The pupils of class 7c at Realschule plus Idar-Oberstein, one of fifteen national park schools, have achieved an impressive feat: they crossed the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park in three stages. They were accompanied by three teachers and national park guide Michael Brzoska.
The first day of the hike took the group from Wildenburg in Kempfeld to Hotel Schwarzenbruch in Hüttgeswasen, a distance of 16 kilometers, in summer temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius. National park guide Brzoska gave an informative talk on the subject of "Safety when hiking" and explained how to find your way around the terrain using a map and compass.
In the evening, the students were able to observe a change in the weather, which brought a small thunderstorm and cooler temperatures. Once they arrived at their destination, tents had to be set up and sleeping places prepared. A hot meal was provided by the Hotel Schwarzenbruch. The class didn't get to rest until late, as a visit from fireflies and oil beetles caused some excitement.
The second day got off to a cooler start. After taking down the tents and tidying up the camp, the students were able to enjoy breakfast together. Everything that was not needed for the second stage was stowed in the trailer. Everyone prepared their own food for the day and topped up their water supplies.
We took a long break at the Ochsenbruch and Michael Brzoska gave a talk on the importance of sustainable travel and respect for nature. The climate crisis became tangible and tangible around the Ochsenbruch. The group moved through a part of the park that is very worthy of protection and learned how important it is to avoid noise so as not to disturb the animals. The group walked through the national park in silence for a while and enjoyed the peace and quiet.
After twelve kilometers, the class reached the village of Muhl. Here the tents were set up again, this time at a much faster pace. This left enough time to prepare dinner together and light a campfire. The students learned about alternative methods of lighting a fire. Fortified with sausage, jacket potatoes, quark and salad, everyone fell asleep quickly that evening.
The third and final day began again with taking down the tents, tidying up the camp and having breakfast together. The last stage was the shortest at nine kilometers, but it was a particularly beautiful route. The route followed the Saar-Hunsrück-Steig via the Keltenring to Otzenhausen. Here, the students learned a lot about the history of the region.
Tired, exhausted but proud, the group arrived back at Idar-Oberstein station. One of the aims of this trip was for the pupils to learn how to move safely in the forest and to recognize and use the landmarks available. They were involved in planning the hike right from the start and learned how to move and behave respectfully in nature. Education for sustainable development can only succeed if you know what you are protecting.
Such an undertaking is only possible with financial support. The school management would therefore like to thank the City Youth Welfare Office and the Albrecht von Dewitz Foundation. Thanks to this support, the school was able to purchase sleeping bags, sleeping mats and rucksacks, which will also be available for future hikes. In addition, the national park guide Michael Brzoska was co-financed by the Albrecht von Dewitz Foundation, which made it possible for the pupils to receive various lectures on nature conservation and safety in the forest. The school management is impressed by the performance and commitment of the pupils and emphasizes the importance of education for sustainable development. A big thank you therefore goes to everyone who made this hike possible.