Out on the forest trail with Globi
ETH is continually enhancing its range of children’s activities. Our latest offering is Globi’s Forest Laboratory, a nature trail through the Hönggerberg woodlands.
At the launch on 10 June, 60 kids from the nearby districts of Höngg and Affoltern ventured out with Globi to explore the secrets of the forest. During an action-packed afternoon on the Honggerberg, the young explorers carried out experiments and discovered hidden wonders at their feet.
«We’re keen to spark children’s interest in the big questions of science,” says Roland Jaggi from ETH Zurich Tours. “That’s why we’re expanding our range of activities for young hobby researchers. We now offer two Globi tours: on the first one, kids can launch rockets high into the sky; on our latest tour, they explore things at ground level.»
A huge success
Globi’s Astronaut School on the ETH Hönggerberg campus took off two years ago. Since then, over 1,000 children have gleaned fascinating facts about space travel, physics and planet Mars, and even sent rockets sky-high! Globi’s Forest Lab offers a more down-to-earth experience.
During the new 90-minute tour, the children investigate the forest floor and discover which creatures live there. They find out about the water cycle, how trees grow and the various layers that make up a forest. Hands-on experiments make learning about the forest ecosystem exciting and fun.
A joint endeavour
To set up Globi’s Forest Laboratory, ETH Zurich joined forces with Waldlabor Zürich – a real lab on the Hönggerberg very near the ETH campus. Here, past, current and future forms of forest management are demonstrated and investigated. The Waldlabor is an experience-oriented education and research site, focusing on the “cultural forest” – areas where humans have left their mark.
«The forest is not just a fascinating ecosystem; it’s also a great place to learn, explore and research,” says Martin Brüllhardt, Managing Director of Waldlabor Zürich. “The Globi tour gives us the chance to convey our passion for research in and about the forest, and to get even the youngest ones enthusiastic about sustainability issues. We’re delighted!»
Bookable now
Globi’s Forest Lab is a free offer, available now on request for school classes. The tour lasts about 2.5 hours and is suitable for groups of 10 to 25 children. Each child will be given a research diary so that they can continue investigating the forest lab topics at home.
Join a tour!
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