What Waldritter does

Waldritter e.V. is a Germany-wide nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein) headquartered in Herten that delivers experiential educational programs using live action role-playing (LARP), drama games, and adventure-based pedagogy. Its primary audience is children and youth aged 6-16, with programs extended to young adults up to 27, families, and German schools at primary, secondary, and upper secondary levels. The core offerings include the Waldritter LARP Programs set in the proprietary fictional world of Silvanien, the Drama Games methodology used for political education, structured school programs covering topics such as prejudice, migration, and right-wing extremism, and recurring events (Larp Camp, Drama Games Festival, family and adult LARPs). The organization delivers programs through 10 regional local groups (Ortsgruppen) across Germany, traveling to schools for on-site workshops and operating dedicated venues including the 1,600 sqm spaceship-themed Waldritter Kreativ.Campus Herten, the Waldritter-Bildungszentrum Saar, and the Seminarraum Siegen, plus partner venues such as Wasserburg Heldrung and Güllemühle.

Waldritter operates as a recognized charitable organization (gemeinnützig), federally recognized free youth welfare provider (Träger der freien Jugendhilfe), and recognized political education provider, and is a member of the Arbeitskreis deutscher Bildungsstätten (AdB). Revenue is generated through three streams: public grants from federal ministries (notably the Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend), state governments, EU funds, and foundations (including co-financing from the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung for the "Larp für Demokratie" model project); participant fees for events, camps, and seminars ranging from €13 for a 2-day workshop to €275-€375 for multi-day adult LARPs and up to €450 for super-sponsor tickets; and tax-deductible donations. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with acquisition through local volunteer networks, school partnerships, the organization's website, email newsletters, and event marketing. The leadership comprises a three-member Vorstand (Silvia Fölsing, Philipp Schumann, Francisco Laguna de la Vera) and two managing directors (Daniel Steinbach, Nadine Groß).

Name

Waldritter

Legal name

Waldritter e.V.

Website

https://waldritter.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Waldritter e.V. is a Germany-wide nonprofit association that delivers experiential education through LARP, drama games, and adventure-based pedagogy for children and youth aged 6-16, young adults up to 27, families, and German schools, funded by federal grants, participant fees, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Experiential Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Wellness & Prevention Programs (Substance Use, Sexual Health, Bullying) (EDAJAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI), Behavioral Intervention & PBIS Supports (Tiered, Gen Ed) (EDAJAGAL)

Keywords

• Experiential education
• Live action role-playing
• Political civic education
• Youth welfare programs
• Adventure pedagogy

Headquarters

HQ city

Herten

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: The organization is financed through Zuwendungen (grants) from the German federal government, state governments, EU funds, and foundation funding. This includes project funding from Bundesministerium für Familie and co-financing from Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung.
2. Participant Fees: Fees charged for participation in educational programs, LARP events, camps, and seminars. Pricing varies by event type and duration, ranging from 13€ for workshops to 85-100€ for multi-day camps for children.
3. Donations: The organization accepts donations which are tax-deductible as the association is recognized as gemeinnützig (charitable).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Waldritter e.V. is a German nonprofit association that delivers experiential educational programs for children, youth, and young adults using live action role-playing (LARP), drama games, and adventure-based pedagogy. Its offerings include recurring LARP sessions in the fictional world of Silvanien for ages 6–16, school workshops on democracy, tolerance, and prejudice, multi-day LARP camps, the annual Drama Games Festival, and themed adult/family LARPs. Programs are delivered directly by Waldritter staff and a nationwide network of 10 local volunteer groups at schools, forests, and dedicated venues such as the spaceship-styled Kreativ.Campus Herten.

