OeAV English Experience Camp

2011 - Camp One Pictures

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Finally, the Blog from Camp One 2011 is online!

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Weblog English Camp I

2011, 18-24 July

Day 1 – Monday, 18 July

On the first day, at one o´clock we all met in the back of a big gravel-pit.

There we first saw each other. Of course we all were keen on the camp.

So after a little game we started to walk to the “Anton-Karg Haus”.

We all got a clipboard with a peace of paper and a pencil.

With this stuff we answered nine questions about someone who were with us in the camp.

The questions were hidden somewhere on the way to the “Anton Karg Haus”.

On the way we got an ice cream. After about three hours we arrived to the “Anton-Karg Haus”. Then we first settled in to our rooms. There we met in the “Group-Room”.

After food we spoke as group about the “house-rules” and played “Werewolf “, a card game.

-Elias S.

Day 2 – Tuesday, 19.July

We all met at eight o’clock in our group room for breakfast. Afterwards we started with group games. We played a special game for trusting the others named “Treasure Hunt”. The goal from this game was to bring all persons to the other side of the creek, but we weren’t allowed to touch the ground. Our materials were two ropes and a harness.

Then we had lunch and a little break. In this time we played our favourite game “Werewolf”.

After this great break we did a Nature Walk, Nature Activities and some Land Art. We built a big Mandala with eleven pieces. Then we went back to our hut, where everyone looked for his/her own secret place. There we stayed for fifteen minutes. All of us were looking forward to play Capture the Flag. We played three times, it was a lot of fun. After this game we had dinner. Before we went into our rooms, we did a stick fight. At ten o’clock we had to go to bed.

- Sabrina F. and Chiara M.

Day 3 – Wednesday, 20. July

When we got up, we saw that the weather was really bad. So we decided to spend the day inside. After our breakfast at 8 o’clock, we played some cool games and afterwards we met to do a council. Everyone was allowed to talk what he/she wanted and the other had to listen to that person. We mostly talked about English.

Then we did some trusting games. For example we got into pairs and one was guiding his/her blind partner safely through the room.

We also had to walk around and had to do some things in groups, witch Andrea told us. Like that we founded our theatergroups. And so we had to great a short story about the topic camping. But we were only allowed to show it with three frozen pictures and every person had to say one little sentence. So we showed at first only the pictures and then someone from the audience were able to touch one actor and then he/she had to say his own sentence.

After the lunch break we talked about what we should pack in a backpack if we are doing a hiking tour and we learned to read a land card and how to use a compass.

When everybody understood how to do it, we had to draw our secret place.

The next exercise, witch we had done, was free writing. Everyone had to write for 15 minutes what comes into his/her mind. It was really interesting.

The next thing was a role play. The half group got a person, who wanted to get the holidays in the USA. And every person got a partner, who was allowed to help the player to get the holidays.

After a long round werewolf everybody got to his/her room and went sleeping.

-Anna B.

Day 4 – Thursday, 21 July

After breakfast we played Kings, Queens and servants. We got into pairs and one of them was the king/queen and the other the servants. The servants had to do everything what the king/queen said. After some time we changed the roles. Afterwards we went a blind line (we were blind and had to go along a rope through a forest. While one of us went the blind line, the others played some communication games. Then we made a stickfight(we fought with sticks against each other). At midday we ate our lunch and then we had a break in which we were chilling in our rooms. We met again at 2 o`Clock to go to our secret place again. At Saturday there would be a theater and we had to find a stage for it. Afterwards we played capture the flag two times. Then we had to plan a hiking tour, which we should lead. We went this tour on Friday. In the evening we made a night walk, which was really cool and then we went to bed.

David W., feat, Michael E.

