Class Trips, Field Trips, and School Outings

Snow Fun in Winter Hiking Wonderland – Excursion to the Bavarian Forest

Class Trips, Field Trips, and School Outings, Life at Boarding School, News, Steinmühle on the Road

The students at Steinmühle Boarding School took advantage of the weekend following their midyear report cards to enjoy one last taste of winter in the Bavarian Forest. Under perfect weather conditions in the Bavarian Forest National Park, the small group enjoyed two days of hiking filled with sunshine, snow, fun, and camaraderie.

First Summit: Climbing the Windy Lusen

On the first day of the hike, the students climbed the Lusen. They were able to hike toward the summit cross via the “Himmelsleiter” (Heaven’s Ladder). The sun was barely visible at that point, and the wind whistled loudly in their ears. But the unique landscape and the natural formations created by wind, snow, and ice inspired and motivated the students to continue their ascent. “I’m so fascinated by these formations! Everything here looks like something out of a movie!” panted student Niclas enthusiastically.

Upon reaching the icy summit cross on the Lusen, the group took a quick group photo at an elevation of 1,373 meters, very close to the Czech border, before taking shelter in the mountain hut for a lunch break. Right on cue, the sun came out, and the successful hiking group was able to enjoy their well-deserved break in the sunshine.

Let’s head over to the crackling fireplace

The group’s descent was filled with laughter and the occasional snowball fight as they hiked back through the freshly snow-covered Bavarian Forest straight to the cabin. Once there, student Felix stoked the vacation home’s wood-burning stove nice and hot, and the group spent a relaxing evening together enjoying hot cocoa and a home-cooked meal.

Higher, Further: The March to the Great Rachel

The next day, the students climbed Großer Rachel. The hiking group made their way up to 1,452 meters, the second-highest peak in the national park. Together, the nine companions covered a total of 100 meters in elevation gain and over 20 kilometers.

“I had no idea Germany had such beautiful places!”

Francine Olschewski, the lead educator, heard this exclamation frequently over the weekend. “I only recently discovered the region myself, and I’m very happy to be able to share this wonderful experience of nature with the students.”

The unique natural surroundings inspire the hiking group

The hike was arduous; they sank deep into the deep snow, and the climb to the summit sapped their strength once again, but all the students were so captivated by nature that they could almost forget the pain in their legs.

“It’s so beautiful! I just can’t stop marveling at it!” beamed student Cosima as she made her way up the trail. Letian, another student who was hiking for the first time, was also thrilled: “I had underestimated the hikes, but I can do this! And I’m so glad I came along. Germany really is so beautiful!”

Solidarity Through Fun: Laughing Together, Supporting Each Other

And so the group took a break together at the summit cross of the Great Rachel in bright sunshine. Their joy at the snowy wonder endured even during the descent through deep snow. They made their way back to the car in a wide arc, passing by Lake Rachel and the little chapel.

It had grown dark by then, and the hiking group walked the remaining meters in the bright moonlight. Along the way, the students repeatedly encouraged one another, were considerate of each other’s pace, and helped one another. “Does anyone else have any water?”—Pulling together, the students reached the end of their hike.

Frozen to the bone and exhausted, the hiking group arrived at the vacation home. But once again, the fire in the fireplace and a warm cup of hot cocoa helped them forget the day’s hardships. “At one point, I really thought I couldn’t make it anymore. It was really exhausting today,” groaned student Jan, “But I’m really proud of myself—I did it! It was tough, but really great!”

That evening, the students sat together and reflected on their hiking experiences before falling into bed, exhausted.

Back to the Steinmühle via Regensburg

The short winter hiking weekend was rounded off with a stop in Regensburg on the way back. Crossing the Steinerne Brücke, built in 1135, the group crossed the Danube on their way to Regensburg’s Old Town. A visit to Regensburg Cathedral was a must. Along with Cologne Cathedral, Regensburg Cathedral is one of the most significant Gothic cathedrals in Germany.

“Regensburg is just so beautiful! All those old buildings, and the magnificent cathedral! I’m so glad I got to see it today, too!” said student Niclas enthusiastically.

“Can we do this again next year, please?”

