Umweltstation

What Umweltstation does

Umweltstation Abtei Waldsassen is a non-profit environmental education center operating as a program of the Stiftung Kultur- und Begegnungszentrum (KuBZ), a foundation housed within the historic Cistercian Abtei Waldsassen in Bavaria, Germany. Founded in 2003, the organization maintains a seasonal Kloster- und Naturerlebnisgarten (Monastery and Nature Experience Garden) — open May 1 through mid-October — that integrates a Hildegard von Bingen medicinal herb garden, a Kneipp hydrotherapy facility, a farmers garden with TEM temperament beds, a biodiversity pathway, a greenhouse (donated by GLAPOR Mitterteich), a weather station, and a small Gartenladl retail shop. It is state-certified as an Umweltstation under the Qualitätsnetzwerk BNE (Education for Sustainable Development) framework.

The umbrella foundation is owned and governed by the Cistercian convent, with Äbtissin M. Laetitia Fech chairing the Stiftungsrat and a lean staff of approximately five people led by Geschäftsstellenleiterin Johanna Härtl. Revenue is generated through a fragmented mix of streams: garden admission fees, themed guided tours (€2.50/person plus entry or €80/group), seasonal workshops and craft courses (€29–€109), multi-module certification programs (MentorIn für Garten und Natur at €290/module, KräuterführeIn), on-site Gartenladl sales of regional honey, herb salts, and gift baskets, and a recently published 300-page book, 'Faszination Wildkräuter' (March 2026), sold via mail-order through a partnership with publisher Battenberg Bayerland. Customers span families, schools and kindergartens, adult hobbyists pursuing herbalism and traditional crafts, and religious/spiritual seekers drawn to the monastic setting. Go-to-market is event-driven and predominantly local (Upper Palatinate / Bavaria), with distribution via on-site visits, phone and email registration, online forms, and a Newsletter2Go email subscription list. Partnerships with KEB Tirschenreuth (adult education), the district gardening association, regional distilleries, and the abbey itself anchor the operating model.

Name

Umweltstation

Legal name

Stiftung Kultur- und Begegnungszentrum und Umweltstation Abtei Waldsassen

Website

https://kubz.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Umweltstation Abtei Waldsassen is a non-profit foundation operating a seasonal monastery and nature experience garden at a Cistercian abbey in Bavaria, Germany, delivering environmental education, Hildegard herbal medicine, and Kneipp programs to families, schools, and adult learners across the Upper Palatinate region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Forestry (800), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD), Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (Herbs, Botanicals) Wildcrafting/Cultivation (AFAMAFAF), Agritourism Eco-Lodges & Farm Nature Stays (THAAAHAL), Forestry, Arboriculture & Silviculture (EDAOAOAJ)

Keywords

• Environmental education center
• Nature experience gardens
• Herbal medicine training
• Botanical garden tours
• Organic garden products

Headquarters

HQ city

Waldsassen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Garden Admission Fees: Entry fees to the Kloster- and Naturerlebnisgarten, with themed guided tours available for additional fees (2.50€ per person plus entry, or 80€ flat rate for groups under 15).
2. Course and Workshop Fees: Registration-based courses including certification programs (MentorIn für Garten und Natur), herb guide training, craft workshops, cooking classes, and specialized nature education courses with fees ranging from 29€ to 290€ per module.
3. Garden Shop Sales: The Gartenladl (garden shop) sells products including honey, herb salts, Hildegard products, regional specialties, literature, and gift items. Products sourced from certified herb guides from the region.
4. Publication Sales: Sale of educational publications including the book 'Faszination Wildkräuter' (Wild Herb Fascination) by Johanna Härtl and Cornelia Müller, published by Battenberg Bayerland.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Umweltstation Abtei Waldsassen operates a state-recognized Kloster- und Naturerlebnisgarten (Monastery and Nature Experience Garden) within the Cistercian Abbey Waldsassen in Bavaria. The organization delivers environmental education through guided tours, multi-module certification courses (MentorIn für Garten und Natur, KräuterführerIn), hands-on school programs (Schule fürs Leben, Schulwald), themed workshops on Hildegard medicine and Kneipp hydrotherapy, and an on-site garden shop selling regional products and own-cultivation items.