Day 5 – Friday, 22 July

On Friday we waked up at 8:15 am and we went to breakfast. Then we packet our backpack and went out to the secretplaces where we stayed for 20 minutes. At 10 o’clock we started to walk to Stripsenjochhütte. On the way up all twenty minutes another person leaded the group. We walked around 1½ hours up there. At the hut we ate some food (for example schnitzel with pommes). After that we went home again and it took us 1 hour. We were very tired, we took a shower and we chilled around. After that we played games and had fun. In the evening we played honey, which is a really funny game. J

Alexander feat. Miguel

Day 6 – Saturday, 23 July – last full day

On Saturday we woke up at 7:30am. We ate breakfast and then we made 2 groups. One group had to go climbing and the other to create personal item and play games. At climbing we learned how to secure. We also learned what we have to do, when we fall into glacial gap. à It is called “brusiken” or self securing. At climbing we climbed a via ferrata. The last thing we did was a flying fox. At 11:30am we were back to eat lunch. Then we had a break till 12:30pm. Then the groups were changed, the climbing group had to go painting and the other group had to go climbing. We had to paint a personal object. But when we painted this the donkeys come and put their nose into the colours. When we finished that, we play some games: billi billi bob, stick fight, get to know a tree,… . After this we had a brake and then we go outside. We played on the bridge a very interesting game called Lavastrom.

Then we played the last round Capiture the Flag. When the game was finished we had dinner.

After the dinner we go to a very special place. We did a closing ceremony.

Then we played a theater in the area around the hut.

In the night we played werewolf.

Thomas and Kilian

The last camp 2010 - photos!

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The last camp 2010 - some photos

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The last camp 2010 - more photos

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And there it is... camp 3!

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Leigh and the kids...
see the snow in the background??

By Request...The River Song

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The River She is Flowing

The river she is flowing, flowing and growing.

The river she is flowing, down to the sea.

Oh Mother, carry me, your child I will always be.

Oh Mother, carry me down to the sea.

Camp 2: August 22-28, 2010 Camper Comments

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"I very liked the camp!!! I want to remember it a long time, maybe my same live! They learned us, how spiritful the nature is!!! The leaders were very friendly and funny!! And the Anton Karghaus is very comfortable."

- Elias S.

"It was a very cool camp! Capture the flag was the best! "Loch Greek" was cool too! I love it! Next year I come also too!"

- Bernadette P.

"It is very nice here. I like the food and the betts. I can good sleep here. But the trust games are not so interesting. It was really great!"

- Anonymous

and a few more...camp 2

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A few stories from the Kaisertal...

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Here are some of the stories the campers wrote...

Death Seat

Ones upen a time, some people went to mountain, because there were a new sesselseat. So all the time, people of the village rides with the sesselseat to the top of the mountain. Every year there were lots of people in this mountain. After many years the sesselseat, was old, very old, but that didn't know the people. One day a group of tourits made a traveling onto the mountain. When they got in, they looked at the beautiful nature. At this moment the seat stopped, few minutes later the guys asked themself what happened. The stuff of the group was very nervous and looked back, in front of him, to the left side and to the right side. it was very wobbed. Suddenly, one but only one sessel broke, fall down and crashed on a big, big stone. It was quiet...

Then the sesselseat moved again. Few minutes the mountain rescue was there. It was a horrible day, but on this day the mountain was called, "Death Seat."

-Alina & Bernadette

The Death Church

It was a foggy morning in September. I had spent the night in Anton Karg House. I set off to reach top of the mountain near the hut when the sun was rising. I felt strange this morning. when I passed the big monument with the names of people who died in these mountains, I heard a voice whispering, "Don't go to the mountains...!" I thought it was an immagination. So I went on.

When I came to a small church, I heard the whispering agian. "Don't go to the mountains..." This time it was a little bit louder. I got scared and decided to go back.

One week later I heard about three people who died on the same mountain. I wanted to go. Only one shoe of these people was found. So the mountain got the name: "The Death Church" but the church where I heard the warning was never seen again.

- Michael, Oliver, Pascal, & Paul

Devil's Garden

Devils garden the name because that's the garden from the devil is. The Mountain is dark and has many bears. The bears are big and she has big cllw. In the devils garden is a big stone, on the stone is the devil. Every night walks the devil around in the wood, and looks very bad. That's the story of the devils garden.

- Alexander & Adrian

Devils Church

Once upon time there was old verlassene Church. A Ehepaar bought it. They wanted to life in it. So they wanted to paint the wall white. They bought the coller out of the Window. In the night they heard a voice "erkausche mig". The next cay the white color was full of eyeapples and the color was red. So they bought new collor. The second night and day was the same. so they decided to destroy the wall. In the wall they found body parts. The body parts became alive. The man went into the chicken and get his chainsaw. The took his chainsaw and throw the body parts. Later they found out that it was the daughter of the devil. So they left the church.

