15 Years of Daycare: From the Botanical Garden to the Children’s Hearts

Green is the color of the building, and green is the philosophy: For 15 years, Königshügel daycare center run by Studierendenwerk Aachen has stood on the grounds of the former botanical garden, which RWTH Aachen University made available at the time for the new building. Anyone walking through the sprawling garden today immediately understands why a connection to nature here isn’t just a concept on paper, but part of everyday life at the daycare center.

The anniversary was celebrated five years late—but all the more lavishly for it. Originally, the ten-year anniversary was to be celebrated in 2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in all the plans. “Then the celebration was supposed to be rescheduled as a ‘Rhenish anniversary’ in 2022, which unfortunately didn’t work out either,” recalled center director Yvonne Grossmann. “That makes it all the more wonderful that we’re all here today and can celebrate our beautiful, green daycare center as it deserves.”

A Day for the Kids
The weather was perfect for the guests. Stalls offering can toss games and large-scale painting activities were scattered throughout the grounds, where the children could try their hand at them to their heart’s content. The undisputed highlight, however, was located next to the building: a large train that brought beaming smiles to faces with countless laps and likely didn’t let some children leave until they were persuaded to do so several times.

Numerous parents and children had come—both current and former. Among the guests was a girl who had been one of the daycare center’s very first children and who was now, as a young woman, strolling through the garden of her childhood.

Thanks to the Team
Yvonne Grossmann looked back with pride on the past 15 years. She made a point of personally thanking every teacher and expressing her individual appreciation—a moment that is likely to remain in many people’s memories. “It’s a combination of many factors that makes Königshügel what it is today,” she said. “In particular, a team that gives 110 percent every day. Without this team, no child would fill these rooms with life and laughter, and no parent would drop off their child at the daycare in the morning with peace of mind.”

Congratulations from the Operating Organization and Parents
Carmen Reiß-Frings, Head of the Social Services and Daycare Centers Department at Studierendenwerk, has known the daycare center since its inception and was visibly delighted by its remarkable growth: “I’ve seen how a new building has grown into a thriving community. The fact that former children are coming back today to join in the celebration says more about the quality of this work than any report ever could.”

The Parents’ Council also expressed words of thanks to the center. “Our children come home happy—as parents, we could hardly ask for more,” said Sabine Tekampe of the Parents’ Council. What makes the partnership particularly strong, she noted, is the trust in the team. They know that the children are well cared for here.

A Place with a Future
By the end of the day, the train was empty, the art stations were filled with drawings, and the garden was enriched with a few more memories. “The way the children move about here so comfortably, the way the parents get involved in everyday life and especially during festivals and celebrations, and the way the team goes all out to put together such a great celebration as today—that shows me that we’re all doing a great job and that it really only works when we do it together,” said a delighted Yvonne Grossmann. “I’m looking forward to the next 15 years and the next big celebration at Königshügel!”