Ökowerk Berlin

What Ökowerk Berlin does

Ökowerk Berlin (Naturschutzzentrum Ökowerk Berlin e.V.) is a registered non-profit nature conservation association founded in 1985, operating an environmental education center at the historic 1871 waterworks complex in Berlin's Grunewald forest. The organization serves approximately 60,000-70,000 visitors annually through environmental education programs for school groups (kindergarten through secondary), family programming, holiday camps, children's birthday parties, guided tours, and corporate team-building events. Recognized as a Naturschutzverband under §44 of the Berlin Nature Conservation Law, it holds formal standing in environmental consultation and coordinates with 14 other conservation organizations through the Berliner Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft Naturschutz (BLN).

The organization's product portfolio spans environmental education programs (including the long-term 'Life in the Urban Jungle' project aligned with Berlin's Bonus Program), volunteer service placements (FÖJ and ÖBFD), venue rental (Kesselhaus 218m², Bibliothek 45.6m², Filterhalle 160m²), teacher training, and a co-published quarterly naturmagazin. Its core technology infrastructure includes an AI-powered interactive moor installation launched in June 2018 that uses generative AI via a real-time API to enable multilingual conversations with environmental characters, developed in collaboration with Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF. Other notable infrastructure includes a solar-powered fountain system installed June 2018 and funded by the National Climate Protection Initiative, plus the active deep well of the historic waterworks that has supplied water to Teufelssee and Teufelsfenn moor since the mid-1980s. The organization manages a 1.4 km amphibian protection fence at Havelchaussee and is designated as one of 16 Climate Protection Education Centers in Germany.

Revenue is generated through a diversified non-profit model including annual membership fees (€25-€200/year across individual, family, association, and institutional tiers, plus a €1,300 lifetime option), educational program fees (€3-7 per student for school programs, €200/week for holiday camps, €170 for birthday parties), venue rental income, public grants from Berliner Forsten, Senate administrations, and environmental agencies, donations and toad sponsorships (from €50), and a leased bistro operation offering regional organic food. The organization maintains a small core staff of 15-17 people supplemented by 5 FÖJ positions and variable ÖBFD volunteers, with no external investor or parent-company ownership. Distribution is exclusively direct on-site at the Berlin-Grunewald location, with bookings via phone, email, or online inquiry. The 40th anniversary was celebrated with a public festival on May 18, 2025.

Name

Ökowerk Berlin

Legal name

Naturschutzzentrum Ökowerk Berlin e.V.

Website

https://oekowerk.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ökowerk Berlin is a non-profit nature conservation center and environmental education facility operating since 1985 in Berlin's Grunewald forest from a historic 1871 waterworks complex, serving 60,000-70,000 visitors annually with educational programs, conservation work, and community events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education & Nature Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG), Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)

Keywords

• Environmental education
• Nature conservation services
• School excursion programs
• Outdoor learning center
• Event venue rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from individuals, families, organizations, and institutions. Includes quarterly naturmagazin delivery.
2. Educational Program Fees: Fees for school programs, birthday parties, holiday camps, and corporate events. Variable pricing based on program type and duration.
3. Facility Rental: Rental income from Kesselhaus, Bibliothek, and Filterhalle for seminars, exhibitions, and celebrations. Reduced rates for nature conservation organizations.
4. Government Subsidies: Funding from Berliner Forsten, Senate administrations, and environmental agencies. Includes support for amphibian protection and moor conservation activities.
5. Donations: Donations for habitat enhancement and species protection. Toad guardian sponsorships starting at 50 EUR per bucket.
6. Bistro Operations: Leased bistro operation with regional organic food offerings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ökowerk Berlin operates a nature conservation and environmental education center in the historic 1871 Grunewald waterworks, delivering on-site programs for school groups, families, children, youth, and corporate groups, including guided tours, holiday programs, children's birthday parties, and teacher training. It also rents meeting rooms to external organizations, runs an on-site bistro, and pursues conservation projects covering amphibians, moors, and climate protection.