-Kajus, Stefan, & Jakob

The Wild Emperor

Bevore a long time, long before the Habsburgers a Emperor reign this town. He lived on the top of big valley wich we calld "Hinterbärenbad." He had many peasens, but they were not from here. The emperor made many wars. Often he attackd other citys. When he atocked some other kingdoms, he toked all the people in his town. So they must live there, and work for him. And so many peoples from all around his kontinent most live and work hard for the emperor. But the emperor had one secret. All 49 days he drove with his horse to an very secret little castle. There he went to on big room in the back of the castle. he send all his diners outside. The only one what the dinners heard is some brölling and winsling. After a little time them are out. And the hole night, the doesn't hear something. But on the other side of this room there is some other door outside. And every night, when the emperor lies in his big bed and sleep, but he look very older. And the door is open... to be continued

- Elias

The Devil's Spice Garden (written by Nate, Leigh, and Elli)

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The Devil’s Spice Garden

(Teufels Gewürzgarten)

Even the devil loved his granny, and as a young devil boy, he loved to visit her at her cabin high in the Wilder Kaiser mountains!

He would spend many weeks there every summer at her place: teasing the animals, swimming in the creeks, and playing all kinds of mischief on the climbers. He always had so much fun at granny’s place, but there was one thing that he could not

stand: Granny’s cooking! For some reason her soups tasted like dirt, her casseroles were so boring, and even the birds and other animals stayed away from her pies that she sat in the window! Granny was a

vegetarian but wasn’t a very good cook.

So, this one day, the devil sat at the kitchen table looking glum. He had a long face and a big bowl of green soup that was getting cold as he stared at it. Granny eyed him and wondered, „what ever is wrong with that little devil. What can I do to get him to eat?“

After that meal, the devil was so disgusted (and hungry) that he decided he had to do something about it! He couldn’t eat another one of Granny’s horrible tasting soups or stews. He was a meat eater and he began to think up a plan.

„How can I make this food taste better?“ He thought.

„I like meat...especially the taste of human meat and souls!“

„But how can I get the flavor into her dishes?“

He thought of an idea: „I know, I could just cut up some climbers and put them into her soup pot!“

But then knew: „No, that would be too obvious. It has to be secret because she’s a vegetarian!“

He thought and thought...and then he came up with a plan! „I know...what if I could make the veggies taste more like humans? It would be almost as good as eating the real thing!!“

„What if I sprinkled the soil where she grows her veggies with human (fertilizer)?“

And so he had his plan, but there was still a problem: Where would he get the humans?

Then, he remembered all the people who visited the Wilder Kaiser and used the bathroom

everywhere and left their toilet paper behind and those who threw trash all around, and still others who wanted to cut down all the beautiful trees. He knew there would be plenty of them...and no one would miss a few of them every now and then!

So the devil began to trick and trap these bad people. He would sit on top of the „Death Seat“ mountain and watch all day for these people to misbehave and then he would lure them away to their deaths!

Once he had gathered enough of these bad people, he would drag them to the Fleischbank and

grind them against the rocks into fine dust to use as fertilizer for the garden.

After a few more days of waiting and suffering through some more of Granny’s meals, his plan

started to work! The veggies began to taste more and more like humans…evil humans! “MMMMMHHHH!” said the devil, “this is great!”

Everything was going as planned and he began to eat more and more of Granny’s food. Even

Granny noticed his new appetite and enjoyment of eating her food. It made her so happy to see him eating her dishes, and he always asked for seconds, thirds, …

Until one day! Granny was walking out to the garden to pick some vegetables when she saw three big bears digging up her veggies and she chased them off with a big stick.

“Get away! Shew! Scram!” she yelled!

Afterward, Granny thought about how strange it was to see bears in her garden. They had never been there before. She thought, “Why are there bears in my garden? They never came here before. Usually, they only eat berries and fish… and meat.”

Then, she realized that something was wrong and she put 2 + 2 together! Bears eating my veggies and that little devil eating my food…something must be up!

So, Granny decided to secretly follow the little devil and see what was going on. She hid as he sat upon the “Death Seat” mountain and watched in horror as he slid down the mountain and pushed some bad people, who were cutting down the trees, off the mountain. She then watched in disbelief as he ground them up against the Fleishbank and then sprinkled their dust over her vegetables!