Product overview

Umweltstation Abtei Waldsassen operates as a state-recognized environmental education center within the Stiftung Kultur- und Begegnungszentrum (KuBZ) foundation. The core offering is the Kloster- und Naturerlebnisgarten, a monastery and nature experience garden featuring specialized gardens (Hildegard garden, Kneipp facility, farmers garden). Supporting offerings include educational certification courses (MentorIn für Garten und Natur, KräuterführerIn), the Gartenladl retail shop selling regional products including own-grown items and gift baskets, and a publication 'Faszination Wildkräuter'. The organization provides environmental education through guided tours, courses, and hands-on programs for schools and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kloster- und Naturerlebnisgarten (Monastery and Nature Experience Garden) State-recognized environmental station featuring a Hildegard medicinal herb garden, Kneipp hydrotherapy facility, farmers garden, TEM temperament beds, and biodiversity pathway. Open May 1 to mid-October (daily 10:00–18:00). Serves visitors, families, schools, and adult learners for nature education and wellness experiences.
• MentorIn für Garten und Natur (Certification Program) Multi-module certification program covering garden education, pedagogy, Kneipp teachings, and Hildegard von Bingen health practices. Modules include catering, script, and materials at 290€ per module. Aimed at adults seeking certification to guide garden and nature activities.
• KräuterführerIn (Herb Guide Certification) Certified herb guide training program preparing participants to lead regional herb-related tours and education activities.
• Guided Tours and Themed Courses (Führungen und Kurse) Environmental education offerings including family garden tours, Hildegard-garden tours with meditative input from monastery sisters, Kneipp tours, mushroom excursions, bat excursions, and craft workshops such as willow, felt-making, Advent wreaths, hydrosols, smoking products, and beer brewing.
• Mitmachprogramme (Hands-on Programs for Schools and Kindergartens) Hands-on nature education programs including 'Schule fürs Leben' (School for Life), 'Schulwald' (School Forest), and dedicated kindergarten and school offerings such as the 'Perlentaucher' all-day programs at Mädchenrealschule Waldsassen.
• Gartenladl (Garden Shop) and Regional Products On-site shop offering regional products including honey, herb salt, herbal and Hildegard products, literature, gift items, and gift baskets upon request. Includes own-cultivation produce from the Kloster- und Naturerlebnisgarten. Mail-order shipping within Germany available.
• Faszination Wildkräuter (Publication) A 300-page book about wild herb knowledge, recipes, and healing applications authored by Johanna Härtl and Cornelia Müller. Published by Battenberg Bayerland, sold on-site at the Gartenladl and via mail order.

Quantifiable outcome

• Seasonal programs 2003-2026 documented, with annual program publications available for download

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered moderate, minor and core.

• Battenberg Bayerland (Publisher)moderateGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 February 2026Battenberg Bayerland publishes 'Faszination Wildkräuter' by Johanna Härtl and Cornelia Müller. The Umweltstation pre-sells and distributes the book on-site and via mail order.
• GLAPOR (Mitterteich)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLAPOR from Mitterteich generously provided a high-quality greenhouse with solar equipment for the Umweltstation, enabling year-round plant cultivation and educational activities.
• KEB TirschenreuthmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerKEB (Katholische Erwachsenenbildung) Tirschenreuth collaborates with the Umweltstation on adult education courses, such as the felt-making workshop.
• Kreisverband für Gartenbau und LandespflegemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe district gardening and landscape conservation association co-organizes the annual Harvest and Fruit Exchange (Ernte- und Obstbörse) with the Umweltstation.
• Various fruit and gardening associationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple local fruit and gardening clubs (Obst- und Gartenbauvereine) participate in the annual harvest event.
• Obstbrennerei SchlötzerminorOthersRegional fruit distillery participates in the annual Harvest and Fruit Exchange, offering products and demonstrations.
• KuBZ OrchestraminorOthersThe KuBZ Orchestra provides musical accompaniment at the annual Harvest and Fruit Exchange event.
• Abtei Waldsassen (Cistercian Abbey Waldsassen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Umweltstation is a program of Stiftung KUBZ within the historic Cistercian Abtei Waldsassen. The monastery sisters participate in events and offer spiritual guidance. Sister M. Raphaela coordinates GEISTZeit events; Äbtissin M. Laetitia Fech chairs the foundation council.
• Stadlgalerie Christine BöhmminorOthersThe Gedanken garden (Gedankengarten) by Christine Böhm is featured at the annual harvest event.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kloster Ettal: Bavarian Benedictine monastery with active monastic community, public visitor programs, retail shop, and event hosting. Comparable as a similarly structured Bavarian abbey combining contemplative tradition with public cultural/educational engagement and on-site product sales.
• Kloster Andechs (Benediktinerabtei Andechs): Bavarian Benedictine monastery combining active monastic life with public visitor programs including brewery, restaurant, retail shop, and cultural events. Closely comparable as a Bavarian monastery that monetizes heritage through on-site retail and visitor experiences, though with food/beverage rather than environmental-education focus.

Others

• Bayerisches Landesamt für Umwelt (LfU): Bavarian state agency responsible for environmental monitoring, public weather data, and coordination of the state Umweltstation network. Comparable as the institutional ecosystem that certifies, funds, and channels visitors to facilities like the Waldsassen Umweltstation.

Broad incumbents

• NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland): Germany's largest nature and biodiversity NGO with ~900,000 members, running nationwide environmental education centers and nature reserves. Comparable as a broader incumbent offering outdoor education and nature experiences, though at vastly larger national scale than the Waldsassen Umweltstation.
• Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald: Bavaria's flagship national park with extensive visitor centers, guided nature tours, school programs, and environmental education infrastructure. Comparable as a much larger incumbent offering similar nature-education programming in the same region.
• BUND (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland): Major German environmental NGO operating regional nature centers and educational programs. Comparable as a broader nonprofit competitor in nature-based education and conservation programming, with substantially larger geographic footprint and member base.
• Botanischer Garten München-Nymphenburg: State botanical garden in Munich offering public admissions, themed guided tours, and educational programs centered on plant collections. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the botanical/herbal garden visitor space, though operating at much larger institutional scale.
• LBV (Landesbund für Vogelschutz in Bayern e.V.): Bavaria's oldest and largest regional nature and bird protection organization, running nature education centers and visitor programs across Bavaria. Directly comparable as a regional nature-education incumbent with similar mission and similar geographic focus in the same state.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KUBZ-Stiftung-Kultur-und-Begegnungszentrum-Abtei-Waldsassen-203583733001431
• Instagraminstagram.com/kloster_naturerlebnis_garten/?hl=de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/umweltstation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Umweltstation