Wohllebens Waldakademie

What Wohllebens Waldakademie does

Wohllebens Waldakademie GmbH & Co. KG is a private German educational institution specializing in forest and nature education, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Wershofen in the Eifel region of Rhineland-Palatinate. The company operates from a single campus adjacent to old-growth beech forest and delivers a broad curriculum ranging from certified professional training (Waldführer-Ausbildung at 2,295 EUR for a 10-day program; ecological forest management seminars) and educator certifications (Naturpädagogik, Waldpädagogik) to consumer experiences (forest walks, survival weekends, overnight stays, Juniorförster children's programs) and city tree tours in Köln, Bonn, and Dortmund. It serves individual nature enthusiasts, teachers and nature guides, families, corporate clients seeking sustainability consulting and team events, and private forest owners seeking ecological management advice.

The technology and platform layer is deliberately lean: course and event bookings run through a Shopify-based e-commerce storefront, a dedicated online learning platform (wald-lernen.de) delivers digital courses including the WaldBotschafter program, and the UrwaldProjekt.org site manages recurring forest-protection subscriptions and 50-year protected-area sponsorships. Consultation scheduling uses Calendly. The company does not employ proprietary AI/ML capabilities and has no mobile app, APIs, or disclosed integrations; the moat is content, brand, and certified curriculum rather than technology.

The business model combines transactional ticket sales for events and courses, recurring conservation subscriptions (Urwald Abo), one-time book and merchandise sales (including signed Peter Wohlleben titles), B2B corporate services, and since 2024 the on-campus Waldcafé Blattwerk café. AZAV certification from CERTQUA makes programs eligible for German public employment funding, and multiple offerings are recognized as Bildungsurlaub. Marketing is anchored by Peter Wohlleben's personal author brand and amplified through a blog, podcast ("Peter und der Wald"), YouTube channel, newsletter with a 10% subscriber discount, social media, and partnerships with Jack Wolfskin and Ecosia. The company has 7 employees and operates as a privately held, owner-managed GmbH & Co. KG with no disclosed external funding.

Name

Wohllebens Waldakademie

Legal name

Wohllebens Waldakademie GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://wohllebens-waldakademie.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wohllebens Waldakademie is a privately held German forest-education institute in the Eifel that delivers certified Waldführer training, nature-pedagogy courses, guided walks, and conservation subscriptions, serving individual nature enthusiasts, educators, families, corporate clients, and forest owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wershofen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Educational Seminars & Courses: Revenue from multi-day training programs (Waldführer-Ausbildung, Waldwoche), day workshops, and certified seminars. Offered both on-site in the Eifel and online.
2. Events & Experiences: Ticketed events including guided forest walks, family days, survival weekends, city tree tours, and events with Peter Wohlleben. Sold via the Shopify shop.
3. Product & Book Sales: Sale of books (signed copies by Peter Wohlleben), merchandise (Base Cap 'Waldakademie'), and gift vouchers through the online shop.
4. UrwaldProjekt Conservation Subscriptions & Forest Sales: Recurring subscriptions (Urwald Abo) and one-time purchases of protected forest parcels (Wildnisjuwel), Patenschaften (guardianship of forest plots), and corporate forest protection partnerships.
5. Corporate Services: Sustainability consulting, team events in the Eifel, meeting room rentals, and Christmas parties for corporate clients.
6. Waldcafé Blattwerk (Café Operations): Since 2024, the academy operates Waldcafé Blattwerk on its campus, serving waffles, cakes, coffee specialties, and handmade ice cream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Wohllebens Waldakademie is a private educational institution offering certified forest and nature education programs, including the 10-day Waldführer (Forest Guide) certification, multi-day Waldwoche seminars, themed workshops on ecological forest management and climate change, and nature pedagogy training for educators. The academy also operates guided forest walks led by bestselling author Peter Wohlleben, family and children's programs (Juniorförster), corporate sustainability consulting and team events, the online Wald-Lernen.de learning platform, and the UrwaldProjekt conservation subscription program that places old deciduous forests under long-term protection.