Product overview

Ökowerk Berlin is an environmental education center and nature conservation association located in the historic waterworks at Teufelssee in Grunewald. The organization operates as a unified center offering environmental education programs, nature conservation services, and venue rental. Its portfolio consists of environmental education programs for school groups (including the long-term 'Life in the Urban Jungle' project), children's birthday party programs with various nature themes, holiday programs (including summer holiday offerings), guided tours of the historic waterworks and grounds, an AI-powered interactive moor installation, meeting room rentals (Kesselhaus, Library, Filterhalle), corporate team building activities, voluntary service programs (FÖJ and ÖBFD), youth groups, practical conservation work (amphibian protection, moor water supply, climate protection), and membership/donation options. The center also offers a public weekend event program and teacher training services. The organization is funded through memberships, donations, venue rentals, program fees, and public grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Environmental Education Programs for Schools Curriculum-aligned on-site environmental education programs for school classes and kindergarten groups visiting the Ökowerk grounds in the Grunewald, covering local nature, water, amphibians, moor and climate themes.
• Long-term Project "Leben im Großstadtdschungel" (Life in the Urban Jungle) Multi-year environmental education project for school classes combining on-site sessions at Ökowerk with classroom follow-up to investigate urban nature, biodiversity and ecological relationships over time.
• Children's Birthday Party Programs Themed nature-based birthday party packages for children hosted on the Ökowerk grounds with hands-on activities and guided experiences.
• Weekend Program "Hallo Sonntag" Recurring weekend family program offering themed activities and nature experiences for the general public.
• Holiday and Summer Holiday Programs Themed nature activity programs for children during school holidays, including a dedicated summer holiday program with full-day supervised sessions.
• Interactive Moor Installation (Torf, der verborgene Klimaschützer) Interactive AI-powered installation that lets visitors explore a virtual peatland, learn about moor ecology, and understand the climate-protection function of peatlands.
• Meeting Room Rental Rental of meeting and seminar rooms in the historic Ökowerk buildings in the Grunewald for external organizations, associations and private events.
• Corporate Excursions and Team Days Customized team-building and excursion programs for companies and organizations hosted on the Ökowerk grounds, combining nature experiences with group activities.
• FÖJ (Freiwilliges Ökologisches Jahr) at Ökowerk One-year voluntary ecological service placements (FÖJ) for young adults at Ökowerk Berlin, with positions co-funded by partner organizations such as AOK Nordost.
• ÖBFD (Ökologischer Bundesfreiwilligendienst) Placements Federal voluntary ecological service placements (ÖBFD) at Ökowerk Berlin supporting conservation and education activities; participant numbers fluctuate based on demand.
• Ökowerk Youth Group (Jugendgruppe) Recurring youth group meetings for older children and teenagers to engage in nature, conservation and sustainability activities at Ökowerk.
• Membership (Verein Naturschutzzentrum Ökowerk Berlin e.V.) Annual membership in the supporting association Naturschutzzentrum Ökowerk Berlin e.V. for individuals and organizations, entitling members to support the center's conservation and education mission.
• Donations and Sponsorship Acceptance of monetary donations and sponsorship for specific conservation and education projects, including support for FÖJ/ÖBFD placements and equipment.
• On-site Bistro Bistro located on the Ökowerk grounds offering food and beverages to visitors and program participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60,000-70,000 visitors annually experience environmental education
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration5 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Stiftung Naturschutz BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral coordination partner for volunteer service programs (FÖJ and ÖBFD). Ökowerk hosts five FÖJ positions as one of approximately 100 participating sites. Also distributes Ökowerk publications and manages volunteer recruitment.
• Berliner ForstencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment forestry agency providing annual funding and coordination on Grunewald conservation. Partner in youth group initiative with GFBM. Joint monitoring of protected forest areas.
• Berliner Stadtreinigung (BSR)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerFree environmental education programs for registered school bookings. BSR sponsors 'Alles clean, oder was?' and 'So ein Mist' waste education programs for Berlin secondary schools.
• Umweltamt Steglitz-ZehlendorfmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual funding and cooperation for amphibian protection fence at Havelchaussee. Coordinates protection measures with Ökowerk's volunteer coordination.
• Stiftung am GrunewaldmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in 'Leben im Großstadtdschungel' project for socially disadvantaged students. Contributes to program funding and coordination.
• Berliner Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft Naturschutz (BLN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination body of 14 conservation organizations. Ökowerk participates in environmental consultation procedures and policy advocacy through BLN.
• Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaster students developed the AI-powered interactive moor installation as creative technology project. Collaborative innovation in environmental education.
• GFBM (Gesellschaft für berufsbildende Maßnahmen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in youth group initiative (13-16 year olds) combining conservation with vocational training aspects.
• Naturschutzfonds BrandenburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-publisher of 'naturmagazin' regional environmental magazine with quarterly circulation to members.
• NABU BrandenburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-publisher of 'naturmagazin' regional environmental magazine distributed to members quarterly.
• Verlag Natur&TextminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublishing partner for 'naturmagazin' and responsible for magazine layout, printing, and distribution.
• blueprint Berlin GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrint vendor for membership cards. Data processing agreement in place per GDPR requirements.
• Various Berlin VHS InstitutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdult education courses marketed through Volkshochschule Berlin portals including nature photography and scientific drawing workshops.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland): Germany's largest nature conservation association with ~900k members. Operates nationwide environmental education, conservation advocacy, and nature center programs. Directly comparable as a non-profit NGO offering environmental education and outreach, though at vastly larger scale than Ökowerk Berlin.
• BUND (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland): Major German environmental NGO with parallel programs in environmental education, conservation policy advocacy, and grassroots member engagement. Comparable mission and structure to Ökowerk, but operates at national scale with affiliated state-level associations.
• Naturpark Barnim: State-designated nature park surrounding Berlin with similar forest/conservation landscapes, visitor centers, guided tours, and educational programming. Operates a comparable visitor-center-based business model within the broader Berlin-Brandenburg region.
• Nationalpark Harz Besucherzentren: Network of visitor centers in Germany's Harz National Park offering environmental education, guided tours, exhibitions, and conservation programming. Operates a similar visitor-center + educational programming model at larger regional scale, with substantial public funding.

