Tree planting challenge: Seniors and daycare centers plant apple trees with fun!

Tree planting challenge: Seniors and daycare centers plant apple trees with fun!

On September 16, 2025, an exciting tree planting challenge took place at the Kursana Domizil Rastow, in which not only residents but also the nursing staff took part with joy. The local team competed against the daycare center “De Lütten Swölken” and set itself the goal of planting a tree within a week. This idea, which originated in the fire brigade, has now spread nationwide and is being adopted by many clubs and companies. The aim of the campaign is to playfully combine climate protection and sustainability, and the Rastow team achieved this brilliantly. [Nordkurier].

The special thing about this challenge was the use of a care lift, which is normally used to transfer residents to properly plant the newly planted apple tree in the ground. The nursing specialist Simone Werner thought of a special way to have fun and checked the tree's “vital signs” with a blood pressure monitor. Meanwhile, the head of social care, Sibylle Velten, reported on the cheerfulness and fun that the campaign brought with it. If the challenger - in this case the daycare center - does not meet the deadline, traditionally they have to be invited to a shared meal.

The origin and the goal

The tree planting challenge has established itself in many cities and communities as a creative way to raise awareness of climate protection. Firefighters in Germany show how to not only plant trees, but also promote camaraderie. Feuerwehrmagazin describes the experiences of many fire brigade teams, who often post videos of their planting campaigns and thus inspire others. The rules are flexible because the deadlines vary depending on the region. While some teams get seven days, others only have 48 hours to plant their trees. Teamwork works best when everyone keeps their word and reflects the joy of what they do in the community.

The beginnings of this campaign are closely linked to the youth fire department and represent a kind of modern community project. Social media plays a central role in the dissemination of these initiatives. More and more organizations are taking part in the activities, with the core values ​​of team building and environmental awareness at the core.

Nonprofit organizations and their role

At the same time, numerous non-profit organizations around the world are committed to planting trees. A Yale University study revealed that around 1.4 billion trees have been planted by various organizations since 1961. Planting Hope shows that over 78% of these organizations are not-for-profit and focus on reforestation and forest protection. Thanks to such initiatives, not only is awareness of environmental protection raised, but also community support.

The synergies between volunteer work and professional work are essential. Organizations carry out projects together with volunteers and local communities, which makes them not only sustainable but also effective. Such creative actions are needed in our cities to make everyone aware of nature and to take practical measures for a healthy environment.