Schullandheim

What Schullandheim does

Schullandheimwerk Unterfranken e.V. (SWU) is a registered nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1972 in Schweinfurt, Germany, that operates a regional network of seven themed school youth homes (Schullandheime) across Unterfranken, Bavaria. The organisation serves Bavarian primary and secondary schools by providing multi-day, curriculum-aligned experiential learning stays, with each facility specialising in a distinct pedagogical theme: environmental education and team-building at Hobbach, geography and water science at Bauersberg, theatre and values education at Leinach, cycling and sports at Rappershausen, forest education at Reichmannshausen, music and arts at Schwanberg, and energy/lifestyle education at the Thüringer Hütte. The core offering is overnight accommodation bundled with structured educational modules — Wasserschule Unterfranken, TeamPark, TeamTime team-building, mehrWERT Demokratie civic education, and the Wertebotschafter values-ambassador programme — rather than any technology product, app, or digital platform. Hobbach and Bauersberg are operated through a wholly-owned nonprofit subsidiary (Schullandheim Hobbach-Bauersberg gGmbH, formed in 2019), while the other five houses are run by external trustees (Landkreise, church organisations, or VARIADO eG); SWU itself is volunteer-led by teachers.

SWU's revenue is hybrid and modest: an annual in-school collection across Unterfranken (EUR 60,500 raised in 2018) is the primary fundraising mechanism, with 10% of each school's collection result credited as a voucher against future stays. This is supplemented by accommodation and programme fees at the two directly-operated houses, government subsidies from the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labour and Social Affairs (matching the association's own fundraising), an annual EUR 2,600 donation from Bezirk Unterfranken, and broader donations including via betterplace.org. Go-to-market is community-led: experienced teachers serve as contact persons in every Schulamtsbezirk across Unterfranken, providing peer advisory; the Regierungspräsident of Unterfranken serves as Schirmherr (patron); and annual Info-Briefe are distributed to every school in the region. The technology stack is minimal (a WordPress website, basic email, and a Sparkasse-hosted donation account), and there are no proprietary algorithms, AI components, or commercial software products. The organisation's principal asset is 50+ years of accumulated pedagogical content, the institutional infrastructure connecting teachers, schools, and Bavarian authorities, and the brand trust reflected in the 9,000+ signature petition that preserved Bauersberg in 2023.

Name

Schullandheim

Legal name

Schullandheimwerk Unterfranken e. V.

Website

https://swu-homepage.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Schullandheimwerk Unterfranken e.V. (SWU) is a nonprofit association founded in 1972 that operates a network of seven themed school youth homes (Schullandheime) across Unterfranken, Bavaria, providing curriculum-aligned multi-day experiential education stays for the region's primary and secondary schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor & Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

University Dorms & Affiliated Summer Housing (THAMAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Education, Programming & Community Development (EDALACAC), Student/Academic Serviced Residences (THAGAEAF), Short-Term Student Housing (Summer/Intensive Programs) (EDAIALAF)

Keywords

• School youth homes
• Outdoor education programs
• Environmental education stays
• Experiential school trips
• Teacher-led pedagogy

Headquarters

HQ city

Eschau-Hobbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual School Collection (Jährliche Schulsammlung): The primary financial foundation of the SWU is an annual collection conducted at schools across Unterfranken (November). Collected funds are used for renovations, repairs, equipment upgrades, and to keep stays affordable for school classes. 10% of a school's collection yield is credited as a voucher toward the school's Schullandheim stay.
2. State and Municipal Subsidies: The organization receives government subsidies from the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labour and Social Affairs, and from the Bezirk Unterfranken (2,600 EUR per year). State funding is tied to the organization's own fundraising (collection results), creating a matching mechanism.
3. Stay Fees and Accommodation Revenue: Revenue from school class stays at Schullandheime in Hobbach and Bauersberg, which are operated via the subsidiary Schullandheim Hobbach-Bauersberg gGmbH. Accommodation and programme fees are charged for multi-day educational stays.
4. Donations: The organization accepts donations via bank transfer and the betterplace.org platform. A crowdfunding project titled 'Bildung.Erlebnis.Gemeinschaft im Schullandheim' is listed on the betterplace.org platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SWU coordinates a network of 7 themed Schullandheime (school youth homes) across Unterfranken, Bavaria, providing multi-day curriculum-aligned residential educational stays for school classes (primary and secondary). Each house has a distinct thematic specialisation — environmental education, geography/geology, water science, team-building, theatre, values education, cycling/sports — supported by on-site pedagogical staff, modular educational programmes (Modulangebote), and full-board accommodation. Revenue comes from stay fees, an annual school collection, donations, and state and municipal subsidies.

