NEST Nature Discovery Station

The NatureExplorationSTation (NEST) informs

The NEST enjoys great popularity. This results in an extremely long lead time for new bookings. This is no longer affordable for many schools. However, it is in the city's interest that as many schools as possible can take advantage of offerings at our facility.

Number of registrations per school

• Maximum of two grades per elementary school
• maximum of three grades per secondary school

Registration periods:

• from May for the 1st half-year
• from December for the 2nd half-year

Late bookings:

• If not all dates have been allocated at the start of the respective half-year, further bookings are possible for all schools.

Binding nature:

• Bookings are considered binding; cancellations should be made early so that dates can be assigned elsewhere.

About the visit to the NEST:

The responsibility for supervision of the students lies with the responsible teacher. All participants should wear clothing suitable for the forest or weatherproof clothing, since the program takes place regardless of the weather.

The NEST is a waste-free place; food may be brought along, but waste must be taken back and disposed of properly elsewhere.

In the following, we have compiled information for you on our wide range of offers for elementary schools:

Wolves on the trail - Wanda Schlitzohr

KiTas, Class 1

In the wolf adventure, Wanda tells a participatory story about her life as a young wolf. The children can use appropriate materials to find out more about the life of wolves.

Wolves on the trail - Little wolf experts

Class 3 - 4

The biology of the wolf is the focus of the morning. Sensory performance and social behavior are learned through play, practical examples from wolf research and the coexistence of humans and animals are addressed, so that the children become "little wolf experts" at the end.

Grow potatoes yourself

Class 2 - 4

Potato program - plant, care, harvest

Spiny guys - The hedgehog

Class 2 - 4

Development of information on the construction, lifestyle and habitats of hedgehogs.

From caterpillar to butterfly

From class 2

End of April / beginning of May, cooperation with BUND

• Observation of living caterpillars and pupae
• Stories and games about butterflies
• Flight date for butterflies

Energy

Class 4 - 10

Raise awareness of the need to save energy and identify conservation measures.

What lives in the pond?

Class 4 - 6

Animals in the pond (especially insect larvae, fleas, worms, possibly newts)

Getting to know trees

Class 2 - 4

Forest with all senses

Class 1 - 4

All senses are explored in the forest and especially sustainable experience is gained.

The little crawl and dead wood full of life

Class 3 - 4

Examination of dead wood for living organisms.

Playful forest exploration

Classes 1 - 3

Games in the forest to get to know the special ecosystem.

Birdwatching

Classes 1 - 4

In winter, birds can be easily observed at our bird feeder.

And how soft the plumage or how sharp the claws of a bird of prey are, every child can find out by petting the prepared birds from our collection.

Animals in the forest

As detectives in the NEST forest, we go in search of traces of wild boar, squirrel, mouse & Co.

Organic waste and earthworm

Nature has invented a unique circulatory system - earthworms are a part of it. We look for earthworms to observe and also sort our garbage.

We make our garbage diploma!

Avoiding waste, separating waste and recycling waste. These contents are at the center of the program.

Nesting box construction

Nesting boxes in the schoolyard or in your own garden improve the conditions for cavity nesting birds. We hammer and saw with you.

Material costs: approx. 3 euros

From wood to paper

Paper is made from wood - but our forest also has other tasks. By using waste paper, we conserve the forests. We create paper ourselves from waste paper and measure our annual wood consumption for paper in the forest.

In the following, we have compiled information for you on our diverse offerings for secondary levels I and II:

Understanding the design principle of "Cradle to Cradle" with the LernBox

Secondary level II: from grade 10

Subjects: chemistry, geography, politics, religion/values and norms

Learning sustainability in concrete terms: Understanding the Cradle to Cradle principle as an example of consistent resource recycling and seeing it as an incentive for sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12).

Chocolate - delicate or bitter?

Secondary level I: from grade 7

From the cacao plant to chocolate - making chocolate cream - fair chocolate.

Wolfsburg - urban exploration in one of the youngest city foundations in Germany

Secondary levels I and II: grades 8 - 13, projects.

On the trail of history and stories, architecture, urban planning and sustainable urban development - a bike tour, foot variants are possible.

