Introduction/specifics

The Natur-Kita Lärchenstube in Gundelfingen has been offering half-time childcare (6.5 hours) in two groups for up to 40 children between the ages of 3 and 6 since September 2023.

Located on the edge of the forest on a butterfly meadow, it is a good idea to take a daily walk to our beautiful forest areas and experience nature there throughout the seasons. On our excursion days, we explore the area in and around Gundelfingen.

As a classic "Waldkindergarten," we spend almost all of our time outdoors. Three large, heated construction trailers serve as a place of retreat and material room. Here, the children have comfortable accommodation for eating, resting, and for targeted activities. Our office trailer offers the team a permanent place to retreat for breaks, parent meetings, and preparation and follow-up.

Our educational work is based on the Baden-Württemberg Orientation Plan and the Federal Education Sustainable Development Program (BNE). We work in an interdisciplinary, participatory manner and in a network with local cooperation partners. There are active collaborations with, among others:

• Johann-Peter-Hebel primary school
• BUND for the environment and nature conservation Gundelfingen
• “Trolle” Waldkindergarten in Gundelfingen

Through our educational work in nature, we want to offer the children a space of trust in which they can, among other things:

• Gather diverse (sensory) experiences in a natural environment
• Experience themselves as part of a larger whole in nature and the annual cycle
• Develop confidence and courage in their own abilities and recognize their personal limits
• Learn respect when dealing with people, animals and nature
• Live out their natural desire for discovery and joy of life
• Learn holistic connections
• Have fun and make friends

Food

In the Natur-Kita Lärchenstube the children bring their own food and drink.

We have a snack together twice a day in a quiet atmosphere. Depending on the season, we eat meals in the forest, on "our" meadow or in the heated wagons.

As pedagogical group elements, mealtimes are very important to us: as resting times, for exchanging ideas with each other, for a mindful handling of food and the sometimes different way of experiencing nature: for example, when an ant carries away the breadcrumb. 

Teamwork with school

We call the school beginners "Schlaufüchse" during their last year in the Natur-Kita Lärchenstube.

They meet weekly at set times with the specialist responsible for accompanying school beginners for special projects and targeted offers and - on a monthly rotation basis - with the cooperating teacher from the Johann-Peter-Hebel Grundschule.

We are currently cooperating with the Waldkindergarten "Die Trolle" for these special visits. This allows the children to get to know each other across institutions, which can be a welcome help, especially in the first few weeks after starting school.

Teamwork with parents

FAMILIARISATION

We see a child's settling in as an important transition from the family or toddler care into the "big wide world".

This must be accompanied with trust and attention. The children should get used to their new surroundings step by step, get to know the child-care worker and be able to experience our daily routine.

According to our concept, we work along to the "Berlin model", which structures the first few days/weeks into to a flexible step-by-step plan.

We observe and document this time particularly and hold a parent-teacher meeting with all families after a successful settling in period.

PARENTS' COUNCIL

We have a parents' council for parental cooperation, which is made up of parents from both groups (Rotkehlchen and Zitronenfalter). Through him we receive support in the following areas:

• Welcome, farewell and birthday gifts for the employees
• Communication and agreements within the parent group in a parent chat
• implementation of targeted projects that we can only realize with the help of the parents (laundry bag, workshop setup, garden days, donations for food...)

We are therefore pleased to find out what skills the parents have and, of course, about your willingness to work with us!

Please contact us for any further questions.

Projects

Together with an employee of BUND Gundelfingen, we explore native butterflies from birth to habitat to the end of their lifetime. 

We would like to offer these and similar environmental education projects to the children of the Natur-Kita Lärchenstube regularly throughout the year. The cooperations required for this are in continuous development. 

In this context, we are also happy to receive contributions from parents! 

Description and Stations

The families of the Natur-Kita Lärchenstube can use the parking lot at the forest cemetery and then walk up the Jägerpfad to the meadow and the construction trailers (approx. 200 m).

Parking directly at the Natur-Kita is not possible out of consideration for the residents.