International Summer School 2024 in the Czech Republic

von Asociace lesních MŠ, z.s

The International Summer School for Nature Educators will take place from 5 – 9 August 2024 at the Loutí Ecocentre near the Slopes Dam in the Czech Republic. The event is organised in partnership with the „Children of nature worldwide hand in hand“ movement, which is supported by the „International Day of Forest Kindergartens“ initiative (every year on 3 May). The wonderful place, surrounded by nature, where the participants are cared for and can network and develop professionally. The 15th Summer School Week is organised by the Czech Association of Forest Kindergartens.

„The Summer School 2024 is a great opportunity to showcase the wonderful work of nature and forest kindergartens worldwide. We can and must show ourselves! „

Nadja Hillgruber

You can expect international lecturers, creative workshops and a varied accompanying programme. Meet international like-minded people and exchange ideas with other nature and forest kindergartens around the world. This five-day event will inspire you from head to toe and fill your rucksack full of ideas, passion and enthusiasm.

We all need these impulses and mutual support to continue working on our convictions.

Petra Jäger

von links: Petra Jäger, Tereza Valkounová, Johana Passerin im Juli 2021 in Louti an der Sommerschule in Tschechien

Petra Jäger, Flensburg forest kindergarten and Nadja Hillgruber, Feuervogel cooperative for nature education in conversation with Johana Passerin from the Czech forest kindergarten association Asociace lesních mateřských škol.

Impressions from the summer school

Next year, the first international summer school will take place in the Czech Republic. It will also be the 15th summer school for forest kindergarten teachers in the Czech Republic. Why do you think it is necessary to connect the community of forest kindergartens across borders?

Petra Jäger: My memories go back to 1993 when we founded the first forest kindergarten in Germany / Flensburg. I would have loved to have had the opportunity to exchange ideas, but Internet websites, literature and other communication channels were simply not yet available and so we at least were unable to build up a network. Back then, we were really able to reach people via a phone call on an old-fashioned telephone. What a challenge it was to get any information at all about nature education. Now we have the chance to connect, not only with digital media, but also in the real world with all its vibrations and energies. Nature knows no boundaries as we humans have created it and because our sphere of influence and intentions and the meaningfulness of our work are boundless, the dissolution of boundaries makes sense and the connection is also a great support in nature.
Countries that are setting out to consolidate such concepts in the education system are encouraged and emotionally supported, if only by the thought that it is being practised in other countries and that years of experience can be found there. Countries with a wealth of experience see the establishment of new centres in countries where the concept is only just gaining a foothold as an incredibly positive confirmation of their intentions and work.

The forest and nature children do not recognise our adult boundaries and connect with nature unconditionally and without boundaries.

„The fact that this movement can now continue to grow in partnership with the summer school from the Czech Republic and that we will once again come together across borders will be a wonderful, fantastic event.“

Nadja hillgruber

Nadja Hillgruber: The „Children of nature worldwide hand in hand“ movement from the „International Day of Forest Kindergartens“ initiative will be celebrated for the seventh time on 3 May 2024. The fact that this movement can now continue to grow in partnership with the summer school from the Czech Republic and that we will once again come together across borders will be a wonderful, fantastic event. The solidarity of the people who all came together in the Elephant Brook Forest in Zurich in 2019 sparked an inner fire from 24 countries full of enthusiasm and passion in mutual exchange, gratitude and solidarity for the work with people in nature. We hope this will also be the case for the event in the Czech Republic.

Petra Jäger and Nadja Hillgruber as speakers and workshop leaders at the summer school in the Czech Republic in 2021 and 2022

„The participants, especially during the morning singing circle, made me feel very strongly that we are on a common path.“

Petra Jäger

You have already been a guest at the summer school organised by the ALMS in the past. What was it like? What are you looking forward to now?

Nadja Hillgruber: I still get goosebumps today when I think about the atmosphere, the mood and the lovely people at the summer school. I’ve already had the honour of working with you twice and I think back with friendship and gratitude. You are a great organisation that does remarkable work for your members. I am very much looking forward to seeing you again and I already know that you will do everything in your power to ensure that we have a brilliant time together.