Product overview

Wohllebens Waldakademie is a leading private educational institution for forest and nature topics in Germany, operated by Wohllebens Waldakademie GmbH & Co. KG. The organization offers a diverse portfolio of educational products and services organized into several core categories: (1) Professional certifications including the 10-day Waldführer (Forest Guide) Ausbildung and ecological forest management seminars with certificates; (2) Nature education programs such as the 3-day Naturpädagogik seminar and the 4-day Juniorförster program for children; (3) Experiential events including multi-day forest weeks, survival weekends, overnight experiences under the open sky, and guided walks with Peter Wohlleben; (4) Urban offerings like city tree tours in Köln, Bonn, and Dortmund; (5) Online learning through wald-lernen.de platform with free and paid courses; (6) The UrwaldProjekt subscription for forest conservation with protected forest area sponsorships; (7) Corporate services including sustainability consulting, team events, and conference room rentals; (8) Ancillary services including the Waldcafé Blattwerk café and gift vouchers. The company is led by Managing Directors Johanna Wohlleben and Tobias Wohlleben.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UrwaldProjekt: Forest protection project to place old deciduous forests in Germany under protection. Offers sponsorships for protected areas for 50 years.
• Wald-Lernen.de
• WaldBotschafter
• Waldcafé Blattwerk

Products and services

• Ausbildung zum/zur Waldführer*in A 10-day intensive certification training program that certifies participants to lead forest tours and educational nature experiences. Covers forest ecology, group dynamics, communication strategies, and includes a practical component where participants design and conduct their own forest tour. Priced at EUR 2,295.
• Waldwoche An intensive 5-day forest experience week combining forest knowledge, nature connection, and practical exercises, resulting in a certificate upon completion. Priced at EUR 869 and recognized as Bildungsurlaub.
• Naturpädagogik im grünen Klassenzimmer (3-day) A 3-day intensive seminar for educators and pedagogical professionals to discover the forest as a living learning space, teaching forest pedagogy concepts and practical applications. Priced at EUR 359 and includes a certificate.
• Webinar – Waldpädagogik kompakt An online webinar providing compact training in forest pedagogy for educators and nature interpreters, delivered as an online certification course.
• Juniorförster 4-tägige Ausbildung A 4-day nature education program for children aged 7-10 years, teaching forest knowledge, wildlife awareness, and environmental responsibility. Priced at EUR 289 per child.
• Tages-Wanderung: Walderlebnistag mit Peter Wohlleben An inspiring full-day forest experience personally led by bestselling author and forester Peter Wohlleben.
• UrwaldProjekt Wanderung A guided tour through unique conservation areas managed by the UrwaldProjekt, providing background knowledge on biodiversity and climate protection.
• Urwald Abo A subscription program for supporting forest protection projects through the UrwaldProjekt, with subscribers receiving updates and benefits related to protected forest areas placed under long-term protection.
• Wanderung zum geheimen Leben der Bäume A guided forest walk providing insights into the hidden communication of trees. Priced at EUR 29 per person.
• Tages-Workshop: Wald im Klimawandel A professionally grounded single-day workshop addressing current challenges and solutions in forest conservation related to climate change. Priced at EUR 98 per person.
• Waldwende: Wie retten wir den Wald? (3-day) An in-depth 3-day seminar examining the causes of the forest crisis and real alternatives in forestry practices, leading to certification. Priced at EUR 349.
• Zweitägiges Intensiv-Seminar Waldbewirtschaftung A 2-day intensive seminar on sustainable forest management practices and ecological approaches to forestry. Priced at EUR 269.
• Intensivseminar: Ökologische Waldbewirtschaftung A comprehensive seminar on ecological forest management with certification upon completion. Priced at EUR 1,298.
• Die faszinierende Welt der Flechten und Moose in der Eifel A seminar exploring the biodiversity of lichens and mosses in the Eifel region with hands-on field experience. Priced at EUR 74 per person for a 4-hour session.
• Grüne Magie: Die unglaublichen Fähigkeiten der Pflanzen (3-day) A 3-day seminar exploring plant intelligence and the remarkable capabilities of plants, with certification. Priced at EUR 389.
• Survival-Wochenende A weekend survival experience in the forest for adventure seekers, including overnight outdoor elements.
• Eine Nacht unter freiem Himmel An overnight experience sleeping under the open sky in the forest, providing an immersive nature encounter.
• Stadtbäume Führungen (Köln, Bonn, Dortmund) Urban tree tours in German cities including Köln, Bonn, and Dortmund, led by knowledgeable guides to explore city tree ecosystems.
• Familien-Erlebnistag A guided family experience day in the Eifel forest for families with children, designed as a structured nature experience.
• Tagungsräume mieten (Meeting Room Rental) Conference and meeting room rentals at the Waldakademie in the Eifel region for corporate events and off-site meetings.
• Teamevents Team-building events in the forest, including custom corporate programs in the Eifel region for corporate groups.
• Nachhaltigkeitsberatung Consulting services for businesses on sustainability topics and reforestation projects related to forest conservation.
• Waldschutz für Unternehmen Corporate forest protection partnership program allowing companies to sponsor protected forest parcels via the UrwaldProjekt.
• Weihnachtsfeier in der Eifel A waffle-and-forest themed corporate Christmas party package hosted on the Wershofen campus.
• Geschenkgutschein Gift vouchers available for all events and courses, customizable via the online shop, allowing customers to gift Waldakademie experiences.
• Waldcafé Blattwerk A café operated on the Waldakademie campus since 2024, offering waffles, cakes, coffee specialties, handmade ice cream, and additional refreshments to seminar and event attendees.
• Wald-Lernen.de (Online-Kurse) An online learning platform offering courses on forest education, including a free course on engaging for forest protection and civic initiatives, plus the WaldBotschafter (Forest Ambassador) certification program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 456+ customer reviews with positive feedback highlighting expert knowledge, inspiring teaching, and high-quality learning atmosphere.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wald-WildniscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWald-Wildnis is a strategic partner aligned with forest protection and wilderness initiatives. Their logo appears prominently on the partners page, suggesting a collaborative relationship in the area of forest conservation and wilderness advocacy.
• Jack WolfskinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJack Wolfskin, a leading outdoor apparel brand, partners with the Waldakademie, appearing on the partners page. The collaboration likely involves joint marketing, co-branded content, or event sponsorship around outdoor and nature experiences.
• EcosiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosia, the eco-friendly search engine that plants trees, is listed as a partner. The partnership connects the Waldakademie's mission of forest protection with Ecosia's tree-planting initiative, potentially driving cross-promotion and shared audience.
• Waldcafé BlattwerkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaldcafé Blattwerk is an affiliated café operation on the Waldakademie campus, operated by the academy since 2024. It serves waffles, cakes, coffee, and handmade ice cream, providing a complementary hospitality experience for seminar and event attendees.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Akademie für Natur und Umwelt (e.g., Schleswig-Holstein / Niedersachsen): State-level publicly funded environmental academies offering certified nature-pedagogy and forest-management training. Directly comparable in Waldführer-style certification curricula, though regionally focused and publicly funded.
• Nationalpark Eifel: Public national park in the same Eifel region, offering ranger-led guided walks, forest-education programs, and family events at low or no cost. Closest geographic substitute for many of the Waldakademie's guided-walk and family offerings.