After two exhausting but memorable days of hiking, the group from Regensburg finally set off for home again on Sunday. On the way back, they went over all their experiences together once more. There was plenty of laughter and singing, and one request in particular kept coming up: “Can we please do this again next year?”

With these thoughts in mind, Steinmühle Boarding School wishes you a pleasant rest of the winter and hopes everyone stays healthy.

17. February 2022

Steinmühle Explores Northern Germany — “Welthaus” on the Road During Fall Break

Class Trips, Field Trips, and School Outings, Life at Boarding School, News, Steinmühle on the Road

At Steinmühle Boarding School, there are always some students who cannot go home during the short breaks. This is especially true for our international students, who are primarily from China. For these students, there is a separate team of educators known as “Welthaus,” which works with the students to plan not only the weekends when the boarding school is closed but also the fall and Easter breaks. The two educators employed for this purpose plan and organize special outings every weekend and during each break.

Normally, they explore mainly the area around Marburg with their “Welthaus” tour group, but during the fall break, they ventured all the way to the far north of Germany.

First Stop: The House by the Sea

For the first week of vacation, a house right on the beach in Stein near Kiel had been rented for the students. “I really enjoyed being able to drink my coffee by the sea every morning,” says teacher Lena Schneider enthusiastically. And so the group spent their first week close to the sea, spending nights under the vast starry sky or relaxing at the house while watching the many sailboats go by.

And, of course, a traditional boat tour and a visit to the aquarium in Kiel were a must. With perfect Baltic Sea weather, the students and teachers were able to relax and enjoy the scenery and the vastness of the sea.

From the Sea to the Edge of the Forest in Hamburg

In the second week, the “Welthaus” tour group moved on to a rented house near Hamburg, located right on the edge of the forest, with its own basketball court, table tennis table, and plenty of nature.

Along with the visit to Heidepark and the trip to the wax museum after a guided tour of Hamburg, the highlight was definitely the visit to the Chokoversum. Here, the students were able to experience firsthand the entire process—from the cacao plant and its precious beans all the way to chocolate production—and, of course, taste it too!

“The best part was that at the end, we each got to design our own chocolate bar and take it home!” says educator Philipp Rumpel happily.

Get out together, experience it together

On Sunday, at the end of the vacation, the Welthäusler group also traveled together from Hamburg back to Marburg. They had happily celebrated their last evening together in Hamburg over a hot pot dinner.

“It really did us all a world of good to get away for a while,” says educator Lena Schneider. The two Chinese students standing next to her nod in agreement. They are thrilled to keep discovering new parts of Germany.

What everyone will remember, I’m sure, are the many shared experiences: the big ones, but also the little things!

27. October 2021

2021 Field Trips – Steinmühle Boarding School Explores Northwest Germany

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The new school year has begun, and as always, the individual residential groups are kicking off the year together with their group trips. This time, they had the choice between fun, games, and action at amusement parks or pure nature and relaxation on the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts, as well as in the Harz Mountains.

What exactly are these house tours?

At the start of each school year, the residential groups are reorganized. New group compositions, new teams of educators, new faces. That’s why Steinmühle Boarding School deliberately uses the first weekend after the break to give the residents of the new residential groups a chance to get into the spirit of community and get to know one another during an exciting trip. The house directors are responsible for organizing and planning the trips.

Which residential group had the most attractions?

That’s hard to say this year. Four residential groups headed out to German amusement parks: The Biohaus spent an exciting weekend at Holiday-Park in Haßloch with the boarding school’s youngest residents, while the boys from the Stammhäusler group let loose at Movie-Park. The Mühle group also had a great time at Holiday Park on the Baltic Sea, while the Hessenhaus group navigated their way through wild and exotic animals on a car safari in Lower Saxony.

Nature Up Close in Northwest Germany

It wasn’t just the Hessenhaus that got to experience nature up close at Safari Land Stukenbrock in North Rhine-Westphalia. The Westfalenhaus spent its weekend in Bad Sachsa in the Harz Mountains, and the Bremerhaus traveled to the North Sea coast, visiting Westerhever and St. Peter Ording. While the other residential groups let off steam at their amusement parks, the Westfalenhaus residents made their way through a climbing gym, and those who dared could zip across a lake on a zipline. The highlight of the Westfalenhaus trip was the famous Skywalk on the Sonnenstein: the brave boys and girls ventured onto the transparent bridge and enjoyed the sunset together, taking in the sweeping view of the Harz Mountains.