Animals in autumn and winter

Secondary school I: Class 5 - 6

Subjects: Biology, physics and some geography

• Hibernation strategies, adaptations to the cold season
  
  

Forest ecosystem

Secondary school I: Grades 5 - 7

Subject: Biology

• Investigations in the forest ecosystem, forest use
  
  

Exploring the forest with GPS and bike

Secondary school I: Class 8

Subjects: Biology, Geography, Society

• Forest ecosystem - exploration with GPS

The honey bee

Secondary school I: Grades 5 - 6

Subject: Biology

• From the biology of the bee, beekeeping

Stream surveys

Secondary school I: Class 7 - 8

Subjects: Biology, Geography

• Investigation and evaluation of flowing waters

What lives in the pond?

Secondary school I: Grades 4 - 6

Subjects: Biology, Geography

Animals in the pond (especially insect larvae, fleas, worms, possibly newts)

Drinking water - the basis of life

Secondary level I: Grades 5 - 6

Subjects: Geography, Society

Water consumption and virtual water - What is groundwater? We are building a waterworks - water on its way to the sea.

Orientation with GPS

Secondary level I: Grades 5 - 7

Subjects: Biology, Geography, Society

Orientation: Using maps and GPS

From wood to paper

Secondary level I: Grades 5 - 7

Subjects: Biology, Geography, Society

• From wood to paper
• Determination and documentation of the annual wood requirements of the school class
• Paper production from waste material

Transport: environmental impact and future concepts

Secondary I: Grades 5 - 7

Subject: Curriculum Mobility

We investigate environmental problems of traffic with experiments, traffic counting and simulation. We find out about future concepts (for example, electric mobility, car sharing, modular transport) and put this into practice creatively.

Energy and climate change

Secondary level I: Grades 7 - 9

Subject: Physics

• Experiments on electricity guzzlers
• Proper heating and ventilation
• Renewable energies

From the individual to the team

For classroom teachers: Grades 5 - 12, Adults

Games and tasks that promote awareness, trust and cooperation among participants.

Orienteering in the city forest with map and compass

Secondary schools I and II: grades 5 - 12

Subjects: Sports, Geography

• Orienteering with map and compass

Ecosystem hedge

Secondary school I: Class 5 - 6

Just a few bushes? We explore the diversity of plants and animals of the hedge in the Green Classroom at Kerksiek.

Wolf, bear lynx in focus - "EDU Wildlife".

Secondary school I: Grade 5 - 9

Subject: Biology

Wolf, bear and lynx return - biology and life of the large predators, coexistence with these animals in Germany and other European countries.

Business game wolves as neighbors

Secondary school I: Class 7 - 10

Subjects: Biology, Geography

Building knowledge about the wolf and its return to Lower Saxony. Discussion in the role of various stakeholders in the form of a simulation game with the aim of finding compromises.

Junior Wolf Advisor

Secondary school I: Class 5 - 6

Biology and life of the wolf, return of the wolf to Lower Saxony - task of wolf advisors.

Forest ecosystem

Secondary level II, suitable for the central school-leaving examination

Investigations in the forest ecosystem, forest use

Ecosystem flowing waters

Secondary level II, suitable for the Zentralabitur

Investigation and evaluation of flowing waters

Lake ecosystem

Secondary school level II, suitable for the central school leaving examination

Subject: Biology

Investigation and evaluation of still waters.

From the field to the tank - production of biofuel

Secondary level II: Class 11

Subjects: Chemistry, Politics, Geography

Production of ethanol from grain - embedded in the current discussion on the question "Tank or plate?".

Ecological urban planning

Secondary level II: Class 10 - 11

Subject: Geography

• Personal desires
• Social reality and ecological necessity in construction
• Land consumption and urban sprawl

On this page we present our current offers for teacher trainings:

FÖJ - Your chance

• An offer for young people who want to work in the ecological field and meet new people.
• For young adults aged 16 to 26 who have left school or training.
• For people who do not yet know exactly what they want to do after school....

Information about the FÖJ and the online application process

The NEST and the neighboring Eichendorff Elementary School are served directly by buses of the Wolfsburger Verkehrsbetriebe (WVG) from many parts of Wolfsburg at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. (special stop: Im Holze, about three minutes' walk). The regular stop is called Barnstorfer Weg (about an eight-minute walk). The traffic chaos caused by private cars in front of this school is especially great in the morning and at noon!

Hints:
Breakfast break? Please remember that there is no kiosk at the Nature Discovery Station. Therefore, students* should bring drinks and food. Breakfast should be low-waste.

Almost all programs take place outside in whole or in part. Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather, even in winter.

Address
Nature discovery station NEST
In the wood 40
38440 Wolfsburg

Phone: 05361 848806

Due to the Corona pandemic, the NaturErkundungsSTation (NEST) Wolfsburg provides elementary school with teaching materials (BNE):