The idea behind the mobile environmental education units is to enable visitors to encounter and experience biodiversity and species diversity in their original habitat. These specially equipped vehicles act as “rolling toolboxes,” carrying materials and equipment for various topics.
Under the guidance of environmental educators, the groups investigate a habitat in their immediate, local environment at, in and around the mobile environmental education unit.
The aim is to introduce children, young people and adults to education for sustainable development (ESD) in a very practical way and to inspire them with enthusiasm for the diversity of life.
A proven repertoire of methodological and didactic variations for different age groups allows for individual tailoring to each group. Regardless of the specific pedagogical approach (more knowledge-oriented or more experience-oriented), the practical component for the groups is always very high.
Practical experience that is fun and imparts practical skills
Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I may remember. Let me do it, and I will understand.
Confucius
Through the joint day of activity with an environmental mobile unit, the participating groups can experience nature, recognize their own connection to nature and, in line with the self-efficacy concept, receive encouragement that they can use for their own actions in the sense of ESD.
What do mobile environmental education vehicles offer?
Nature reveals its greatest wonders in the smallest things.
Carl Linnaeus
The content and technical equipment of each mobile environmental education unit are tailored to the specific regional context. Furthermore, it is important to us in our work to meet the specific needs of different age groups and learning groups.
What all mobile information and education providers of the AGUM have in common is that their practical approach, through an attractive program at the place of deployment, creates individual and lasting opportunities for experience for the respective target groups.
For example, the mobile environmental education units address the following topics:
- Biodiversity and species diversity
- Water, soil and landscape protection
- Climate change challenges and energy
- Noise awareness
- Sustainable consumption (resource conservation, waste reduction…).
The programs consistently focus on understanding the interrelationships in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, the aim is not to acquire disjointed, detailed knowledge, but rather to develop the skills necessary to meet the challenges of a sustainable society.
A colorful variety of vehicles
Being at home while traveling
The designs of the mobile environmental education vehicles are diverse and colorful: small vans, delivery vehicles, custom-built trailers, converted trucks from 7.5 to 16 tons, a modified cargo bike, and even a former cargo ship are among the projects. What all these vehicles have in common is that, through targeted modifications, they are ideally suited to meet school and extracurricular groups in their region without lengthy setup times and to work with them in their local environment.
The existing mobile units are partly state-run and partly initiated by associations or private individuals. The mobile unit profiles outline the respective regions of operation, topics, and equipment features. They also provide information about the framework for cooperation.