Extreme experiences in a wonderful setting

Steffen Ullwer, a member of the accompanying team, reports on the 8th-grade ski trip to Mayrhofen:

After a long, relaxing bus ride with 69 eighth-graders and ten chaperones, we loaded all the suitcases, backpacks, and students into the gondolas of the Mayrhofner Bergbahn and were taken up to an altitude of just over 1,800 meters. Once there, we were greeted by a breathtaking view, the Gschößwandhaus (our lodging), and a few thrilling experiences.

The students’ first task was to come up with a room assignment plan that would allow them to live together as harmoniously as possible in a confined space—in rustic rooms with up to 15 beds. They managed this fairly quickly, and throughout the week, the social challenge of living together harmoniously was generally handled well, even though the murder mystery game sowed some seeds of mistrust.

The next morning, the students and their homeroom teachers faced their next challenge: skiing! A good third of the students had never been on skis before and quickly learned, in just a few days, how to safely ski down a blue run. The more advanced students refined their technique while exploring the expansive ski area. Some of the homeroom teachers found themselves pushed to the limits of the students’ learning speed and risk tolerance, and were repeatedly amazed by how quickly the students picked things up.

If only it were always like that in math!

A bit of theory in the evening, soccer in the snow, a trip into town, a night hike, an après-ski disco with a campfire, and lots of group games rounded out the sports program, ensuring plenty of variety and plenty of time for socializing. The widespread bout of illness after the trip was just a minor setback—and perhaps the last challenging experience—but it couldn’t dampen the overall excellent atmosphere or the satisfaction with the trip.