Ten German nature conservation institutions are expanding their offers for barrier-free nature experiences. The measures were implemented as part of the “Nature without barriers!” project. Interested nature experience facilities can now take advantage of training courses to become barrier-free themselves.
Radolfzell, 13.02.2024: Making nature experiences in Germany possible for people with disabilities and improving them for all people – this is what the Global Nature Fund, the German Seminar for Tourism e.V. / developer of the national certification system “Travel for All”, Nationale Naturlandschaften e.V. and the consulting firm Dr. Kai Pagenkopf have been working on together for two years. Now the project partners and winners of the project competition are drawing a successful balance: a training program is available for nature tours, which can be booked through the Global Nature Fund. In the ten participating German nature experience facilities, numerous concrete measures are now enriching the offer.
Barrier-free nature experience little established
Even 15 years after the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities came into force, the topic of accessible nature experiences in nature conservation centers, public guided tours and environmental education facilities is still not well established in Germany. One reason for this is that until now there has been no good training program for the large educational institutions in environmental education. Accordingly, integrative guided tours remain the exception in many nature conservation centers in Germany. Based on the experience of the last ten years, the project partners have carried out a supply and demand analysis and created a curriculum that is specifically adapted for the training and further education of nature and landscape guides, rangers, environmental educators in nature conservation centers and for the voluntary ecological year/federal voluntary service. The content of the curriculum is geared towards the stakeholder groups that particularly benefit from barrier-free nature experience offers. The training will be available to all interested institutions from mid-2024.
Versatile new barrier-free offers
As part of the Germany-wide project competition “Experience nature barrier-free”, a total of ten small and large nature conservation facilities were given detailed advice on the possibilities of adapting their services to make them barrier-free. They have also received financial support for the implementation of initial measures. Whether new tactile models, barrier-free websites, concepts for inclusive nature tours or a boat tour for everyone – the thematic breadth and commitment of the competition winners is impressive! “The many applications and responses showed how great the need for advice and support still is,” says Thomas Schaefer from the Global Nature Fund. The project participants unanimously agreed that networking and exchanging ideas with each other was a major benefit of the project.
Although the project has been completed, the environmental educators are now really getting started: with the newly implemented measures and the newly acquired knowledge for more nature for everyone. You can find out where it is now more accessible and exciting and how you can arrange a training course on the “Nature without barriers!” project website at https://www.globalnature.org/de/natur-ohne-barrieren.
Background
The “Nature without Barriers!” project pursued two main objectives: Conceptualizing and implementing accessibility and nature experience in the relevant educational systems in Germany and implementing concrete measures for inclusive nature experience in nature conservation facilities as part of the ideas competition. The project was funded by the German Postcode Lottery and the HAKA Foundation.
Contact us
Global Nature Fund (GNF)
Dr. Thomas Schaefer
Head of nature conservation
Fritz-Reichle-Ring 4
78315 Radolfzell on Lake Constance
Phone: +49 7732 9995-89
schaefer@globalnature.org