Product overview

Waldritter e.V. is a Germany-wide nonprofit association offering experiential educational programs centered on live action role-playing (LARP). The organization operates as a platform of interconnected programs including regular LARP sessions for children aged 6-16 in the fictional world of Silvanien, Drama Games for political education, structured school programs, and larger events such as the annual Drama Games Festival, Larp Camp, and specialized LARPs. Key products include the Waldritter LARP Programs, Drama Games methodology, and School Programs, supplemented by facilities like the Waldritter Kreativ.Campus Herten (spaceship-styled venue) and regional youth groups (Ortsgruppen) across Germany. The organization also runs thematic LARPs for adults and families including Colloquium 1925, Miss Howl's Seminar, and Phönixfeder. Funded through government grants, EU funds, foundations, and participant fees, Waldritter serves as a recognized free youth welfare provider and political education organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Waldritter LARP Programs (Live Action Role-Playing) Recurring LARP sessions in the fictional Silvanien world, integrating nature exploration, social skills, and group dynamics for children and youth aged 6–16.
• Drama Games Short, interactive role-playing formats with educational character used for political education on diversity, tolerance, civil courage, and democratic values.
• School Programs Educational programs for primary, secondary, and vocational schools including forest adventure games, seminars on prejudice, mobility/asylum, right-wing extremism, and mobile escape games, delivered at schools or at Waldritter venues.
• Larp Camp Multi-day residential program for ages 14–27 offering LARP, board games, crafting activities, and excursions co-created by participants.
• Drama Games Festival Annual festival featuring short interactive educational role-playing games, workshops, discussions, and family-friendly activities held at the Kreativ.Campus Herten.
• Miss Howl's Seminar Four-day adult LARP set in Victorian England in which participants prepare to serve as companions to monster hunters, addressing privilege and social conflict.
• Colloquium 1925 Four-day LARP set in 1925 where participants play members of a secret society investigating mysterious phenomena, exploring how war affects society beyond direct combat.
• Funke in der Nacht – 1. Akademie zu Brandan Fantasy LARP for children and teenagers aged 8–14 held at Jugendhaus Sankt Anna, in which participants join an academy in the fictional realm of Brandan.
• Europa – Zukunfts- oder Auslaufmodell? Family seminar examining the EU's future direction through mini LARPs, discussions, and workshops on EU policy topics.
• Phönixfeder III – Larp für die ganze Familie Family LARP set at a magic academy for magical and fantastic arts, featuring magical lessons, adventures, wizard duels, and fantasy explorations.
• Space X-Plorer Science fiction simulation where participants take on roles on a virtual spaceship bridge, learning communication, problem-solving, and teamwork through ship operations and adventures.
• Tagungshaus Herten Spaceship-styled conference house in the Ruhr area rented for seminars and live role-playing games.
• Waldritter Kreativ.Campus Herten 1600 sqm educational facility in Herten converted into a spaceship LARP location with rooms for playing and LARP design activities.
• Regional Youth Groups (Ortsgruppen) Regional groups in Berlin, Freudenberg, Gießen, Herten, Lahn-Dill, Potsdam, Siegen, Süd-West, Westerwald, and Witten offering regular LARP sessions for children and youth aged 6–16.
• Waldritter-Bildungszentrum Saar Educational center in Oberthal (Saarland) used as a venue for Waldritter seminars and youth programs.
• Forest-Based Nature Adventure Programs Nature-based adventure games delivered in forests near participating schools or Waldritter locations as part of the school programs portfolio.
• Partner-Venue Event Programs (e.g., Jugendburg Neuerburg, Güllemühle, Wasserburg Heldrung) LARP and seminar events held at partner locations including Jugendburg Neuerburg, Jugendhaus Sankt Anna Thalhausen, Güllemühle, Wasserburg Heldrung, and CVJM Kaulsdorf.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Arbeitskreis deutscher Bildungsstätten (AdB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association of German educational institutions. Waldritter e.V. is a member, indicating alignment with professional standards in political and youth education.
• Edu-Larp NetzwerkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of educators and organizations using LARP for educational purposes. Waldritter participates in knowledge sharing and collaborative projects with this network.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bundesarbeitskreis ARBEIT UND LEBEN: Recognized German Bildungsträger delivering political and civic education for adults and youth across Germany. Directly comparable as a publicly funded political-education provider serving similar demographics and competing for similar federal and state Zuwendungen.
• Naturfreundejugend Deutschlands: German youth organization using outdoor and experiential nature education, with a recognized Träger status and similar age range (children, youth, young adults). Comparable as an experiential-learning nonprofit operating through local groups nationwide.
• Aktion Zivilcourage e.V. German nonprofit focused on civil courage, anti-discrimination, and democratic education through workshops and school programs. Closely comparable mission to Waldritter's 'Larp für Demokratie' project, with similar funding model via German civic-education grants.
• SJD - Die Falken: German socialist youth organization running democratic and civic education programs for children and youth through local groups. Closely comparable to Waldritter's 'Demokratie' focus, age range (6-27), and local-group structure.
• BUNDjugend im Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland: German environmental youth organization delivering nature-based and civic education programs. Comparable to Waldritter as a federally funded youth-education nonprofit targeting similar age groups with project-based grants.
• Bund der Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder (BdP): German scout association delivering experiential and adventure-based youth education through local groups and camps. Comparable to Waldritter in its experiential pedagogy, age range, local-group structure, and nonprofit/funded model.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Sportjugend (dsj): German sports youth organization within the DOSB umbrella, coordinating sport- and values-based youth education nationwide. Comparable in age range (children to young adults), grant-funded model, and national association structure.
• Outlaw gGmbH: Large German youth welfare provider operating schools, daycare, and youth programs nationwide. Comparable to Waldritter as a recognized freier Träger der Jugendhilfe competing for school-program contracts, though at significantly larger scale.
• Internationaler Bund (IB): Large German nonprofit and recognized Träger der freien Jugendhilfe delivering youth welfare, education, and training programs nationwide. Comparable as a much larger incumbent youth welfare provider competing for similar public contracts and grants.
• Bundesvereinigung Kulturelle Kinder- und Jugendbildung (BKJ): Umbrella association for cultural youth education in Germany, with member organizations offering arts- and culture-based youth programs. Comparable as a wider industry body coordinating federally funded cultural and civic youth education, of which Waldritter is a peer member.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/waldritterev
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waldrittergruppe-leipzig

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Waldritter