15 schools in Rhineland-Palatinate receive 15,000 euros for green schoolyards!

15 schools in Rhineland-Palatinate receive 15,000 euros for green schoolyards!

Katrin Eder, the climate protection minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, emphasized the importance of schoolyards as essential learning places for ecological connections and climate protection. As part of the “15 green schoolyards for Rhineland-Palatinate” project, schools were selected that wanted to make their schoolyards climate-friendly and sustainable. Each of the 15 participating schools receives support of 15,000 euros from the “Aktion Grün” funding program.

The main goal of the project is to create green schoolyards that contribute to improving the climate, climate resilience and promoting biodiversity. Measures such as unsealing, greening and shading schoolyard areas are used, as GABOT reports. The newly designed schoolyards should not only serve as places for breaks, but also function as learning spaces and places of retreat.

Advantages of green schoolyards

Green schoolyards improve the microclimate, reduce urban heat islands and help improve air quality. By integrating trees, bushes and other green spaces, not only is the environment cooled, but water is also stored, creating space for habitats for insects and birds. This is an aspect that mkuem particularly emphasizes. Climate Protection Minister Eder points out that the design of school grounds must also take heat and heavy rain into account in order to remain adaptable.

This initiative is part of a larger competition that attracts schools in Rhineland-Palatinate to develop innovative ideas for redesigning their schoolyards. Participation is possible for all state-run schools, and the application deadline has been open since April 30, 2023. The schools are selected by an expert jury.

Participating schools

The 15 selected schools rely on creative and sustainable concepts. A list of participating facilities includes:

• Sankt Matthias Gymnasium, Gerolstein
• Berufsbildende Schule Donnersbergkreis, Eisenberg
• Friedrich-Spee-Realschule plus, Neumagen-Dhron
• Nicolaus-August-Otto-Schule, Nastätten
• Don-Bosco-Grundschule, Wolsfeld
• Gymnasium am Römerkastell, Alzey
• Otfried-Preußler-Grundschule, Otterberg
• Heinrich-Böll-Gymnasium, Ludwigshafen-Mundenheim
• BIZ II Gymnasien Worms (Gauss-Gymnasium & Rudi-Stephan-Gymnasium)
• Theodor-Heuss-Realschule plus, Wirges
• SFL Schloss Schule, Ludwigshafen
• Rheingold Grundschule, Brey
• Grundschule Hasenfänger, Andernach
• Integrierte Gesamtschule, Rheinzabern

Unfortunately, one school had to withdraw from the project due to internal restructuring. The project is comprehensively supported by German Environmental Aid, which provides the schools with expert advice. Sascha Müller-Kraenner, the federal managing director of the DUH, highlights the great commitment of the school communities and emphasizes the positive effect that these measures will have on the environment.