Opening of the Baumann Waldforscher BRK Waldkindergarten (forest kindergarten)

The Baumann forest kindergarten was officially opened in the presence of Lord Mayor Michael Cerny, Dr. Georg and Annette Baumann, Thomas Boss (Director of Youth Welfare, Amberg) and many of the children's parents. Head of the kindergarten Marleen Aures and Sebastian Schaller (district manager of Amberg-Sulzbach section of the Bavarian Red Cross) presented the facility from the forest cabin between Ammersricht and Immenstetten.

Family-supported services are playing an increasingly important role for the employees. In light of this and to better support young families, Baumann Automation opened a forest kindergarten for its employees' little ones on September 1, 2019. Children from other families are of course very welcome as well. The forest nursery is run by the Amberg-Sulzbach section of the Bavarian Red Cross. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the facility has just been officially opened by Lord Mayor Michael Cerny.

Innovative early education

Thirty forest kindergarten places with full day care were created at the location between Ammersricht and Immenstetten. Kindergarten head Marleen Aures and her team make the most of the educational aspects of the forest in the facility's daily routine.

"The Baumann forest kindergarten is an innovative educational facility for pre-school children. Little ones from two and a half years old enjoy the benefit of nature both in the summer and the winter months. If the weather does turn, they can retreat to a space inside the company", explains Marleen Aures. The poor weather and drop-off areas at the Baumann forest kindergarten have been located in the former Grammer administrative building in the northern industrial zone. In the morning, the children gather and then walk with their teachers to a clearing on the Mariahilfberg mountain. The forest cabin, the heart of the facility, is situated in this clearing.

Playing, discovering and learning in nature

"Mother nature is the ideal space for children to grow, they experience it at such close quarters that their memories last a lifetime. In direct contact with the environment, the children learn how to treat it with consideration and respect and perceive their surroundings with all the senses. In their journey of discovery, they learn how to treat plant and animal life, earth and water with respect. Every day, the children embark on a new adventure – no two days in the forest kindergarten are alike!", explained Dr. Georg and Annette Baumann highlighting the special aspects of the forest kindergarten. Baumann attaches great importance to encouraging creativity.

Everyone attending the opening ceremony was able to see the special approach the forest kindergarten takes to fostering the children's health and development and how it makes an important contribution to a happy childhood in this important phase of their lives. The kindergarten was inaugurated and blessed by Fathers Michael Jakob and Heinrich Arweck.