Product overview

Schullandheimwerk Unterfranken e.V. (SWU) is a non-profit association operating a network of 7 school hostels across Lower Franconia, Bavaria, offering multi-day educational stays for school classes. The organization functions as a platform-plus-modules architecture: the core offering is overnight accommodation in themed school hostels, supplemented by a diverse portfolio of educational modules aligned with Bavarian curriculum standards. The individual Schullandheime (Hobbach, Bauersberg, Leinach, Rappershausen, Reichmannshausen, Schwanberg, Thüringer Hütte) each have distinct thematic specializations including environmental education (Umweltzentrum), geography/geology, water science, team-building (TeamPark), theater, cycling/sports, and democracy education. Supporting modules include the Wasserschule (Water School), TeamTime team-building programs, mehrWERT Demokratie democracy education, and Wertebotschafter values ambassador training. Hobbach and Bauersberg are operated by the subsidiary Schullandheim Hobbach-Bauersberg gGmbH, while other facilities are operated by external trustees. The association supports these facilities through teacher advisory networks, annual school collections for fundraising, and professional development symposia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TeamPark: Adventure education facility in Hobbach featuring low and high rope courses, climbing, and team-building exercises
• Wasserschule Unterfranken
• BNE-Umweltstation Wasser + Erde
• Rhöniversum

Products and services

• Schullandheim Hobbach
• Schullandheim Bauersberg (BNE-Umweltstation Wasser + Erde)
• Schullandheim Leinach (Jugendhaus Leinach)
• Schullandheim Rappershausen
• Schullandheim Reichmannshausen (Karl-Beck-Haus)
• Jugendhof Schwanberg (Schullandheim)
• Schullandheim Thüringer Hütte (VARIADO)
• Wasserschule Unterfranken (Water School)
• TeamPark Hobbach
• Werte machen Schule / Wertebotschafter
• mehrWERT Demokratie
• Schullandheimsymposien (Symposia Series)