Meanwhile, the residents of Bremerhäu watched a seal feeding at the Robbarium in St. Peter Ording and visited the expansive beach on the North Sea coast. Of course, no trip to the North Sea would be complete without a genuine mudflat hike and a boat tour.

Great organization leads to wonderful shared moments

Once again this year, the house leaders managed to create unforgettable shared moments for their students. For example, after visiting Holiday Park, the Biohaus group was able to wind down their evening at the campground right by the lake, just as the Mühle group used their beachfront accommodations on the Baltic Sea to relax together. The boys from the Stammhaus were also able to relax, as they were luxuriously accommodated in a hotel. The Westfalenhaus had rented an entire house to themselves and, like the Bremerhaus, spent their evenings cooking together.

A Community That Supports

On Sunday evening, all the students and teachers gathered again on the grounds of the Steinmühle boarding school in Marburg. No matter where you looked, there were beaming faces. “We had the best house trip this year!” one student reported, overjoyed. “No, that can’t be true—we’ve already had the best house trip!” another student countered. Comments like these make it clear that the weekend was a complete success for all the residential groups.

So what now? Back to business

The residential groups are now settled in and motivated for the coming school year. Now it’s time for everyone to get back into their routine. School is waiting, but so is the next boarding school weekend. And that’s sure to bring plenty of great activities and moments together again.

8. September 2021

Boarding School Weekend as an Adventure Weekend

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The first boarding school weekend on the grounds of Steinmühle Boarding School offered a varied program for all 83 students and their teachers: From traditional sports activities to craft projects and moments of intentional relaxation, there was something for everyone. The educational philosophy of Steinmühle Boarding School was fully embraced right from the start of the school year: strengthening community and providing active breaks from the (academic) stress of the week.

The First House Evening: The Living Groups All to Themselves

And so the weekend kicked off on Friday evening with the traditional house night: Each living group plans its evening according to its own preferences. The evening activities reflect the individual interests of the living groups. For example, the guys from the main house let off some steam at the Jump’n Fly trampoline park in Gießen, while the girls and guys from the Hessenhaus preferred to spend a cozy evening at home enjoying a delicious meal. Fueled by pizza on Friday evening, the boys from the Mühle began renovating their common room, while the students from the Biohaus ventured into a colorful wonderland at the 4D black-light mini-golf course in Linden. The Westfalenhaus spent the evening singing and dancing to SingStar and Just Dance in the tea room on the boarding school grounds, while the residents of the Bremerhaus residential group relaxed and let their gaze wander from Landgrave Castle in Marburg across the city and countryside.

A weekend full of adventures

The weekend program for the entire boarding school community was just as varied as Friday’s in-house opening event.

The sports-loving students were able to let off some steam with fitness activities, soccer, baseball, and badminton. On Saturday, the trip to Lake Eder offered a welcome change of scenery from the boarding school grounds. Even though the water level of Lake Eder has dropped significantly in recent weeks and months, it still offered ideal conditions for trying out the seven newly purchased SUPs (stand-up paddleboards). And for those who preferred a classic canoe trip, there was an opportunity on Sunday to paddle down the Lahn River under the guidance of staff, starting directly from the Steinmühle boarding school grounds.

This weekend, the students with a knack for crafts had the opportunity to create vertical gardens or build their own beach bar. The vertical gardens were created using pallets, soil, dirty hands, and small herb plants in the Westfalenhaus garden, where they are accessible to everyone. And on Saturday, the Beach Bar construction project kicked off: On the newly developed Lahn grounds, which feature a professional beach volleyball court, a real beach bar is, of course, a must. And under the guidance of their teachers, the students are building it entirely on their own—from applying the wood primer to the subsequent assembly.

