Raised in Widdersdorf – a place for curiosity, community and trust
Our Kita in Cologne-Widdersdorf is located in the residential area of Widdersdorf-Süd – where families arrive, children grow and diversity is a matter of course.
Since 2016, our Kita Widdersdorf has been accompanying children on their journey through their first years of life. In modern, light-flooded rooms and on a spacious outdoor area, they experience security, movement and joy of discovery. Here, closeness, openness and education meet – supported by a dedicated team that works with heart and experience.
Our Kita in Cologne-Widdersdorf
Are you looking for a place where your child can grow, learn and explore in a loving community? Then you have come to the right place.
In Widdersdorf, we care for 80 children aged one to six in five groups. Our Kita offers space for movement, creativity and encounters on around 1,000 square meters. We attach great importance to an atmosphere in which children feel safe and accepted – and at the same time have the freedom to go their own way.
The partially open concept with core groups enables children to experience familiar group structures and at the same time discover new rooms and topics across groups. Fixed rituals provide support, diverse projects stimulate the imagination, and the close cooperation with parents creates trust and transparency.
Space for development
Our five group rooms – Caterpillars, Butterflies, Turtles, Giraffes and Tigers – are lovingly designed and appropriately equipped for their age. Younger children find security and orientation, older children discover their surroundings in open learning and play areas. In addition to the group rooms, there is a studio, a library, a children’s restaurant and function rooms for movement and role-playing.
Nature to touch
Our spacious outdoor area offers space for movement and rest at the same time: with a mud hole, labyrinth, raised beds, meadows, fruit trees, tipi, sand play area, climbing frame, swing and soccer area. Here, children can research, observe and connect with nature.
Community and diversity
We see ourselves as an open house for children, parents and specialists. Whether it’s parents’ cafés, projects or festivals – meeting is part of everyday life with us. Through our multilingual approach and close cooperation with local schools, we promote cultural diversity and create bridges to the future.
What parents say about us
Children have opportunities for participation because everything is tailored to them and their needs.
Feedback from the Lindenthal Parent Survey 2025
Through many cultures, our children get to know everything.
Feedback from the Lindenthal Parent Survey 2025
Involvement is a top priority!
Feedback from the Lindenthal Parent Survey 2025
It has been a fantastic 4 years. Thank you, Rainbowtrekkers, for everything you have done for our child! You helped him grow into this wonderful, social little guy who is now starting school. Keep up the great work.
Parent Survey Feedback Lindenthal 2024
We feel welcome and included from day one. We greatly appreciate the open communication, participation, and integration.
Parent Survey Feedback Lindenthal 2024
It was an amazing 4-year-experience. Thank u rainbowtrekkers for everything u did for our child! U helped him grow into this amazing, social little guy that will now go to school. Keep up the good work.
Feedback from parent survey Lindenthal 2024
A day at rainbowtrekkers in Widdersdorf
A clear daily routine gives the children structure and security, but leaves enough room for creativity, play and movement. To ensure a successful start together, we ask all parents to bring their children to the Kita by 9:00 a.m. – then the morning circle can begin undisturbed.
| Time | Schedule |
|---|---|
| 07:30 | Opening of the kindergarten |
| 07:30 – 09:15 | Breakfast / Drop-off time / Core groups |
| 09:00 – 09:45 | Morning circles (entrance door closed) |
| 10:00 – 11:30 | Free play / Educational activities (partially across groups) |
| 11:30 – 12:00 | Lunch for the younger children |
| 12:00 – 12:45 | Lunch for the older children |
| 12:00 – 14:00 | Rest and sleep time / Free play |
| 15:00 – 16:00 | Snack + activities in the core groups |
| 16:00 – 16:30 | Open group-wide work |
| 16:30 | Closing of the kindergarten |
"A good start begins with trust. We look forward to getting to know you and your child – and taking the first step together into a colorful Kita time."
A good start – with a place at rainbowtrekkers
This is how you register your child with rainbowtrekkers – simply, transparently, and personally.
A Kita place is more than just care – it is the beginning of a journey together. To ensure that the start is a success for you and your child, we accompany the entire registration process transparently and personally. Would you like to
Costs & Contributions
At rainbowtrekkers, we attach great importance to transparency – also when it comes to costs. The care of your child is largely publicly funded, and part of the contributions depends on your income. With your membership in the support association, you also contribute to ensuring that we can maintain our high quality standards, fair working conditions and special offers for all children.
