19th EUROPEN FOREST PEDAGOGICS CONGRESS
Visegrád, Hungary, 7th - 10th October 2025
Forest pedagogy: a means of education for (offline) life
This is the motto of the 19th European Forest Pedagogic Congress. It will take place in Visegrád, in Hungary and will be hosted by Hungarian Forestry Association in partnership with Ministry of Agriculture.
Today's children spend most of their free time in the online world. They need to be moved out of this fast-changing world that is entertaining at every minute but usually does little for their knowledge and spiritual development. Forest pedagogy can be a tool to help them learn about the (offline) world, expand their social relationships and develop their personality.
Can the offline world be interesting for children growing up in the online world?
What can they learn about themselves with the help of the forest and forest pedagogy?
What can we teach them about society and relationships through the example of the forest?
Our conference will be held in the Danube Bend, in the Visegrád Mountains. The town of Visegrád has an important historical role in Hungary, its castle was once a royal seat. The castle and palace are now popular tourist destinations. Our accommodation will be at the Silvanus Hotel near the castle.
During the program, we will visit the first forestry school in our country (founded in 1988), the Madas László Forest School. It was named after the forest engineer who played an important role in its founding, the late CEO of the local forestry company. The main building was designed by Imre Makovecz, who was an important representative of organic architecture in Hungary.
Madas László Forest School
7.10.2025 Arrival, hotel rooms are available from 3 p.m. We will organize a short excursion to the surrounding forests from 1 p.m. Transfer is available from Budapest upon request for FOC.
8.10.2025 Opening and presentations are in the morning, then visit to László Madas Forestry School in the afternoon, where short workshops will take place after the presentation of the school. Evening cultural program.
9.10.2025 Workshops and discussions in the morning, afternoon excursion to Visegrád Castle. This program is also included in the registration fee. In the late afternoon, we will hold the market of activities, where we are happy to welcome all conference participants to present their own ideas, works, and developed tools. Evening cultural program.
10.10.2025 Closing event of the conference during the morning, then an optional Budapest sightseeing tour. This program is not included in the registration fee. It requires a minimum number of people. Also, transportation of those leaving by public transport to the appropriate locations.
The registration fee is 450 Euro, which includes the following services: accommodation, meals (3 main courses, coffee breaks), programs (except the Budapest tour) and the transfer from Budapest and back.
What is not included? Hotel's wellness services, Budapest sightseeing tour, cost of travelling to Budapest from origin place and back.
Registration form link (Activity market and workshop registration can be indicated on the registration form)
Cancel the of registration is possible until 1st september via the following email address: timea.racz81@gmail.com We are able to refund 400 Euro until this date.
Please pay the registration fee to the following account number until 30.06.2025:
Account name: Országos Erdészeti Egyesület
IBAN: HU 23 1020 0830 3231 0126 0000 0000
SWIFT/BIC code: OKHBHUHB
Notice: EFPC/participant's name
We are looking for workshop activities on 3 topics.
1. How to guide children into the offline world? What useful digital tools can be used to get them interested in the offline world? Is developing digital tools a good way?
This is a topic for debate. We are looking for digital tools to get children interested in nature. Whether they are for outdoor tools or for indoor activities.
We are also looking for workshop topics that give ideas for breaking away from digital dependency without digital devices.
2. By taking children offline, you can teachthem many more skills than just basic nature knowledge through forest education games and activities. In the process, they will gain unseen experience of themselves and their community.
We are looking for games in this theme that develop self-awareness or community- building as well as information about nature.
3. In this theme, we are looking for games and good practices that demonstrate the complexity of the forest as a community of life. We try to find a parallels to these complex relationships and actions through social examples. Here we emphasize the issue of sustainability. Sustainable processes are emphasized both in terms of forest functioning and of society functioning.
Applicants must complete the following document in relation to their proposed topic.
Hotel Silvanus, double rooms
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Hotel Silvanus
GPS: 47.79339603304817, 18.985515925549638
From Budapest on road 11, from Slovakia on the Sturovo-Esztergom bridge and also on road 11
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If you need airport/train station transfer, you can indicate it on the registration form.
Planned Key Dates to Remember:
15 April – Registration for the Congress opens;
15 May – deadline for registration of participants;
15 Jun – deadline for sending a brief description of the workshop activities;
30 Jun – deadline for payment of the Congress participation fee;
Tel.: +3630-439-5244
E-mail: timea.racz81@gmail.com
