“Children of the island, we need your help! Only by working together can you decipher the secret message of the Ancient Beech Forest.” With this mission, the forest elves will be sending children aged between six and twelve on a World Heritage treasure hunt through Jasmund National Park on Sunday 27 September. The destination is the UNESCO World Heritage Forum Waldhalle near Sassnitz, where the Forest Festival will be held from 12 noon to 4 pm. Young participants are still being sought for the treasure hunt. Parents can register their children until Monday 21 September.

Eight stations and a secret forest message

The Ancient Beech Forest has entrusted the elves with a message. But to decipher it, they need the children’s help: On a new route from Sassnitz Zoo to the UNESCO World Heritage Forum Waldhalle, the treasure hunt teams will solve puzzles at eight stations, collect golden beech nuts and complete the messages on their runic staffs. Looking closely, thinking together and a keen sense of nature will help them along the way.

A special task awaits at the finish: the children will announce the deciphered forest message to the guests at the Forest Festival. Around 3 pm, the best treasure-hunting teams will be announced there and their achievements celebrated together.

“We’re looking forward to the island’s children discovering their World Heritage forest and, in the process, getting to know places they aren’t yet familiar with. The new route offers plenty of opportunities for this once again. It’s lovely to see how the children puzzle things out together, look closely and help one another. In this way, a day in the forest can foster a sense of connection that lasts,” says Stefanie Lemcke, Head of Environmental Education at the KÖNIGSSTUHL National Park Centre.

Many hands make the Pirsch possible

In the year marking the 15th anniversary of Jasmund’s World Heritage status, the ‘Pirsch’ invites children from the region to learn about the value of their ancient beech forest on their doorstep through play. The story of the forest elves combines knowledge of nature with a challenge that can only be solved by working together.

The World Heritage Trail is a joint project between the KÖNIGSSTUHL National Park Centre, the Vorpommern National Park Authority, the town of Sassnitz and its zoo, the Volunteer Fire Brigade and Volkssolidarität Sassnitz, the Sagard Rescue Dog Unit and many volunteers. Their joint commitment makes the stations and encounters along the trail possible.

Register now – individually or as a team

The exploration teams consist of five to eight children accompanied by an adult. They complete the exploration without their parents. Registrations are also possible for individual children, siblings or friends; a complete team is not a requirement.

The walk starts on Sunday, 27 September, between 10.00 and 11.45 am at 15-minute intervals at Sassnitz Zoo. The route to the UNESCO World Heritage Forum takes around two and a half hours. A light lunch awaits the children at the finish. Participation is free of charge thanks to the support of all our partners.

Registrations can still be made until Monday 21 September by emailing ub@koenigsstuhl.com or by telephone on 038392 661766.

The Forest Festival will bring the event to a close at the Waldhalle from 12 noon to 4 pm. With music from the Taktlos trio, organic sausages on the barbecue and hands-on activities, the Pirsch teams, families and other guests will celebrate the start of autumn there.

Further details at:
welterbeforum.koenigsstuhl.com/events