Summer Academy 2025: Children learn design and sustainability in Vechta!

Summer Academy 2025: Children learn design and sustainability in Vechta!

The University of Vechta is hosting a summer academy for children and young people from August 4th to 8th, 2025, which focuses on the topics of design and sustainability. Around 80 girls and boys aged 6 to 12 are invited to take part in a variety of creative activities. The academy, which is run by students of design education and educational sciences under the leadership of Alexander Beste, Hannah Hoff and Traugott Haas, offers a platform for young talents to develop their ideas in an inspiring environment.

One of the main goals of the summer academy is to give participants their first experience in the field of education. They should not only be creative, but also reflect didactically, which is particularly crucial in the context of sustainable education. The initiators emphasize that the summer activities take place in the spirit of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), which emphasizes individual responsibility and the positive effects of one's own actions Federal Ministry of Education and Research describes.

Diverse activities for young creatives

Summer academy participants can look forward to a variety of exciting activities:

• Arbeiten mit selbst hergestellten Farben
• Herstellung von Tierkostümen aus recycelten Materialien
• Entwurf neuer Planeten
• Erarbeitung von Theaterstücken
• Herstellung von Naturkosmetik
• Musizieren auf selbstgebauten Instrumenten
• Planung einer eigenen Stadt

These practical workshops not only promote creative thinking, but also sensitize children to ecological and social challenges. The results of their work will be presented on the last day of the academy, August 8th, from 12:30 p.m. in an exhibition that will attract numerous guests.

Support and outlook

As part of this event, the University of Vechta would like to thank the Executive Board for their financial support and the students for their commitment. Registration for the summer academy, which involves a fee of €35.00 per child, has been possible since May 2025. Parents can register their children by providing their name, age, telephone number and the workshop number.

As part of an overarching initiative to promote sustainable education, the University of Vechta is also planning a children's university from early to mid-September with workshops and lectures specifically for primary school children. Those interested can find further information on the website University of Vechta and in the current news.

The Summer Academy for children and young people combines artistic creation with an important educational topic and supports efforts to structurally anchor ESD in the education system - a goal that is also being pursued by the federal government. Producing knowledge and awareness of sustainable practices is not just a concern of educational institutions, but a social task that future generations must also devote more attention to.