Mindful Relaxation for the Boarding School Community

In addition to opportunities for physical exertion, this weekend also offered intentionally planned moments of respite for both body and soul. The delicious warm brownies baked by the boarding school community’s baking club sweetened Saturday afternoon, and in the evening, enthusiastic students gathered to collect new recipes for “Meat-Free Monday” at the Steinmühle. On Sunday morning, anyone interested could relax and try their hand at making macramé keychains. The journaling session offered moments of deep self-reflection: developing visions, focusing on goals, and becoming aware of one’s strengths and resources. Some students enjoyed this experience entirely on their own, under the guidance of teachers, while sipping tea and listening to relaxing music.

And so, on Sunday evening, those eventful days drew to a close, allowing us to start the new week feeling refreshed and reenergized.

For more photos, feel free to follow our Instagram account @internat.steinmuehle.

7. September 2020

Steinmühle Boarding School’s House Trips: Lots of Caution, but Still Great Fun

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As part of the annual program, boarding school students set off on what are known as “house trips” immediately after the start of the school year: Each residential group heads to a different destination in Germany together. Reports indicate that this year’s trips were once again a lot of fun. “The ‘Häuserfahrten’ have become an established tradition at our boarding school—a trip that each residential group can effectively use for team-building activities and to get to know one another,” reports boarding school director Anke Muszynski.

Bremerhaus: In the Footsteps of the Vikings

This year, the Bremerhaus traveled to Süsel in Schleswig-Holstein. The stunning location—with Lake Süsel right on the doorstep of the Tannenhöhe youth vacation center and just a few minutes from the Baltic Sea—couldn’t be dampened even by the occasional rain. With the two birthday celebrants, Sarah and Luke, everyone celebrated together in the group room. And as if they were all true Vikings, the students and counselors braved the rain and embraced Viking Day on Friday. “Oars up!” In a traditional boat, the residential group navigated across Lake Süseler after trying their hand at Viking games together, including axe throwing, archery, and Viking chess. On Saturday, the sun came out for a relaxed and playful day at Scharbeutz Beach on the Baltic Sea, which came to a perfect close with a sumptuous barbecue buffet in the evening.

The parent company’s goal: A campground in Heidelberg

Heidelberg is this year’s destination for the residents of the main house. Once there, they headed to a campground and are spending the night in small cabins. A nice touch: there’s virtually no internet reception at the campground. So “digital detox” became the theme of the weekend for the residential group, allowing the students and educators to fully focus on themselves. In the evenings, they also had barbecues at the main house and enjoyed spending time together in a relaxed atmosphere. The highlight of the trip was a visit to the Auto & Technik Museum in Sinsheim. The main attraction there: a Concorde.

Heidepark in the Spotlight at the Hessenhaus

The Hessenhaus group headed toward Hanover: Near the capital of Lower Saxony—which has beautiful, natural spots on its outskirts—they fired up the grill in the evening and chatted. Since there were no other groups staying at the very modern facility at the time, the Hessenhaus group was able to feel completely at home playing soccer and basketball and enjoying the lively evening atmosphere. The group had planned a visit to Heidepark for the next day: endless fun, games, and excitement for the new residential group.

“MS Mühle in the harbor of Lake Wißmar”

The “MS Mühle,” jokingly dubbed the “passenger ship of good cheer,” sailed into the “harbor” of Lake Wißmar near Gießen on Friday. After setting up camp at the campground, firing up the grill was at the top of the agenda. Since Ivo, whose birthday it was, was on board, a little celebration was in order for Saturday.

Other activities planned for the residents of the Mühle: group icebreakers and team-building activities, as well as a visit to “Jump & Fly” in Linden. After a cozy evening and a quiet morning, the soccer fans in the residential group were looking forward to watching the Champions League final after a manageable 30-kilometer trip back.

Westfalenhaus: “Being a Kid Again”

The Westfalenhaus headed to the tried-and-true group house in Weeze, North Rhine-Westphalia, which used to be a school. On the grounds, various games proved to be the perfect way to pass the time before everyone could satisfy their appetites at the long-awaited barbecue and the evening came to a close around the campfire. The “Wunderland Kalkar” amusement park served as an attractive highlight of the weekend together—with attractions for all ages, “not only to get our adrenaline pumping, but perhaps also to simply be kids again for a while.”

