Boarding School Experiential Learning Trips

In early May 2017, it was time for the annual experiential education field trips. A group of ten set out on a cultural trip to Essen, where they explored the Ruhr region and sampled all kinds of international cuisine. The group enjoyed African, Spanish, and German delicacies and visited a coal mine and also visited the Museum Folkwang, which is located next to a large shopping center.

Another group of 19 students headed to Lake Eder, where they camped without electricity or running water and enjoyed a break from everyday life. The evenings around the campfire, in particular, were filled with a great atmosphere. Various puzzle games and the popular game of Werewolf kept boredom at bay. During the day, we took advantage of the good weather to go swimming, allowing us to spend a thoroughly enjoyable weekend together.

The most athletic of the offered excursions began right on Steinmühle’s doorstep. We’re talking, on the one hand, about the canoe trip and, on the other, about the bike tour. The first of these took six young adventurers—who weren’t exactly afraid of the water—out onto the local Lahn River. Setting off from Cappel, the group paddled—with plenty of provisions on board— They paddled their canoes all the way to Wetzlar over the course of a weekend. Everyone spent the evenings together around the campfire and slept soundly in the tents they had brought along. With perfect weather and everyone in high spirits, the new paddlers were able to enjoy a harmonious weekend on the water before being picked up again in Wetzlar.

The competitive cyclists on their three-day tour also rode to Wetzlar at first. As a result, the cyclists enjoyed perfect weather, so even the inevitable flat tires couldn’t dampen the mood. It was only on Sunday, the day of the return trip, that the weather unfortunately didn’t cooperate. This made Saturday all the more enjoyable for the hard-working group, who, after reaching their destination for the day in Weilburg, visited the city and explored the old town. With conditions that were mostly ideal, the cyclists were able to spend a wonderful and eventful weekend together, and everyone agrees: We need to do this again.

The fifth and final trip took a diverse group to the Harz Mountains, part of which is designated as a nature park. The impressive
experiences ranged from a castle tour and a walking tour of the picturesque old town of Wernigerode to a hike in the beautiful Bode Valley.

Although they were a bit exhausted, everyone agreed in the end: Stunning natural scenery is always worth the trip.

At this point, the teachers would like to thank the entire student body for their tremendous dedication and the wonderful time we spent together!