Things were quiet on campus for six weeks while the boarding school students enjoyed their well-deserved summer vacation. After arrival Sunday, the houses came back to life. The rooms were lovingly decorated, and new and familiar faces were warmly welcomed. And after the first week of school, the first joint activity for the residential groups was already on the schedule: the annual house trips.
The Mill in Fantasialand
The students from the Mühle went to a guesthouse in Leverkusen. After a delicious dinner, a group sat outside in the sun to sing together and get in the mood for the next day. Saturday’s schedule was packed with activities. Early the next morning, the group set off for Fantasialand, where they spent the rest of the day. The group was particularly taken with a roller coaster that had a quick-start feature. As soon as they got off the ride, they immediately got back in line for another go. To protect themselves from the sun, they quickly turned the park maps into hats.
The Eco-Friendly Cabin at the Glamping Site
The Biohaus made itself at home for the weekend retreat in Groß-Eichen. In large tents, which were also equipped with a kitchen, the group kicked off their time together with a delicious barbecue, for which the sunny terraces were the perfect setting.
Just like at the mill, a trip to an amusement park was on the agenda for the Biohaus on Saturday. The group headed out together to the Steinau an der Straße Adventure Park. In addition to the petting zoo, the park offered many small rides. The bumper cars and the summer toboggan run were especially popular. With the warm weather, ice cream was of course a must before heading back to the campground in the evening for a second barbecue.
Nature and Culture with the Bremerhaus
The residential group from the Bremerhaus headed a little further afield to Durbach in the Black Forest. Surrounded by sprawling vineyards, the group was able to relax and unwind in peace and quiet at the vacation home they had booked, which featured shared rooms.
Saturday was spent sightseeing and shopping in Strasbourg, about 40 km away. After taking a walk together, the group split up. Some of the young people took the opportunity to wander around, while others preferred to see the city from the water on a boat tour.
For the new residence director, Sandrine Fischer—who was experiencing a residence trip for the first time—the highlight, however, was a short, optional hiking tour on Sunday morning. The teens were also thrilled by the panoramic views that unfolded before them across the vast landscape. A perfect balance of culture and nature!
Water Activities at the Main Store
The kids from the main campus made the most of the last of the summer weather. After the group arrived at the campground near Kalkar, they headed straight to the swimming lake to cool off. “It was so awesome,” said student Mika as he recounted the school trip. In the evening, they had a barbecue before the group headed across the Dutch border the next day to tackle the swirling currents of Center Parcs’ fastest whitewater ride. The underwater world of a sunken city surrounded by tropical fish also sparked excitement. Afterward, they satisfied their hunger at a French fry restaurant. That evening, the real water lovers jumped right back into the campground’s swimming lake. But the secret highlight of the trip was a parrot the group got to meet at the campground. 😉
Relaxation and Action in Bad Sachsa
The Westfalenhaus set off for a self-catering house in Bad Sachsa, where the residential group had already stayed two years ago. Once everyone had found a place to sleep, they got right to work preparing dinner. Thanks to the summer-like weather, nothing stood in the way of a long evening of barbecuing. They played games and chatted late into the night.
The next morning, after a delicious breakfast, we headed straight to a Clip’n Climb gym, where everyone really let loose. The group supported one another as they tested their limits and overcame challenges. One of the students even made it onto the center’s record board in speed climbing and took second place in his age group.
In the evening, we went on an outing to the Sonnenblick observation deck, where we were able to enjoy the sunset together.
At Holidaypark with the Hessenhaus
For the Hessenhaus, too, the group trip included a visit to an amusement park. First, however, the residential group set up camp for the weekend at a campground near Speyer. The young people took on the challenge of lighting the fire for the barbecue themselves and ultimately received active support from a group of firefighters. The group spent the rest of the evening getting to know one another and playing games.
For many of the teenagers, the freefall tower at Holidaypark was the highlight of the weekend. They also tried out the various rides in small groups.
Before the Hessenhaus group set off back to Marburg on Sunday, they once again demonstrated their teamwork skills. They used handcarts to transport their luggage back to the cars, and then enjoyed a few hours of sunshine by a lake before heading home. Of course, a few water acrobatics exercises were a must.
Starting Sunday afternoon, cars slowly began rolling back onto the boarding school grounds. Everyone enthusiastically shared their many experiences from the past few days and exchanged stories. The final of the Basketball World Cup was playing in the tea room, and the sense of community continued on the Lahn grounds as well. With such a great start to the new school year, we’re looking forward all the more to many more experiences to come.