Biohaus: Getting to Know and Trust Each Other

For the youngest house at the Steinmühle boarding school, the focus was clearly on age-appropriate, relaxed, and fun team-building and trust-building activities. So this year, the Biohaus headed to Düsseldorf for an overnight stay at a youth hostel and a visit to a climbing park that is part of the Alpenpark Neuss. Climbing as a group activity: As a true team, the students overcame their fear of heights together; guided by the experienced team of educators, the younger students motivated one another throughout the climbing course and, in the process, grew together into a real group.

24. August 2020

Steinmühle Boarding School: Active on the Slopes

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Spectacular weather awaited us in Randa:

The ski trip to Randa, Switzerland, has long been a staple of the annual schedule at Steinmühle Boarding School. On February 13, ten students set off together with

Nils Schwandt and Freya Penschuck set out from Marburg for the Grächen ski resort. The weather throughout their three-day stay more than made up for the eight-hour trip there, which took place in the rain and under less-than-ideal conditions. “We had what you might call perfect weather in Randa,” the participants reported. Indeed, the cloudless sky and clear visibility treated the students from the Steinmühle boarding school to a view of the distant Matterhorn!

Helping One Another

It quickly became clear that all the passengers had been on a ski vacation before, on their own. You could tell that some were experienced skiers or snowboarders: they turned out to be seasoned and skilled riders. In contrast, others still needed a little extra help or a refresher on their skills. In many cases, everyone quickly helped each other out to navigate the slopes successfully. We also had Freya, a certified snowboard instructor, who had a few helpful tips for everyone.

Working Out During the Day

We slept in old, rustic wooden cabins on the grounds of a former farm in a traditional mountain village at an elevation of about 1,400 meters. We hit the slopes around 9 a.m. The day there was active and full of exercise. Around 4:30 p.m., the group met up to ski down to the valley. So it’s no wonder that everyone was thoroughly tired and exhausted by evening. After cooking and eating together, we chatted a bit or played some games to wind down the day peacefully.

Refreshing all around

Once again this year, none of the participants could escape the ritual that has been a tradition for years: Anyone visiting Randa for the first time must take a quick dip in a water trough. Since it is fed by pure mountain spring water, this turned into a “pleasantly refreshing” splash around. Everyone took the decidedly cool temperatures in stride and saw it as a sign to return to their schoolwork with a clear head once they were back at the Steinmühle boarding school.

13. March 2020

School Ski Course: A varied program featuring hands-on activities, theory, and fun at the mountain huts

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At the end of the third week of January, the annual school ski trip for 8th-grade classes began. With a total of 72 students and 11 teachers, the group set off by bus for Mayrhofen in the Zillertal.

After overcoming the initial organizational challenge of transferring all the luggage from the bus to the Penkenbahn in no time at all, everyone was then able to enjoy the Alpine panorama to the fullest. Upon arriving at the Gschösswandhaus, run by the Mitterer family, everyone settled into their rooms and enjoyed their first hearty dinner.

For the following days, everyone was divided into three skill-level groups—from beginners to advanced—to improve their skiing skills or learn to ski with the help of the instructors.

The days began with a wake-up call at 7:30 a.m. and ended with bedtime at 10:00 p.m. We hit the slopes for two hours each morning and afternoon. Everything went smoothly, and aside from a few minor scrapes, everyone had a great time—especially in the bright sunshine starting on the second day.

About slope rules and Alpine Hazards

There was also a varied program at the lodge, and the theoretical side wasn’t neglected: the instructors presented a lecture on international slope rules, skiing adapted to external conditions, and information about alpine hazards. In addition, there was always plenty of entertainment. There was a moonlight disco; at night, participants could marvel at the clear starry sky on a night hike; and on the ski-free afternoon, they could even tour the Penkenbahn or head down to Mayrhofen for some shopping. Highlights included the final afternoon on the slopes, when students were allowed to ski in mixed groups; a fire alarm accidentally triggered by deodorant spray; and the elaborately and creatively designed “rocket” in the room decoration contest. On the day of departure, everyone headed back to beautiful Marburg with mixed feelings.
The WU Student Newspaper

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4. March 2020

Winter Teepee Camp

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2020 Winter Teepee Camp

There was no snow, but everyone was in high spirits

This year, too, a total of 10 students and two educators set out to answer the call of the wild and set up their winter teepee camp in the wooded area of the “Zum Oertzwinkel” campground in Kreutzen near Münster. Even though this year’s winter camp had to make do without winter, the conditions still held their own charm for the campers. Bright sunshine, cool and clear nights, and pleasant temperatures provided the perfect setting and kept everyone in good spirits.

