. ↑ Award in Berlin from 65 municipalities, learning locations, networks. Accessed on August 3, 2016.
  34. ↑ Change after 6,447 days . Accessed August 3, 2016.
  35. ↑ Federal Environment Minister Peter Altmaier visits NaturGut Ophoven
  36. ^ Federal Environment Minister at Gut Ophoven
  37. ^ Federal Research Minister Johanna Wanka in Leverkusen
  38. ↑ NRW Environment Minister Uhlenberg visited the NaturGut for the 25th anniversary
  39. ↑ Groundbreaking ceremony for the "Amphibion" project
  40. ↑ Gut Ophoven excellent
  41. ↑ Political celebrities are always on site Website of the Kölner Stadtanzeiger. Retrieved August 3, 2016.

Coordinates: 51 ° 4 ′ 12.9 ″  N , 7 ° 0 ′ 47.3 ″  E