With the start of the 2026/27 school year, the Audi Environmental Foundation, together with the Felix Neureuther Foundation, is bringing a successful environmental protection project to Ingolstadt and the region: Under the motto "Nature Heroes Ingolstadt. Kids against waste in nature – small hands, big impact" - it enables up to 15 schools in the greater Ingolstadt area to participate in the nationwide "Nature Heroes" program free of charge. 

The project was launched by the Felix Neureuther Foundation and started in September 2024 as part of the "Healthy Earth. Healthy Children." by Christian and Felix Neureuther. The idea behind it is as simple as it is effective: children should be sensitized to environmental problems at an early age and inspired by the connections between a clean environment and their own health. The content is based on the UNESCO campaign "Education for Sustainable Development". A look at the whole of Germany shows that this concept is working. Around 500 schools have already taken part in "Nature Heroes" since the start of the project. 

With its commitment to "Nature Heroes Ingolstadt", the Audi Environmental Foundation is now setting a regional focus. The aim is to show pupils concrete possibilities for action and to enable them to take responsibility for their environment themselves. The third and fourth grades of primary and special schools as well as the fifth and sixth grades of lower secondary and middle schools are addressed. 

A particular advantage of the program is its low-threshold nature. Participation is free of charge for the schools, no special prior knowledge of the teachers is required. The content can be used flexibly and can be integrated into everyday school life without much effort – whether in regular lessons, during project weeks or as part of environmental clubs. 

The experience that their commitment has a direct impact should contribute to firmly anchoring environmental and climate protection in children's everyday lives in the long term  

At the end of the project, the participating schools will have all the necessary resources to continue environmental and climate protection issues independently and sustainably. The aim is to ensure that nature and environmental protection are not seen as a short-term project but remain a permanent part of life – and thus have an impact on the families and the children's environment beyond the classroom. 

The start of the project for "Naturhelden Ingolstadt" is scheduled for September 2026. Schools from the Ingolstadt area can apply online to participate.