Sint-Pietersinstitute: Europe’s First School with ArbNet Level 1 Accreditation
Turning the playground into an interactive classroom with Plantsoon
"Achieving ArbNet accreditation would have been impossible without Plantsoon. Their digital mapping and interactive labels allowed us to fully document every plant and turn our playground into a living classroom."
The Sint-Pietersinstituut in Turnhout has made history as the first school in Europe to achieve a Level 1 accreditation from ArbNet, the international network of arboreta. This milestone places the school alongside prestigious botanical gardens in Belgium, including Ghent University, Arboretum Wespelaar, and Arboretum Kalmthout. “This is the result of years of dedication by teachers, students, and our entire team to transform our playground into a green and educational space,” says Willem Janssens, Principal.
See how the Sint-Pietersinstituut brings its playground to life: https://experience.plantsoon.com/visit/sintpietersinstituut
A Playground That Teaches
To earn ArbNet accreditation, the school needed a digital record of all its plants. Plantsoon provided the perfect solution, turning the playground into an interactive learning space.
Using Plantsoon M-labels, students can guess the name of a plant before scanning the discreet QR code to check their answer. The small, durable, and weatherproof tags fit seamlessly into the school environment, creating an engaging way to explore biodiversity.
Practical Benefits for Schools
Plantsoon makes it easy for teachers to use the playground as a living classroom. Students can discover plant facts, learn through exploration, and interact with nature directly. At the same time, schools gain a complete digital overview of their greenery, easy to maintain and update. The combination of hands-on learning and digital management adds real educational value while supporting environmental awareness.
For schools looking to begin their ArbNet journey, Plantsoon also offers an ArbNet Accreditation Starter Package, which provides a low-entry path to accreditation. Learn more here: ArbNet Accreditation Starter Package
hello@plantsoon.com