Suddenly, she jumped out from behind a tree and startled the little devil! She scolded him and said, “What do you think you are doing in my garden, you little devil?”

Ashamed, he answered, “Sorry, Granny, but I had to…”

She yelled, “What’s wrong with you? Why did you do such a horrible thing?”

He answered with a tear in his eye, “Granny, I know it was wrong, but I had to…the soup. It just needed some spices. I’m the devil…I can’t live on veggies alone…I need some meat.”

Granny scolded him, “Well, for goodness sakes, don’t you know that veggies provide lots of important nutrients and minerals that your body needs. You may be able to eat that junk at your parents house, but here…young man…you will eat healthy!”

The devil responded, “Sorry Granny.”

Then Granny punished the devil: “Well, I think that you need some time to think about this! Go to the “Devil’s Hole” over on the other side of the mountain and don’t come out until I tell you to.”

…and so the devil hung his head and trotted off to the hole.

And wouldn’t you know it, but he is still there! You can be sure because there is still a lot of toilet paper and trash in the Wilder Kaiser and people who are cutting down the forest. But just wait! When Granny lets him out… be careful and don’t throw anything on the ground.

- Nate, Leigh, and Elli

Freewriting in nature...

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This tree over there! How long does it take that it is what it is? Many years? And how old is it? Nearly a century. Isn't it boring to stand so long on one place? I can't say it! Do you know it?

The nature here is beautiful. Here are so many animals and it's good that here musn't live humans. The owner of this nice place is the nature and the....are the animals. The water is running in the creek. If water is intelligent it must know more than every person on the world. The humans can destroy places like this in a short time but they can't repair it. Then nature can destroy this place in a short time to but it can repair it and sometimes it's better than before.

The humans are too intelligent. They do so many things which they musn't do. They think they can get energy out of atoms. Their right, but whith this technik they can destroy everything. we know that the earth get warmer and warmer but we don't do anything. We are driving our cars, we are burning earthoil and don't think about the klima. we humans are killing ourselves and we are killing the animals. we must going to be more primitive as we aren't the kings but the illness of the planet.

- Jonas

more pics from camp 2

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Photos from Camp 2

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Reflections from campers of Camp 1: Step it UP!

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"The most important thing that we did was, I think the solo. There we found ourself. But the howl camp was amazing. If I get the change to do this again, I will do it. The people are so friendly we did a lot of games. And I'm very sad to drive home, to the old home. Everything is the same at home but I think I'm another person."

before camp: cola & TV

after camp: nature & solo

- anonymous

"This week is really special for everyone. Everyone who do not do this week miss something from the life."

- Chiara Mayer

"It was such a great week and we had so much fun. Although I was here second time, it was great and we did much of new things. There were so nice and helpful people. The camping was great. And also the solo camping. The games were so funny and cool. I like the climbing with Albin and the slacklining with Rita, the painting with Bowen and the bouldering with Nate. I like the painting our stonehill with Rita when Bowen painted her toenails and she didn't remind it. ( :

It was one of the best weeks in my life.

And so I want to say thank you to the staff and all the group members for this great week!"

- Elisabeth

"Now it is the last day from the English Experience camp 2010 - Step it up! and I'm sad that this is the end.

It was a really great with a lot of adventure and a lot of new things. We have done such great things like playing capture the flag, playing werewolf, doing a "solo night" and for me the group is now a little family and I have found a lot of friends here.

In this way I would say thank you for the greatest "Staff" guys in the world: Nathan, Rita and Bowen. Thank you for all you had done for as campers."

- Sabrina

Camping trip!

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Images from the week

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2010 Camp season...off to a great start!

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Hello everyone,

We have already completed 2 camps and the 3rd is underway as we speak.

Camp 1: Step it up! for returning and older campers, August 13-20, 2010

Camp 2: 12-14 year olds, August 22-28, 2010

Camp 3: 12-14 year olds, August 29-September 4, 2010

Thanks for making it a great summer!

nate

Add Your Comments!!!

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If you would like to leave a note for others, just click on the "comment" word under the entries and you can write a note for everyone!!!

Yours,
English Experience Staff!

CAMP 3...what a camp!

2009-08-15T12:33:00.000-07:00

Here's the story from Camp 3...what a great group of people. Really enjoyed spending time in the Wilder Kaiser with you! - Nate

Camp 3 - Day 6 (continued)

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On our program also stood 'flying fox' and 'closing cermony'.