Quantifiable outcome

• 23 professional symposia held, continuously updating pedagogical methods
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Bayerisches Schullandheimwerk (BSHW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSHW is the Dachverband (umbrella association) for all Bavarian Schullandheime. SWU is a member. BSHW supports regional associations in securing state funding, maintains quality seal criteria (Gütesiegel), initiates model projects, and organises the annual school collection in Bavaria. BSHW is headquartered in Röthenbach a.d. Pegnitz, led by Landesvorsitzender Hubert Götz and Geschäftsführer Dr. Jürgen Stammberger. The SWU's logo displays the BSHW 'Mitglied' badge.
• Bayerische Akademie für Schullandheimpädagogik (BASP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBASP (Bavarian Academy for Schullandheim Pedagogy), founded in 1983 in Röthenbach a.d. Pegnitz, develops and supports the scientific and pedagogical basis of Schullandheim work in Bavaria. It is a key institution for teacher training and methodological development that SWU draws upon for its symposia and module development.
• Regierung von Unterfranken (Government of Unterfranken)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe regional government of Unterfranken coordinates service discussions and training for teacher contact persons. The Regierungspräsident (currently Dr. Eugen Ehmann, and previously Dr. Paul Beinhofer) has traditionally served as SWU's Schirmherr (patron). The government also supports through the Aktion Grundwasserschutz (Groundwater Protection Initiative) which co-founded the Wasserschule Unterfranken with SWU.
• Sparkasse Bad Neustadt a.d. SaaleflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn December 2023, Sparkasse Bad Neustadt a.d. Saale purchased the Schullandheim Bauersberg property from the Stadt Schweinfurt, preventing the closure of the facility. CEO Georg Straub and Landrat Habermann facilitated the acquisition. Together with Landkreis Rhön-Grabfeld and Stadt Bischofsheim, they are developing a long-term concept for the facility's future. This partnership was critical to the survival of the Bauersberg.
• Landkreis Rhön-GrabfeldflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandkreis Rhön-Grabfeld worked with Sparkasse Bad Neustadt and Stadt Bischofsheim to find a solution for the continuation of Schullandheim Bauersberg after the Stadt Schweinfurt withdrew from sponsorship. Landrat Thomas Habermann led the coordination effort.
• variado eG (ErL Lebenswerkstatt)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerVariado eG is a nonprofit cooperative that took over operation of Schullandheim Thüringer Hütte after the Diocese of Würzburg closed it. Variado focuses on Mensch, Natur, Technik (Human, Nature, Technology) education. On 20 March 2023, the SWU's board unanimously approved Variado eG's membership in the SWU. The Thüringer Hütte joined the Rhöniversum partnership alongside Bauersberg and Umweltbildungsstätte Oberelsbach.
• Umweltbildungsstätte OberelsbachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Umweltbildungsstätte Oberelsbach, together with Schullandheim Bauersberg and Thüringer Hütte, forms the 'Rhöniversum' — a UNESCO-recognised educational project with outstanding significance. All three facilities hold the Qualitätssiegel Umweltbildung Bayern.
• Stiftung für Mensch und Umwelt (Germany summt!)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation runs the 'Bayern summt!' initiative (part of Deutschland summt!) to promote wild bee conservation. The SWU hosted a travelling exhibition 'Wildbienen' (Wild Bees) at the Roland-Eller-Umweltzentrum in Hobbach (Oct-Nov 2020).
• Institut für Medienpädagogik in Forschung und Praxis (JFF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJFF co-runs the 'Werte machen Schule' initiative alongside Akademie für Philosophische Bildung und WerteDialog and Zentrum für Ethik der Medien und der Digitalen Gesellschaft (zem::dg). This programme trained 28 students from Unterfranken schools as Wertebotschafter (Values Ambassadors) at Schullandheim Leinach in January 2020.
• Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (Lehrstuhl für Didaktik der Geographie)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 1995, the SWU established the Studienhaus Geographie (Geography Studies House) at Bauersberg in close cooperation with the Chair of Geography Didactics at JMU Würzburg. This academic partnership lends scientific credibility to the Bauersberg's geography and geology programme.
• Aktion Grundwasserschutz der Regierung von UnterfrankencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThis government groundwater protection initiative co-founded the Wasserschule Unterfranken with the SWU, first opened in Hobbach in 2001 and then at Bauersberg in 2008. The programme sensitises children and youth to water as a resource through projects, experiments, and research assignments.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rhöniversum / Umweltbildungsstätte Oberelsbach: Partner environmental education station in the Rhön UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that co-operates with Schullandheim Bauersberg and Thüringer Hütte under the Rhöniversum partnership — comparable BNE-certified facility serving similar school environmental-education programmes.
• Outward Bound Deutschland: German branch of Outward Bound offering experiential education programmes for school classes with team-building and outdoor elements — directly overlapping with SWU's TeamPark, TeamTime, and social-competence programming for school groups.
• Schullandheimwerk Oberbayern: Regional Schullandheim association covering Upper Bavaria under the same BSHW umbrella. Operates the same teacher-led model coordinating a network of school youth homes with thematic specialisations — the most structurally comparable peer to SWU at regional level.

Others

• Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Schullandheim (BAG): Federal working group of German Schullandheim associations, comparable to SWU at national level. Coordinates cross-state advocacy, methodology exchange, and quality standards for the Schullandheim movement — adjacent enabling organisation rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk (DJH): Germany's national youth hostel association operating 500+ hostels. While DJH serves a broader audience (youth groups, families, schools), it competes for the same school-trip accommodation budget and overlaps on experiential youth travel; differs by commercial (vs. association) governance.
• Bayerisches Schullandheimwerk (BSHW): Umbrella association of all Bavarian Schullandheime, of which SWU is a member. BSHW sets the quality seal criteria, organises state-level advocacy, and channels funding — a broader incumbent providing governance, accreditation, and lobbying services comparable to what SWU provides regionally.

Emerging players

• Naturfreundejugend Deutschlands: Youth arm of NaturFreunde Deutschland running nature and environmental education programmes including residential youth hostels. Overlaps with SWU's Wasserschule, Umweltzentrum Hobbach, and BNE environmental offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/klosterschwanberg
• Instagraminstagram.com/variado.erleben
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schullandheim

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Schullandheim