Initiative at the Müggelsee in the Nature for Children and Young People
The summer party of the Berlin Cosmopolitan School on August 27, 2021 offered an insight into the possibilities that the Hotel Müggelsee complex and the surrounding nature have to offer for educational concepts. In addition to a tour of the site with various stations, the participating families had the opportunity to talk to politicians. Representatives of the parties CDU, the Greens, the Left and SPD were there.
The Berlin Cosmopolitan School would like to further expand its natural offerings at the Müggelsee. Yvonne Wende, founder and director of the Berlin Cosmopolitan School, emphasizes: “In our opinion, we can support young people in a positive way if we offer more educational concepts in nature. In this way, we increase important skills for the future, provide knowledge about the environment and nature and arouse interest in environmental issues.”
The BCS asked politicians from Treptow-Köpenick what charitable advantages they see in the initiative at Müggelsee. Josefine Weinhold, BVV candidate of the SPD, sees a gain in the initiative: “Our district is growing. Young families in particular are increasingly appreciating the connection and at the same time the tranquility and diversity of nature in Treptow-Köpenick. Every school and daycare place in our district is therefore an asset! Thanks at this point to Ms. Wende, who convincingly presented the holistic, bilingual and nature-loving learning concept.”
Uwe Doering, district left-wing parliamentary group in BVV Treptow-Köpenick, says: “The classroom in nature. Nature is the classroom. Experience nature. A concept that convinces me and hopefully others too. It’s true, nature in all its diversity for future generations. The location chosen by the Cosmopolitan School at Müggelsee seems suitable for this. But there are still many hurdles to be overcome on the way there.”
dr Claudia Leistner, the Greens’ top candidate for BVV, says: “Environmental and climate protection as well as sustainability are promoted through cross-generational natural educational offers and nature can be experienced for young and old in this place. A bilingual educational institution like the Cosmopolitan School would be an asset for Treptow-Köpenick, since there are only a few bilingual day-care centers and no elementary schools.”
The Berlin Cosmopolitan School is a non-profit initiative and works together with a non-profit network. Yvonne Wende, founder and director of the Berlin Cosmopolitan School, says: “We want to provide preventive, future-oriented proposals for educational institutions and pedagogical concepts. Our aim is that every school benefits from our pioneering work and that is why we look forward to the dialogues.”
The on-site program was implemented as a tour of nature. In addition to the citizens’ consultation hour, Ruben van Treeck, fish ecologist at the Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, was on site. Van Treek clearly explained ecological aspects of water protection.
The educational offer consisted of the Kneipp philosophy and forest bathing. Hydrotherapy, offerings in the herb garden, walking barefoot, balancing and exercise were identified by Sebastian Kneipp more than 150 years ago as the key to a harmonious life in harmony with body, mind and soul.
The concepts were revised by the Berlin Cosmopolitan School for children from the age of one. Katharina Ehrenfried, head of the kindergarten at the Berlin Cosmopolitan School, emphasizes: “Forest bathing is a concept in which children and young people engage in conscious breathing, walking quietly, hugging trees and dealing, for example, with the protection and appreciation of biodiversity in the forest Adjust dead wood or blooming landscapes to nature. It has a very relaxing and balancing effect on the body, addresses scientific knowledge and creates a connection to one another in a very resource-oriented manner. Alienation from nature and the objectification of natural phenomena can be counteracted through this early education and training and a holistic understanding can be developed.”
Long day of urban nature on 18./19. Sep 2021
The Berlin Cosmopolitan School is part of the “Long Day of Urban Nature” initiative and offers all interested parties a wide range of educational opportunities in nature. The event will take place in Köpenick, starting on September 18, 2021 at 1 p.m. and ending on September 19, 2021 at 5 p.m.
Registrations are possible via the website for the individual offers: https://www.langertagderstadtnatur.de/lieferant/details/4804
Location:
Hotel Müggelsee
Müggelheimer Damm 145
12559 Berlin Koepenick
Close-to-nature offer from October 1, 2021
From October 1st, 2021, there will be a forest day two days a week on the premises of Hotel Müggelsee, Müggelheimer Damm 145, 12559 Berlin-Köpenick
About the Berlin Cosmopolitan School, Preschool and Kindergarten
The Berlin Cosmopolitan School is changing the traditional way schools and kindergartens work with different approaches to learning in the areas of nature and environmental protection, sports, new work, culture, dance, music and art and much more. The aim of the independent school, preschool and kindergarten is to bring all students along according to their abilities.
“When school motivates, everyone learns more” is the conviction of the Berlin Cosmopolitan School. Regular outdoor learning, sports activities and competitions, digital projects such as robotics, internships from grade 6, music-making from kindergarten age, dance clubs, bilingual education and much more help the children to discover and develop their own preferences and abilities.
Important concerns of the Berlin Cosmopolitan School, Kindergarten and Preschool are social justice, equal opportunities in education and a balanced community. The school regularly awards scholarships to students and accepts refugees. Through its established network and internationally trained staff, the educational institution has the opportunity to explore new educational paths for every age group.
The Berlin Cosmopolitan School was founded in 2003 as a non-profit organisation by Yvonne Wende. In 2004, the first bilingual (English-German) kindergarten and preschool opened for Berlin-Mitte with 18 children. Shortly after, the primary school started and most recently, in 2009, the accredited bilingual Gymnasium of Berlin Cosmopolitan School 01P22. Since then, the number of students has steadily increased. Approximately 1,000 students from all over the world are now being taught on the Rückerstraße and Invalidenstraße campuses. The kindergarten has grown to a number of more than 300 children between the ages of 1 and 6.
In 2013, Berlin Cosmopolitan School was accredited as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, first for primary school and also for the Gymnasium. The IB Learner Profile is about developing children and young people into lifelong learners. The school and kindergarten use primary experiences to design lessons.