Naturkindergruppe Am Himmel

The "Naturkindergruppe am Himmel - Gatschhüpfer" is a small outdoor kindergarten in the hills around Vienna, totally imbedded in nature. It is a non-profit organisation run by the parents of the children attending the kindergarten. The idea of the organisation is based on a humanistic philosophy. We live diversity, are open minded to different cultures, religions and rainbow families. The main targets of the teachers are to build up an individual relationship with the kids and to respect and take serious the individual needs of the kids. Our meaning of education is more to accompany the children and help if they need it, but not lecture them. Each child is accepted as an individual, encouraged to develop self-consciousness and self-confidence. The main focus of our kindergarten is on being in nature. The kids spend most of the time outside, in the woods and fields around or in their own kindergarten "garden". Besides the kindergarten building the kids have a Mongolian yurt where they can have shelter in case of heavy rain or really cold weather. There are maximum 14 kids/day between 2,5 and 6 years with 2 teachers looking after them from Monday to Friday from 8:15am till 4:00pm. The kids are picked up from the teachers at a meeting point at two different tube stations in the city and then go up in the Viennese hills to their kindergarten by public transport (20minutes). We regularly have volunteers, the teachers offer caring an experience in accompanying them and the kids are used and open to “Newcomers”. The parents are involved in the daily life of the kindergarten, like once a week for a cooking service or for everything what is needed to run a kindergarten, like buying material for handicraft work, snacks, looking after the yurt, the garden, organising, etc. The “Gatschhüpfer” offers a family like environment for the kids and the teacher team.