Flying fox was great! Particulary the jump from the platfrom was the best! Only thing i didn't like that it was so short !

After dinner, when it was getting dark, we took our objects and the music instruments and hike to a really special and holy place!

There were so many different emotions. First we were all a bit sad when we read our storys some of us felt tears in their eyes, but then we sang songs, played funny scenes and we all laugh a lot!

At this night I saw a very big shooting star!

- Kerstin

Camp 3 - Day 6

2009-08-14T13:53:00.000-07:00

Our last day!

Wow the time has gone so fast!

After breakfast Theresa made a cool thing with us! She had the idea to built instruments out of nature! But bevor we made this, we have played a rhythm game!

Built the instruments was so exciting because we had to look for things we can use. I found so many wonderful things. The whole group had a lot of fun! Some of the instruments looked really cool und crazy. The sound, which they made were so funny =D.

- Kerstin

Camp 3 - Day 5

2009-08-13T13:45:00.000-07:00

After we woke up we ate the breakfast, which we had carried to our camping place.

Then we made one of our favourite activity. Therefor Nathen or Rita showed us a very special place in nature! On this place we sat for our own and did some freewriting! It was so a great feeling to sat there and wrote what you think in that moment.

On our way back to the hut we had to look for special things in nature for the closing cermony. Back home we had chilltime or we were allowed to paint our spacial objekts.

In the afternoon we played "Capture the flag". This is also a really cool game! Were there any games, which weren't cool and funny?

After dinner we wrote storys about the names of the big mountains. This stroys we read in a big cave. It was a very mystic feeling to sat in this old cave with a lot of candles and listen to the storsy.

- Kerstin and Georg

Camp 3 - Day 4

2009-08-12T13:31:00.000-07:00

Today we went camping! After lunch we packed our backpacks. They were really heavy, so i was glad that we hadn't walk long. At a very beautiful and cool place we put up our tent, cooked or played in the freezing river.

Karlheinz, Georg, Kilian, Jana and I went in the evening for a little hike with Nate and Nicole! We played two really funny games. (One is calling "Big Boody", I love this game!)We also saw a lot of interesting dead trees and animals!

When it turned dark we made a campfire and were sitting together listen to Nathen's storys, ate smores (marshmallow with a cooky), playes werewolfe or watched the beautiful and big shooting stars.

Then i don't know how late it was, we went to our tent and soon we were all fallen asleep!

- Kerstin

Camp 3 - Day 3

2009-08-11T13:08:00.000-07:00

Today we had breakfast at 8 am, too. Than we went outside and played “Rabbit”. After this we had to go into two groups. In this group we had to play some trust games like slack line and catch the medicine from the lake with some things you need climb. Then it was lunchtime. After that the inspectors came. We got a climbing HARNESS, a helmet, SLINGS, a ROPE, CARABINERS and SHOES. After that we went climbing to a cool rocket. We climbed for two hours. We had dinner at half past six pm. In the evening we wrote our blog and then we played night games (werewolf and speed dating…). Now our third day ends. Good night…

(By Jana, Kerstin, Maria and Elisabeth)

Camp 3 - Day 2

2009-08-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

Today we had breakfast at 8 am. It was great and very good. After that we went to a nice place, and we did some morning-stretches to say hello to the sun. Then we played “Mingle-Mingle, Sling pass, Toilet-Tag and Minefield”. Then it was lunchtime.
In the afternoon we went to the forest and played a lot of exciting TRUST-games. At 5 pm we went back to the house and then we are allowed to chill. Then at 6 pm it was dinnertime.
After the dinner some children swim in the very cold Bärenbad. One hour later we wrote some blogs and then we went out and played some night games. It was a GREAT DAY!!!
Good night…we’ll see you tomorrow!!!

(By Jana, Elisabeth and Maria)

Camp 3 - Day 1

2009-08-09T12:34:00.000-07:00

Today we met at 1 pm. The team explained us the rules and we played some games. Then we started to hike. We had a lot of fun. During the walk we often stopped and play funny games and break. On the middle of the way, we ate an ice cream. In the evening we ate dinner. It was good. After the dinner we played two games outside. The names are: Back to back, face to face and have you ever… or train wreck. Then we went into the hut and played BINGO. Then we read a lot of stories about the first day. Now we have to go to bed. This day was GREAT AND FUN!!!

