From Oct. 11th to Oct. 15th, grade 10 of the Maria-Theresia-Gymnasium went on a class trip to a sports camp near the lovely town of Inzell in the German Alps. Housed in cottages of ten, we developed new friendships beyond our own classes and were faced with challenging physical exercises.

During the day, we were offered a vast sports program, allowing us to practice multiple sports every day. Those included team sports such as basketball, spike ball, soccer, and handball, but also individual sports like rock climbing, archery, dance, and yoga. All courses were offered by school teachers who took great care of our safety, supported us when necessary, and taught us tips and tricks to augment our performance.

In the sports camp, not only the physical aspect was looked after, but also the social aspects were taken care of. We were stimulated to acquaint ourselves with members of other classes, as well as better relationships within our already existing environment. There were class-intern events such as an interactive team building period that involved puzzling tasks and asked for effective communication. This led to classes being bound tighter and trust being enhanced.

On the last night of our stay there, all the student of grade 10 went on a literary torch hike with their teachers. Here, torches were lit and given to responsible students (such as myself, of course) whereafter we went on a walk through the woods. In a small clearing, each cottage’s members then performed a poem, story, or song of their choice before the rest of us. Generally, between sports and meals, we were given free time to socialize or take time to ourselves.

Although a lot of attention had to be placed around safety measures for COVID-19, it was nonetheless an incredibly enriching experience. The student body is grateful to all the teachers and staff involved in making this event possible!

Nadine Wietek, 10a