Natural Watch Brandenburg - Young rangers meet up at the Plattenburg camp
At the Plattenburg site in the Prignitz district, children and adolescents gather for the 20th Junior Ranger Camp of the Brandenburg Nature Watch. Around 100 participants between 6 and 18 years old from the entire federal state come together there until Sunday. The focus is on the sustainable nutrition theme. Brandenburg's Environmental Minister Axel Vogel (Greens) opened the camp.
"Exactly these direct experiences in the protected areas lay the foundation for a connection to nature that often lasts a lifetime," said Vogel. He presented a total of 27 new Junior Rangers with some of their equipment. The Minister acknowledged that the Nature Watch, with its Ranger program for young people, focuses on environmental education and sustainable development. In doing so, it offers young people on-site instruction in nature that is not offered in this form in school.
Children and adolescents learned how nature and the environment function and that they, as humans, are part of nature, said the Green politician. In times of skills shortages, the Junior Ranger Program provides career orientation at an early age.
Brandenburg is "not just the Elbe or the Markische Schweiz"
Since 1994, the Nature Watch has offered children and adolescents in the 15 national landscapes of Brandenburg the opportunity to get to know the natural and cultural landscapes of the country starting at the age of six and to deal with the local and global effects of land use and nature conservation.
Together with the Rangers of the Nature Watch, they go on tours, learn about habitats and animal and plant species, and engage for nature conservation and a sustainable lifestyle. A "Junior Ranger Camp" takes place regularly once a year, where youth from all natural landscapes come together to get to know each other.
"They should see that Brandenburg is not just the Elbe or the Markische Schweiz," said Luise Przibilla, team leader of the Nature Watch in Rühestädt (Prignitz). "They should experience the landscape diversity of the country," added the Ranger.
Among the newly recruited Junior Rangers is the ten-year-old Linus, who lives near the Lower Oder Valley National Park. "We meet every two weeks, go through the forest, and learn about animal species, for example," he said. He is one of over 200 children and adolescents who, according to the Nature Watch, are cared for in 21 groups nationwide.
Junior Ranger Program in Brandenburg
- The Plattenburg site in the Prignitz District was the chosen location for the 20th Junior Ranger Camp organized by Brandenburg's Nature Watch.
- Minister Axel Vogel, a Green politician from Brandenburg, highlighted the importance of experiences in protected areas for a lasting connection to nature.
- Children and adolescents participating in the camp learned about the role of humans in nature and the significance of environmental sustainability.
- The Elbe and Markische Schweiz are components of Brandenburg's diverse landscape, but as Luise Przibilla, team leader of the Nature Watch in Prignitz, stated, there's much more to discover.
- Ten-year-old Linus, a resident near the Lower Oder Valley National Park, is one of the new Junior Rangers who participate in regular meetings and excursions to learn about local wildlife and preserve the environment.