Good night…

(By Elisabeth and Maria)

Camp 2 - 5th Day

2009-07-31T12:49:00.000-07:00

After spending the morning doing outdoor challenges in two groups, we did our camping 101 (ABC) and hiked to the Baerental. We set up camp, cooked a lovely lentil stew and had a campfire. Eric taught us a real American tradition - smores! We slept underneath a tent of stars...

- Rita

Camp 2 - 4th day

2009-07-30T12:42:00.000-07:00

Today we went climbing in the morning. Before we played some trust games and were introduced the climbing equipment. Moreover we learned how to belay somebody. Climbing was great fun and we became also very hungry. So it was time for lunch J. During our free time we had fun but we had also to clean up our room for the strict judge of the room Olympics.(Just because we don’t want to carry down the wasteJ) Unfortunately Claudia had to leave us after lunch but even though the afternoon was great. We rode a flying fox across the river and we balanced back on a rope. In the evening we chilled and had dinner. Now we are writing our evening reflection, a very good idea, and we are all looking forward to a new game of werewolf.

Lui & Magdalena

Camp 2 - 3rd day

2009-07-29T12:32:00.000-07:00

Today was the hardest day because we were hiking to nice places. It took us about three hours to the top. It was very difficult and hot but we saw nice things like mountain goats. Before hinking here we made an enjoyable break.

-Lui & Magdalena

Camp 2 - 2nd day

2009-07-28T12:26:00.000-07:00

On the second day we stood up and ate breakfast then we played group games and chilled in the hut then we build our own national parks and played bear fish mosquito. Then we ate lunch and went swimming with cool Rita. After that we chilled and ate dinner. That was our second day. My birthday!

-Moritz

Camp 2 - 1st day

2009-07-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

On the first day we had to get to know the other guys. All over the day we played name games so everyone knows each other. And we went for a 2-hour-walk to the house we`re living in for this week. For dinner we had grilled sausages. But before that a few guys went swimming, including Moritz and me! The rest of the time we planned what to do on the following days.

- Flo

Camp 1 - Day 7

2009-07-25T12:01:00.000-07:00

Saturday, 25^th Juny 2009

After our last breakfast together, we packed our things and put them down to the place, where the host of the hut took and took them to the place, where we are going to meet our parents. Then we walked approximate 15 min to a special place, where all the campers of the 3 years were, put there an object from their there. We put our objects down, which we had found in the nature of Hinterbärenbad. After leaving this place we walked 2 ½ down to the place, where we met our parents. It was a really cool, great, funny and interesting week for me.

Camp 1 - Day 6

2009-07-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

Friday, 24th Juny 2009

„Today it is a wonderful morning. The sun is shining and I hear the birds singing. Now it is 7:30 am, the other girls are sleeping. 7:40am: Jude comes into our room and wake us up.” 8:00am: Breakfast with in our “group room” with all the other campers from the English Experience Camp1. After the breakfast Nate told us, that we are going to go to the “Flying Fox” and what we should bring with us in our bag-pak. Approximate a ½ hour all the campers met outside of our hut with our climbing things. We only went 5 minutes and then the adventure “Flying Fox” began. It was a really cool morning, with a lot of fun. But at 11:30 we had to go back to our hut, because we had lunch at 12:00am. After lunch we had a little bit of free time. Our afternoon program was the “Capture the Flag”. I like this game, but to explain it needs to long=). We played this game until our dinner (PIZZA). After a really good lunch, Nate explained us, that we should pack our bag-pack again, because we had to go approximate 15 min to a special place, to have our closing ceremony. But then it began to rain and our 3 leader decided, that we have our closing ceremony in our room. I found the closing ceremony really, really great, because I liked it, only with a few candles in the middle of the room, to sing and to remember with all the campers the really great week, we had. I think it was 10:30pm as Nate send us to bed, because we are going to have a long walk for us tomorrow.

-Sabrina F.