Parental contributions of the City of Cologne
The amount of parental contributions is determined by the youth welfare office of your place of residence. It depends on the income and the number of children in your family. For families residing in Cologne, the Youth Welfare Office of the City of Cologne is responsible, outside of Cologne the respective local youth welfare office. You will receive the notification of the contribution amount directly from there.
Support association "Early Education in the Kita e.V."
Our Kitas are only partially publicly funded. The state funds alone are not sufficient to secure our quality level in the long term. Our budget is legally fixed and is composed as follows: 92.2% public funding + 7.8% own contribution (support association, donations). That is why we ask all parents to become members of the support association “Frühe Bildung in der Kita e.V.”.
Your advantages:
- Your contribution flows 100% directly into your child’s Kita.
- You support fair working conditions, good equipment and special projects.
Monthly support contributions:
- €25 for families with basic security benefits (SGB II)
- €195 regular
- from €100,000 annual income: freely selectable, at least €195
Meal allowance
We charge a monthly food allowance of €75 for your child’s meals. Families with low incomes can apply for a reduction to €1 per lunch via the Education and Participation Package.
Why your support is so important
Rainbowtrekkers is a non-profit, independent organization – no corporation, no church. We finance our work exclusively through public grants and your contributions. Unlike large welfare associations, we have no additional sources of income such as church tax or foundation funds.
With your support, you help us to continue doing what is close to our hearts: to offer children a loving, safe and inspiring place to grow.
Samuel Armstrong
Director rainbowtrekkers Widdersdorf
- widdersdorf[at]rainbowtrekkers.de
- +49-221 466 830 30
- Unter Linden / Auf der Vierzig 2 | 50859 Köln (Cologne), Germany
I am Samuel Armstrong and I manage the Kita rainbowtrekkers in Widdersdorf. I was born in Ireland, but have spent most of my life in the United States. I have a degree in early childhood education and business management.
My professional career is diverse: I played and coached tennis professionally for many years before working in the kindergarten sector. I firmly believe that children learn through curiosity and play – and that is exactly what shapes our work in Widdersdorf. Here, every child is allowed to research, try things out and learn with joy.
Karina Dallherm
Deputy Director rainbowtrekkers Junkersdorf
- widdersdorf[at]rainbowtrekkers.de
- +49-221 466 830 30
- Unter Linden / Auf der Vierzig 2 | 50859 Köln (Cologne), Germany
My name is Karina Dallherm and I am the deputy director of the Kita Widdersdorf. I have been part of the rainbowtrekkers family for many years. Even in my youth, I enjoyed working with children – as a supervisor at a riding stable and giving lunge lessons.
After my training as a state-approved educator, I spent two years as an au pair in the USA before joining rainbowtrekkers. I worked here as a group leader for five years before taking over as deputy director. A respectful, appreciative approach to one another is particularly important to me – and that children, parents and the team strengthen and support each other.
Questions about registration? You can find answers here.
In our FAQ, we have summarized the most important points regarding registration, placement, and getting started.
How can my child become a rainbowtrekker?
If you would like to submit a place request, please use our place request form.
Are there currently any places available?
When are places expected to become available again?
This depends on several factors – for example, when you would like childcare to start and how a group is then composed.
You have a better chance with some advance planning and flexibility.
Can I visit the Kita beforehand?
We do not offer group tours during regular opening hours in order not to disrupt everyday Kita life. As soon as we have a suitable place in prospect for your child, we would be happy to invite you to a personal meeting and a tour.
Why doesn't rainbowtrekkers respond directly to all inquiries?
What happens to my request?
When will I get to know the Kita personally?
What costs are involved for a childcare place?
You pay food allowance directly to rainbowtrekkers and an income-dependent parental contribution to the city of Cologne. We also ask you to join our support association so that we can stem the ongoing operating costs. Further details on fees & contributions can be found here.
What are the admission criteria at rainbowtrekkers?
Since demand is often higher than the available capacity, we decide according to the following criteria (in descending order of importance):
- Siblings already attend the facility
- Age appropriateness for the desired group
- Balanced gender distribution
- Alignment with our values and concepts
- Contribution to the social or cultural diversity of the group
- Families without an existing support network or moving to the city
Children from neighboring towns or foreign families can also apply – you do not necessarily have to live in Cologne.
What about "LittleBird"?
We do not participate in the Little-Bird procedure, but award our places directly via our place request form. If you send us a place request, you can also send five further place requests to Kitas of other providers via “LittleBird” if you wish.