A Unique Atmosphere

While shooting with a bow and arrow during the day gave participants a glimpse of what life in the wild must have been like back then, the evening brought a unique and incomparable atmosphere as the campfire was lit— without which no real winter camping trip would be complete and which is what makes the experience of nature truly authentic. In the steady glow of the flames and accompanied by the crackling of the embers, we sang, cooked, ate, and—above all—laughed a lot with old friends and new acquaintances.

“Sturmfrei” with a Twist

On Sunday, our adventurers also demonstrated perfect timing. Just as they had stowed away their belongings and were ready to head home, Storm “Sabine” began whistling through the treetops at the campground. When we arrived home, exhausted but happy, and learned that we’d have the day off on Monday because “Sabine” had “blown” the classes off the schedule, an unforgettable weekend came to a perfect end.

2. March 2020

Building a Community: The Field Trips Organized by Steinmühle Boarding School

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The Steinmühle boarding school community got off to a great start in the new 2019/2020 school year: The first week of school went well, and now it’s finally time for the house trips.

The first boarding school weekend of the school year is traditionally dedicated to building community and fostering teamwork within the house groups. It’s simply a matter of stepping off campus on purpose to get to know the new residential community better in a small group setting. Each residential team finds a suitable location for its students to participate in activities together that help transform a group of people—some of whom are still strangers to one another—into a cohesive residential community. During this weekend, academic pressure is deliberately set aside, with the focus instead on the joy of being together.

And so, last weekend, the six separate residential groups set out on short trips to various destinations across Germany.

A Wild Roller-Coaster Ride with the Biohaus at Europa-Park in Rust

The Biohaus organized an adventure-filled weekend at Europa-Park in Rust for the boarding school’s youngest students. On the border with France, the residential group camped right outside the park’s gates with a view of the various attractions. The students were already looking forward to the weekend on the day they arrived, enjoying a barbecue with a panoramic view of the park. On Saturday, the big day finally arrived: With perfect weather, they made the most of the roller coasters and shows, and in the evening, they wrapped up their action-packed day with a relaxing meal at a restaurant.

Ladies in Schöningen: Hessenhaus Takes a Stroll Through the City Galerie

The residential group, now under new educational leadership, settled in comfortably in Schöningen, on the border with Saxony-Anhalt. The newly formed Hessenhaus is once again an all-girls residential group this school year. What could have been better than a weekend of shopping at the City Galerie in Wolfsburg, followed by pizza and a movie to round off the weekend together?

Culture and Leisure: Mühle Enjoys Heidelberg’s Rich Cultural Heritage

The residents of the Mühle first enjoyed the beautiful view from Heidelberg Castle of the sunny Neckar Valley before strolling together through the streets of the Old Town and shopping to their hearts’ content. And to make sure the boys from the Mühle were thoroughly exhausted after such a weekend, they headed back to the Miramar swimming pool on Sunday. Every slide fan got their fill here: the Hurricane Loop and the Typhoon Slide gave the Mühle boys one last serious adrenaline rush before they headed back to the boarding school grounds.

The Steinmühle’s roller-coaster ride continues: Its flagship location at Phantasialand

The main group had a blast at Phantasialand near Cologne in perfect weather and threw themselves into the thrilling rides. After all the thrills and excitement of the day, the group relaxed at the campground at Rhine kilometer 681. Barbecuing right on the picturesque banks of the Rhine, students and teachers alike were able to enjoy the weekend as the sun set.

Ammersee and Andechs Abbey for the Westfalenhaus

When boarding schools support and cooperate with one another, something wonderful can happen: Landheim Schondorf gave the nearly 30 students and teachers from Westfalenhaus the opportunity to stay overnight free of charge in the beautiful facilities of the Upper Bavarian boarding school. As a result, the soon-to-be high school graduates from Steinmühle were able to spend a lovely weekend on Lake Ammersee and enjoy a cozy dinner and drinks in the evenings at Andechs Abbey.