Emerging players

• Ecosia: Tree-planting search engine and existing Waldakademie partner; overlaps thematically on forest protection, citizen engagement, and consumer-facing sustainability action, and could expand into adjacent education/engagement offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Greenpeace Deutschland: Environmental advocacy organization running forest and nature education campaigns, events, and youth programs. Adjacent competitor for nature-conscious family and adult audiences and corporate sustainability engagement.
• Volkshochschulen (VHS): Germany's nationwide network of public adult education centers offering nature, forest, and sustainability courses, many eligible for Bildungsurlaub. Direct substitute for the Waldakademie's adult-education programs at lower price points.
• WWF Deutschland: Global conservation organization with a large German operation running forest-protection initiatives, youth programs, and corporate partnerships. Broader portfolio than the Waldakademie but competes for corporate sustainability budgets and family nature-experience demand.

Direct peers

• Outward Bound Germany: Outdoor and wilderness education provider running multi-day experiential programs, survival weekends, and certified outdoor-leader training in Germany. Comparable on field-based learning format, instructor-led certification programs, and team/corporate events.
• NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland): Germany's largest environmental NGO, offering nature and forest education programs, workshops, and certified courses nationwide. Directly comparable as a nature-education provider with parallel certification-style programs, guided walks, and family activities.
• BUND für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland: Major German environmental NGO operating nature-education centers, forest events, and accredited training for nature guides. Overlaps with Wohllebens Waldakademie on forest pedagogy courses, conservation programming, and family forest events.

Others

• Jack Wolfskin: Major German outdoor apparel brand and listed Waldakademie partner. Comparable audience overlap in outdoor enthusiasts and families seeking nature experiences; co-marketing partner for events and merchandising.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@waldakademie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waldakademie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Wohllebens Waldakademie