After 19 years, the Forest Pedagogues community gathered again in Hungary

Sunday, November 16 , 2025 534

     After 19 years, the Forest Pedagogues community gathered again in Hungary. The 19th Forest Pedagogy Congress was held in Visegrád, Hungary from 7 to 10 of October 2025. The first Forest pedagogics congress was held 19 years ago in Sopron in 2006.

     The forum brought together over 120 representatives from 16 European countries – institutions, NGOs, scientists and foresters. The theme of the congress was “Forest pedagogy: a means of education for (offline) life”. The emphasis was placed on modern approaches to conveying knowledge about forests and nature to children and adults. With increasing digitalization, the topic is particularly relevant, with the aim of finding ways to overcome the problems arising from excessive time spent in a digital environment and insufficient communication with nature. The participants united around the understanding that forest pedagogy and learning in nature are an effective tool for addressing a number of challenges of modern society – addiction to electronic devices, depression, stress, aggression, sedentary lifestyle.

     The congress program gave a possibility to the Forest Pedagogues around Europe to discuss and to exchange knowledge and experience. They participated in various workshops, prepared by the host and some of the participating delegates, which was dedicated to important questions as how to make the offline world interesting for children growing up in the online world? What kids can learn about themselves with the help of the forest and forest pedagogy? And what we can teach them about society and relationships through the example of the forest?

     During the program, participants visited the first forestry school in Hungary (founded in 1988), the Madas László Forest School. The main building was designed by Imre Makovecz, who was an important representative of organic architecture in Hungary.

     After more than 20 years dedicated work to forest pedagogy one of the founder of the Forest Communication Network – Subgroup Forest Pedagogics - Dirk Schmechel announced his retirement. Since this year a new structure of management of the Forest Pedagogy subgroup was adopted. For the next 4 year period the management of the subgroup will be divided into 4 main groups, managed by separate responsible person from the Subgroup members.

     The UEF vice-president Anna Petrakieva participated in the congress and since this year will lead the group responsible for the organization of the Forest pedagogic congresses.

UEF Presidency