Since 2015, a free two-day Plant-for-the-Planet Academy has been held every year at the International Meeting Center St. Marienthal (IBZ). Here, children from 9 to 12 years (4th to 7th grade) deal with the causes and consequences of the climate crisis. They learn what each individual can do, give lectures, plant trees and plan their own first actions. What makes the academy so special is that children encourage children to get involved. From their peers, the participants gain important background knowledge about the climate crisis and experience how much fun it is to plant trees and become active themselves. At the end of the academy, the children are appointed ambassadors for climate justice and take the idea to their schools, families and communities in their own personal way. To reinforce the idea, the children receive up-to-date information and books, such as “Tree by Tree – Now We Children Save the World,” “An Inconvenient Truth,” a T-shirt, and presentation materials.

The aim of the Plant-for-the-Planet Academies is to raise awareness among children and young people about climate issues and to inspire them to take action themselves. By 2020, the children want to train one million “ambassadors for climate justice” in around 20,000 academies worldwide.

If you know children in this age group who are interested, please contact the responsible project manager at the IBZ St. Marienthal.