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The regional government celebrates an anniversary at the Kühkopf Treasure Island Environmental Education Center
The Kühkopf Treasure Island Environmental Education Center (UBZ) will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2025. Since its opening in 1994, the center, located on the Guntershausen estate, has become a flagship for environmental education in southern Hesse – right in the heart of Hesse's largest nature reserve. During a recent visit, Regional President Prof. Dr. Jan Hilligardt and Vice President Dr. Stefan Fuhrmann were impressed by the center's holistic approach, which focuses on "Experience – Education – Responsibility."
From information center to environmental education center
The first exhibition was originally housed in a converted manure storage building on the estate – for pragmatic reasons, as forester and UBZ director Ralph Baumgärtel explains. However, space and facilities soon became inadequate. Following a feasibility study and planning phase, ground was broken in 2010 for the expansion of the listed north wing. The new UBZ has been in operation since 2014, supported by the Darmstadt Regional Council and operated by Hessen-Forst .
Over 250,000 visitors since 2014
More than 250,000 visitors, as well as 900 school classes and 350 kindergarten groups, have visited the center since its reopening. The program includes guided tours, hands-on activities, the annual May Day festival, and the popular wine festival in September. The UBZ sees itself as an educational partner of schools, kindergartens, and local stakeholders in the Groß-Gerau district and is part of the Bergstraße-Odenwald Geo-Nature Park (UNESCO Global Geopark).
Learning with all senses – experiencing nature on the Kühkopf
The focus is on emotional and sustainable nature education – with a tiered educational concept that accompanies children from kindergarten to graduation. Spread across three floors, the exhibitions offer modern media, digital modules, learning trails, and QR codes for direct knowledge transfer between indoor and outdoor spaces. The theme "Nightlife on the Kühkopf" will be the focus of the event program in 2025. Project weeks with schools are already planned for 2026.
Environmental education as a societal responsibility
The investment of approximately €1.6 million in modern exhibition modules, along with active networking with educational institutions, municipalities, and associations, makes the UBZ a flagship project for education for sustainable development .
Further information and the current program are available online at
schatzinsel-kuehkopf.hessen.de .
(GROSS-GERAU – RED/RP)
Featured image: View of the permanent exhibition at the Kühkopf Treasure Island Environmental Education Center. Photo: RP Darmstadt