Regional players

• Biosphärenreservat Spreewald: UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve near Berlin with visitor centers, environmental education programs, and conservation work. Comparable Natura 2000-style protected area management with educational programming, though more tourism-oriented.

Direct peers

• Naturparkzentrum Hoher Fläming: Visitor center for a Brandenburg nature park offering environmental education, themed trails, and event programming. Closely comparable single-site model combining nature park visitor operations with conservation activities in the Berlin-Brandenburg region.
• NABU Berlin: Berlin state branch of NABU operating local conservation and environmental education programs in the same metropolitan market. Direct competitor for Berlin school groups, families, and government conservation contracts with overlapping volunteer engagement models.
• Heinz Sielmann Stiftung: German nature conservation foundation focused on biodiversity, habitat protection, and environmental education programs. Operates nature visitor centers including the Sielmanns Naturlandschaft areas. Closely comparable to Ökowerk's combination of conservation work and public-facing educational programming.
• NABU Brandenburg: Brandenburg state branch of NABU, geographically adjacent to Ökowerk's Grunewald operations. Co-publishes the naturmagazin regional environmental magazine with Ökowerk. Directly comparable member-supported conservation and education mission.
• Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald Berlin: German forest protection association active in Berlin with similar forest conservation, environmental education, and youth program offerings. Operates as a comparable non-profit member-supported organization focused on urban forest education and conservation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=DXz495t8Zt4
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/%C3%B6kowerk-berlin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Ökowerk Berlin