Petra Jäger: The summer school provided me with a very competent team (ALMS) who made the most of the days and put together an incredibly good programme. We had many magical moments and I remember them fondly today. I wear a bracelet that was gently slipped over my wrist as I said goodbye with great honour. The participants, especially during the morning singing circle, made me feel very strongly that we are on a common path. The farewell ritual with all its rituals stayed with me for a long time and made me feel reverence for all the people and organisers who were there.
I see the event as very valuable. As an international lecturer for nature education, I have travelled to many countries and the summer school in Louti was one of the most beautiful experiences for me. I look forward to the feeling of connection and to people who live their hearts and feelings as an element of humanity.

Impressions from the summer school

„I look forward to the feeling of connection and to people who live their hearts and feelings as an element of humanity.“

Petra Jäger

How do you think the international school will be different this time?

Petra Jäger: As I see this event as a continuation of the international conference in Switzerland, I think there will be even more room to have different people from different countries present, it will make the „we-feeling“ grow even more and give each participant the chance to fill themselves up and get their individual questions answered.

Nadja Hillgruber: I agree with Petra, our friendships will continue to grow like a network of roots across the globe. The solidarity from all countries will carry us forward for new visions.

Impressions from the summer school

„The solidarity from all countries will carry us forward for new visions.“

Nadja hillgruber

The title of the upcoming summer school is Seeds of Diversity. What topics will you cover in the lectures and workshops?  And why do you think these topics are important?

Petra Jäger: Through my 30 years as director and founder of the Flensburg forest kindergarten, I have been able to develop a huge, steadfast root system and a multi-faceted tree crown, it shows through so many different experiences and development situations with challenge and confrontation that I would like to share it with participants, a lecture could be called „the great treasure of being outside“ The workshop could be about the topic of parent work, inclusion in the forest kindergarten, the question: Is every child suitable for a nature kindergarten, or how are the children doing at school and how have they developed over the years…. What do nature kindergartens in different countries still have to fight for today and what can be a common idea to support each other? What can a nature school look like and are there other great concepts with people who want to bring about change?

Nadja Hillguber: Looking back, I have been travelling as a nature educator for 16 years now and there is a quote from Friedrich Nietzsche that fits my path: „Since I got tired of searching, I learnt to find“. We live in a society in which we function according to speed, production, performance and profit and this is exactly where I see my approach, which I would like to pass on to people and which I practise with ease and joy. I am happy to pass on my diverse experiences from my dedication to the slow craft of nature, to immerse myself and maintain this flow in contact with myself, like a child when it is playing and forgets everything around it. This attitude gives rise to humility for the important seeds that you are creating with your hands. In this context, I also see the title of next year’s summer school „Seeds of Diversity“ as so fitting.

Impressions from the summer school

What would you say to the participants of the 2024 summer school?

Nadja Hillgruber: The Summer School 2024 is a great opportunity to showcase the wonderful work of nature and forest kindergartens worldwide. We can and must show ourselves! We can be courageous and proud of the fundamentally important work that everyone is doing in nature with young and old across borders. This requires everyone and everyone who meets in Louti.

Petra Jäger: Look forward to it and something „big“ and incredibly strengthening will come your way. We all need these impulses and mutual support to continue working on our convictions. We are connected across all borders, let us experience our diversity as a treasure, everything is possible…with just one small seed.

The „Nature Flow„ magazine offers specific topics based on the principles of nature education. Get to know the products of Nature Flow.

Whether you are a forest playgroup leader, forest kindergarten teacher, teacher, pedagogue and adult educator or outdoor family, everyone will find nutritious knowledge here.

Editorial management: Christoph Lang, Nadja Hillgruber

Editorial design and realisation: Nadja Hillgruber

Picture credits: © Asociace lesních MŠ, z.s and Nature Flow – Natürlich neugierig!