The Power of the Forest

As little forest detectives, the kids go on a hunt for clues and discover plants, mushrooms, beetles, mysterious caves, and the tracks of forest animals. How does a deer run, how does a hare hop, how does a snake slither? Here in the forest, the kids can imitate the animals’ movements. They follow the example of birds of prey and train their eyes like an eagle. Without moving their heads, their eyes climb up to the highest treetops and then wander back down the tree trunks. Afterward, the kids let their gaze wander first to the right and then to the left, and finally roll their eyes in circles. This strengthens the eye muscles, which are strained in one direction from staring at computer screens. On the forest barefoot trail, the children experience with their bare feet how velvety-soft moss feels and sense every branch, every root, and every stone. At the Sound Tree, the kids can strike natural wooden blocks with a mallet to make them ring out. This lets them experience how differently each piece of wood sounds and compose their own forest melody at their own rhythm. Crafting at the Stone Table calls for creativity. Here, the kids build small figures out of pine cones or use twigs, small pieces of wood, and moss to create their own fantasy worlds.

Pine cones are perfect for throwing. Who can throw pine cones through the three rings of different sizes? Can you do it if you take a few steps back? By practicing target throwing in the woods, kids learn to estimate distances and improve their fine motor skills. On another piece of playground equipment, the little ones swing along ropes and rings of varying lengths and can feel like little monkeys. “Can you hear me?” “Yes, I can hear you.” The whisper phone helps children become more attuned to quieter sounds. Listening, being quiet, and consciously perceiving the difference between loud and soft—all of this often gets neglected in today’s world.

The centerpiece of the children’s adventure forest is the so-called “Courage Staircase.” It winds its way down ten meters into a natural hollow via various elements and then back up the hill on the other side. This requires body control, a sense of balance, and dexterity. And a little courage is also needed when embarking on this adventurous course: shimmying down a wobbly rope ladder, balancing on a balance beam, or carefully placing your foot from stake to stake while holding onto the rope. Anyone who masters all of this will have a huge smile on their face—because anyone who overcomes their fear has every reason to be proud and happy.

In the Children’s Healing Forest, five areas are dedicated to various therapeutic activities. In the welcome zone, Theo, the little forest spirit, greets visitors and introduces them to the different healing forest stations. The Sensory Forest engages the senses—such as hearing, touch, sight, taste, smell, and conscious breathing. The Movement Area promotes children’s motor skills and coordination through its therapeutic and play equipment. The Communication Zone and the Rest and Concentration Zone strengthen interaction and provide space for relaxation and creative expression. The medical concept for certifying the forest as a Children’s Healing Forest was developed by Prof. Karin Kraft, holder of the Endowed Chair in Naturopathy at the University of Rostock.