Educational leave at the Waldakademie
Educational leave in the forest – further education with nature experience
Want to gain forest knowledge, spend time in nature with like-minded people, and make a positive contribution to protecting our forests – all while you're working? Educational leave gives you additional time to learn about nature and nature while continuing to receive your salary.
What is educational leave?
In most German states, educational leave is a legally enshrined right to paid leave for professional development . In addition to regular vacation, employees are entitled to five days per year or ten days of educational leave every two years . Your employer continues to pay your salary during this time; you only have to cover the course costs yourself. The training does not necessarily have to be job-related.
Who is entitled to educational leave?
As a rule, all employees, regardless of whether they are full-time or part-time, have a mini-job, work from home, or work from home, are entitled to educational leave, provided they work in a federal state that offers educational leave. The regulations for trainees vary from state to state. Company size can also lead to different regulations between states. Civil servants are not entitled to educational leave. In some federal states, however, it is possible to apply for recognition under civil service law .
Which Forest Academy events are recognized for educational leave?
Depending on the federal state, the forest guide training, the forest week, and the one-week intensive forest management seminar are recognized as educational leave . All other events are too short to qualify for educational leave.
The decisive factor for the application is the place where you work , not your place of residence.
Educational leave is not offered in Bavaria and Saxony , and unfortunately, we are currently unable to offer it (yet) in North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg. However, we have found that employers have been accommodating and have approved educational leave despite the lack of recognition.
Recognition in:
✅ Berlin*, ✅ Brandenburg, ✅ Hamburg*, ✅ Hesse, ✅ Lower Saxony, ✅ Rhineland-Palatinate, ✅ Saarland, ✅ Saxony-Anhalt, ✅ Schleswig-Holstein, ✅ Thuringia
* In Berlin & Hamburg the training is only recognized for employees who explicitly need it for their job .
Learn more about the trainingRecognition in: ✅ Berlin*, ✅ Brandenburg, ✅ Hesse, ✅ Lower Saxony, ✅ Rhineland-Palatinate, ✅ Saarland and ✅ Thuringia.
* In Berlin, the training is only recognized for employees who explicitly need it for their job .
Learn more about Forest WeekRecognition in: ✅ Brandenburg, ✅ Hesse, ✅ Lower Saxony, ✅ Rhineland-Palatinate, ✅ Saarland and ✅ Thuringia.
Recognition in other federal states will be applied for upon request.
Learn more about the seminarThis is how it works
How can I apply for educational leave?
Educational leave is regulated by the laws of the federal states, and these laws vary from state to state. The requirements for the recognition of events, the duration of seminars, and the group of eligible individuals vary. For example, in small businesses, the entitlement to educational leave is often limited. We therefore recommend that you first check the requirements for your educational leave. You can find the relevant laws on your state's website.
If all requirements are met, you are welcome to talk to your employer and agree on whether and when you can apply for educational leave and then register for your desired course.
The request for leave of absence must be submitted to your employer in writing – at least four to ten weeks before the start of the event, depending on the federal state. To submit the application, you will need the state's approval, confirmation of the event registration, and the schedule. We will be happy to provide this information.
After successful participation, you will also receive a confirmation of your participation from us, which you must present to your employer.
Register now and enjoy your educational holiday in the Eifel
Conclusion on educational leave
Educational leave is a great opportunity for employees to continue their education during their working hours while also spending time outdoors and in the forest. While it may require some time to research the regulations that apply to you beforehand, and we can't completely do this for you due to the numerous factors involved, it's definitely worth the effort, and we're happy to provide you with advice and support at any time . Just contact us!