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“It was such a wonderful experience last year that we decided: Let’s do it again right here in Aachen in 2026!” said Josef Kaiser, chairman of the Association for the Protection of German Forests (SDW) in North Rhine-Westphalia, Aachen City Region chapter. Following the success of the previous year, the Municipal Forestry Office within the City of Aachen’s Climate and Environment Department was therefore delighted to once again host the Forest Youth Games at the Öcher Bösch, together with local municipal forestry offices in the surrounding area and the Rureifel Regional Forestry Office-Jülicher-Börde, to once again host the Forest Youth Games at the Öcher Bösch.

About 240 children from various elementary schools in Aachen had gathered at the Waldjugendspiele in the city forest surrounding the Kupferbach reservoir to test and compare their knowledge of the forest and their athletic skills at various stations. Aachen’s mayor, Dr. Michael Ziemons, came in person to the playground by the reservoir to present the certificates to the students.

Ten classes from five schools competed against each other, but they were all winners. Every class received a certificate and gifts. Even before the awards ceremony, the first-place winners picked up a personal prize: an autograph from the mayor. “I’ve always loved being in the woods—especially as a child and as a member of the Boy Scouts. Even though I don’t have quite as much time these days to go for walks in the woods, I’m still very grateful that we have such wonderful wooded areas in Aachen. The people of our city love their ‘Öcher Bösch’! And I’m very happy that you were here today, had so much fun, and learned a lot about the forest in the process,” Ziemons told the children.

The Importance of Forests
: As they made their way along a roughly 2.5-kilometer trail, the third-graders learned about the various aspects of the forest. The Kupferbach Dam provides a home for many living creatures, and the children were able to explore exactly these. The goal was to identify animals in and on the water, as well as in the surrounding wetlands. Being quiet in the forest and listening to the sounds of nature was a special challenge. The message: Everything in the forest is important, even deadwood. In addition to imparting knowledge, the focus was on team spirit and a positive forest experience. The Aachen Forest Service team, led by Dr. Gerd Krämer, was able to count on the support of numerous colleagues from the region. Each class was accompanied by a forester on the forest trail.

35,000 children statewide
. Still, a competition is, of course, a competition, and that’s why the students in Class 3b at the Hanbruch Municipal Catholic Elementary School erupted in cheers when the mayor presented them with an inscribed oak disc as “trophy.”

The Forest Youth Games take place not only in the Aachen metropolitan region but throughout Germany. In North Rhine-Westphalia alone, some 35,000 children now participate each year, and afterward they see the forest as a natural environment in a whole new light.

Note to editors

You may use the attached photos free of charge for news coverage. Please note the respective copyright notices: “City of Aachen / Stefan Hermann” or “City of Aachen / Aleksandar Ruzicic.”

Caption 01: What an experience! 240 elementary school students from Aachen cheer alongside Mayor Michael Ziemons at the conclusion of the Forest Youth Day at the Öcher Bösch. Photo: City of Aachen / Aleksandar Ruzicic

Caption 02: Great jubilation: The winning class from KGS Hanbruch proudly raises the “trophy” and celebrates together with Mayor Michael Ziemons. Photo: City of Aachen / Stefan Hermann

Caption 03: The tension builds as Mayor Michael Ziemon draws the winners of the special prizes. Photo: City of Aachen / Aleksandar Ruzicic

Caption 04: Autograph session: Many children are standing in line at the Forest Youth Games to get the mayor’s autograph. Photo: City of Aachen / Stefan Hermann