Team-Building on a Raft at the Bremerhaus

The Bremerhaus, a brand-new residential group under new educational leadership, came together for the raft-building project at the Vingst outdoor natural swimming pool in Cologne. While the group had fought fiercely during the day to build the best—and above all, the most stable—raft, by evening all rivalries were forgotten: And so, during a cozy barbecue at the Germania Rowing Club’s facility in Düsseldorf, they laughed late into the night over the most spectacular (water) stories in the best Rhineland tradition.

27. August 2019

Hiking, Dresden, Canoe Trip, and More: Experiential Education Weekend

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Traditionally, Steinmühle Boarding School sets out on its experiential education trips in May. Students can choose from a variety of trips, which are selected and organized by the teachers. The groups left Steinmühle last Friday after lunch and returned to the boarding school on Sunday evening. They then immediately began sharing their experiences.

Hiking in the Thuringian Forest

The group’s destination was a self-catering vacation rental in Großbreitenbach where they would cook together. During their stay, the team went on a hike of about 20 kilometers along the Thuringian Forest High Trail to the highest point of the Rennsteig, the 948-meter-high Schneekopf. There, they took a break to enjoy the magnificent view.

The students enjoyed the scenery during the day and spent the evening doing activities together. Finally, there was one more highlight: On Sunday, the group headed to the Avenida Therme in Hohenfelden near Erfurt before heading back toward Marburg.

Climbing in Franconia

A team of nine went climbing in Franconian Switzerland near Morschreuth. The plan was to camp on the meadow of the “Zur guten Einkehr” inn. For some, it was their first time climbing on rock; for others, it was a chance to build on what they already knew. From rappelling to lead climbing to top-roping, there was something for everyone. For Leon, this was his first time lead climbing and, at the same time, his first time belaying. Jaques overcame his fear of heights, began to trust himself, and really started to enjoy the activity.

That also applied to activities that were simply about hanging out in the air, getting a taste of the mountain air and a little adrenaline—just letting yourself go. Of course, the delicious dinner was part of it. First at the inn, then off the grill on Saturday evening. In the mornings, we had a sumptuous breakfast. Everyone always pitched in and helped take care of the group.

For the group’s lead climbers in particular, the event was another highlight. It offered new experiences for everyone. The Steinmühle Boarding School would like to thank the Marburg Climbing Gym for lending them the climbing shoes.

Trip to Dresden

The participants checked into the A&O Hostel. Dinner was already a lot of fun: at the Roller Coaster Restaurant, each main course came hurtling in on a “weightless sparkler express.”

On Saturday, the group took a trip to Saxon Switzerland. They visited Bad Rathen with its Elbe Sandstone Mountains, hiked the Rauenstein ridge trail with views of the Elbe, and explored the Bastei, including the Gorge Trail with the “Schwedenlöcher,” passing by Amselsee.
A special city tour was on the agenda for Sunday. The route: Neumarkt with the Frauenkirche, the Semper Opera House, the Zwinger, the Royal Palace, Brühl’s Terrace, the Procession of the Princes, the Stallhof, the Catholic Court Church, the Taschenberg Palace, the Augustus Bridge, and a visit to the Frauenkirche. The verdict: Lots of history, lots of culture—and lots of fun.

Canoe Tour

The canoe trip began at our base camp, the Ederblick Campground near Bad Wildungen, where we set up our tents. The plan was to paddle down the Eder River past the dam and into the Fulda River. After a strenuous day in the canoes, the evening wrapped up with a campfire, a barbecue, and some light-hearted games. A total of 14 children, accompanied by three counselors, set out on the canoe trip.

Camping at Lake Eder

Camping on a meadow by Lake Eder was the ultimate outdoor experience: no running water, no electricity, and no restroom facilities.

Giving up all forms of comfort led everyone to focus on themselves. Everyone gathered around the campfire and played games. As has often been the case, one of the favorites was the game “Werewolf,” which kept everyone entertained well into the night.

27. May 2019