Portrait Stiftung SILVIVA

SILVIVA is the Swiss-wide competence center for learning with nature. Using nature-based environmental education and its methods, we support our clients in deepening their knowledge of and relationship with nature.

Our offers include the certificate course (CAS) in nature-based environmental education, the SVEB module Environmental Adult Educator with SVEB certificate Instructor - Implementation of learning events, various continuing education, further training with and in nature, as well as various conferences. The focus is on experiences in nature and action-oriented nature experiences. In this way, we help to raise awareness of sustainable development among children, young people, adults and professionals.

CAS Nature-based Environmental Education

With the certificate course (CAS) in nature-based environmental education, you will acquire skills to promote a deeper relationship between people and nature. The course content is taught "outdoors" whenever possible, which is unique in Switzerland. Participants apply many methods of nature-based environmental education themselves, thereby consolidating their skills. Using nature as a place of learning, we impart practical and theoretical knowledge about nature-related events for children, young people and adults.

Graduates of the course work, for example, as forest playgroup leaders, museum educators, forest educators or independently offer events at an extracurricular place of learning.

Our goal - your skills

• They are able to plan, carry out and evaluate events in nature in line with the target group.
• They can initiate and support processes for sustainable action.
• You can lead groups in nature in a professional and socially competent manner.
• You will expand your leadership skills and find your own style as a nature educator.
• You deepen your relationship with nature and accompany people as they explore their relationship with nature.
• You will expand your specialist knowledge of nature and have methodological and didactic skills for imparting knowledge of nature.

What will you learn on this course?
The CAS Nature-based Environmental Education (CAS NUB) is a didactic continuing education, further training course.

Our training motto is: experience - recognize - instruct.

You will learn how to work with different groups in different environments in a way that promotes learning. You will get to know various practical activities and methods through trial and error: from meditative activities and research methods to working in nature.

Experienced course instructors from the fields of environmental education, forestry, natural sciences, education and adult education guarantee professionally sound continuing education, further training.
This enables participants to engage intensively with the various subject areas.

The language used in class and for the documents is German.
The courses of the French-language CAS Education à l'environnement par la nature are recognized.

The path to the CAS Nature-based Environmental Education
You can start at any time and with almost any course. You can attend individual courses without committing to the entire CAS NUB. And you can determine the order of the courses yourself.

An exception to this is the integration course, which you can only attend if you have been admitted to the CAS and have successfully completed all other courses.

Who is the certificate course aimed at?
We welcome people who are at the very beginning of their journey in environmental education as well as experienced environmental educators who are looking for new input.

Teachers
Are you a teacher or kindergarten teacher? Then you are one of the main target groups of the CAS Nature-based Environmental Education. SILVIVA wants to help ensure that more children and more classes go out into nature on a regular basis.
As a teacher, you may also be interested in our other projects: Forester's World or Nature Classroom.
We look forward to your registration!

Foresters and forest wardens
SILVIVA is committed toin that not only the general understanding of nature grows, but also the understanding of the forestry sector. There is the opportunity to delve deeper into the topic in the CAS Nature-based Environmental Education.
You are very welcome to join the course!

Natural scientist
You have studiedor deepened your specialist knowledge on the job, are enthusiastic about nature topics and want to know how you can better communicate this enthusiasm? Then you've come to the right place!

"Career changer"
Have you learned another profession or studied something else?
Admission sur dossier is possible in most cases - often with the requirement of practical hours to be completed in the field of nature education before the end of the course. We look forward to receiving your application!

CAS approval

Direct approval
Anyone with a degree from a university, University of Teacher Education, University of Applied Sciences or an equivalent qualification can be accepted onto the "Nature-based Environmental Education" certificate course.

Admission professional equivalence
Anyone with continuing education and training / tertiary level and at least three years of professional experience - preferably in the field of forestry and/or biology - can also be admitted to the CAS after their application documents have been reviewed by the program director.

Admission "sur dossier" for lateral entrants
The equivalence of comparable training and / or professional experience, and consequently admission to the certificate course, is determined by the course management on the basis of submitted application documents and, if necessary, by a personal interview.
The admission interview with the applicant is reviewed.

Duration
approx. 30 attendance days within 2 to a maximum of 4 years

Costs
The entire CAS course (6 courses) costs CHF 9,720. The price includes course materials, meals and accommodation, tuition and examination costs as well as the certificate. Travel costs and literature are at the expense of the participants.

SVEB certificate course on environmental education and ESD

Would you like to teach adults about environmental issues and aspects of sustainable development in an action- and impact-oriented way?

In the SVEB certificate course in environmental adult education, you will learn how to plan, implement and evaluate learning events in the areas of the environment, sustainable development or cleantech with adults with more confidence, learning-promoting methods and creativity, while at the same time consolidating your communication and moderation skills. Various concepts from environmental education (EE) and education for sustainable development (ESD) and practical didactic models are presented, tried out and reflected upon.

The certificate course corresponds to Module 1 "Conducting learning events with adults" of the Swiss Association for Continuing Education, Further Training (SVEB) and is completed with the SVEB certificate. This is the basic qualification in adult education recognized throughout Switzerland and is considered a partial qualification for the Swiss Federal VET Instructor Certificate.

Training objectives
Graduates of the certificate course acquire the qualification to enable adults to work competently for the environment and sustainable development:

• They delve into the didactic principles of adult-specific teaching and learning and adapt learning objectives and content to a given time frame, target group and educational mission.
• They know the basics of environmental education (EE) and the key competencies of education for sustainable development (ESD) and can use and promote these in their lessons in a targeted manner
• They plan educational events on environmental topics and sustainable development, conduct them competently and in an action- and impact-oriented manner and can adapt and justify their choice of methods to different learning venues.
• They evaluate their learning units and reflect on their behavior as lecturers.

Target audience
People related to the environment, nature conservation, sustainable development or cleantech who want to develop or improve their skills in adult education and facilitation and obtain a recognized qualification in adult education with the SVEB certificate, e.g:

• Professionals from environmental offices and administration
• Project managers and volunteers from NPOs
• Environmental scientists with teaching activities
• Environmental educators looking for new impulses
• Professionals from green professions such as foresters or farmers
• People who lead internal continuing education, further training
• Moderators of processes in sustainable regional development

Prerequisites
Specialist knowledge (studies, vocational training) or experience in the environmental sector

Duration
The course takes place in 7 modules of 1.5-3 days each (total 16 days)

Certificates
You can obtain the course certificate as an environmental adult educator from:

• at least 80% attendance during the course
• Completion of the various performance certificates
• Providing proof of competence

To obtain the SVEB certificate, the following proof must be provided in addition to the course certificate:

• 150 hours of practice in adult education for at least two years.

The practice can also be completed after the course has finished.

Course costs
CHF 4,900 including course materials and examination fees.
Additional costs of max. CHF 100 for external accommodation and meals (outdoor module) and CHF 90 registration fee for the SVEB certificate.

Price reduction
Early booking discount: Fr. 200.-
5 % for members of the SILVIVA ALumni Association, ffu-pee or svu-asep and residents of the Canton of Bern (resident in the canton for at least 1 year)