Camp 1 – Day 5

2009-07-23T12:46:00.000-07:00

Thursday morning: When I (Dave) woke up we had a lot of FUN. Slowly one guy after ones was going to the breakfast. At breakfast we ate the same that we would ate in “hinterbärenbad” (nutella, bread, honey, cereals cheese, milk.) After breakfast we built down our tent and also the tent for our bag packs after that everybody get a clipboard and a pencil for a free write in the nature. All except Jude make one. Then we go back and had three ours free time. When we want then go to a cave there came a thunder storm with falling ice. Albin takes all with his big car and a Anhänger. We were very lucky.

Day four and day five from David Jobsd and Lukas Mayr.

Camp 1 – Day 4

2009-07-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

Morning: after breakfast we learned how to pack our bag pack and to made knots for building up a tent.
After lunch: we went on route 821/827 to a waterfall where we go swimming. The way was very hard because the must have a very heavy bag pack.
In the evening: we build up our tent, the second group was cooking our dinner and the third group made a fire. At dinnertime, we got a Lentils soup with Sauer cream, onion, carrots, cheese and bacon. There we also got a very hot chili sauce. After that we went to the fire and eat marshmallows. When we were finished with marshmallows, we told us horrible stories. Then we played werewolf. After that we made our own stories and told it everybody. Then we went to our tent back and made our beds. We had a lot of fun in the tent. Some people didn’t sleep until four o’clock. Annie was very sad because she had a headache and a stomach.

Day four and day five from David Jobsd and Lukas Mayr.

Camp 1 – Day 3

2009-07-21T12:44:00.000-07:00

Today is the 21th of July 2009, in the morning we did Yoga and later we were Creek designer. We play nature bingo and had a lot of fun. After lunch we were playing “stepping stons” that was really funny. We tested our force in rock climbing on the rock. We splash in the really cold river and in the “Bärenbad”. Frequently dinner we played the “ knight game” and the “chicken evolution game“. But the most fun at this evening was the
BILLI BILLI BOB game.

Now we are going to play Werwolf. Good Night.
Lg
Lea Markl, Klara Burtscher & Anna-Maria Löffler

Camp 1 – Day 2

2009-07-20T22:30:00.000-07:00

Today on the 20th of July 2009, we had a lot of fun. Our group went in the woods where we did some nature activities. There we played a game that was named “chicken coop” and we went “slacklining”. In the afternoon our group had a lot of chilling time. Now we will go to play werewolf.

Written by: Anna, Viola and Christina
Bye and have a nice day!

Camp 1 - 1st Day

2009-07-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

Everyone gathers and gets to know one another...

2009 Camps off to the races!!!

2009-07-19T08:40:00.000-07:00

The 2009 camp season has officially started. These are the blog entries from the 4 sessions from summer 2009.

Camp 1 = July 19 - 25
Camp 2 = July 27 - August 2
Camp 3 = August 9 - 15
Camp 4 = August 17 - 23

The blog entries are written by the campers and unedited!

We're off to a great start.

- Nathan Spees

Group shots from Session 3

2008-09-01T08:32:00.000-07:00

What a nice looking group of...

fish!

Day 7 - August 30, 2008

2008-08-30T14:17:00.000-07:00

Some parting comments from Camp 3 campers:

"It was great. I hope we all will see us again next year. I think it's great to learn English without school and you have a lot of fun at learning and you learn a lot!"
-Felix

"It was a cool week, I found many friends. This is a camp, this is a life!"
-Anna

"It was really great! We became a big familie! I hope I can come next year again!"
-Klara

"Everybody dance now...Toof, toof, toof!!"
- guess who?

but...

...all good things must come to an end...

...until next year!

Oh the stories they told...

2008-08-29T23:33:00.000-07:00

Here are just 2 of the stories that were made about the place names in the Kaisertal...

The story of the Teufelsloch
-by Anna

The story is like this:
Long time ago a girl lifes in a little village. This village was on a mountain, and on the mountain there was a cave and in this cave there was a blood hungry devil. And so nobody liked to go to this mountain, 'cause sometimes the devil killed a man and drunk his blood. But one day the little girl walked up the mountain and saw a cave. She was very curious about the cave and she went in. In the cave, it was very cold and dark. She don't know that this was the cave of the devil. During she looked around in the cave the devil was in the village to kill someone. Suddenly the girl heard a noise which sounds like slurp. She turned around and saw a scary person on the opening of the cave. She hidden behind a big stone. Then suddenly the devil turned around. The girl was so scared that she rolling the big stone on the devil. Now the devil is dead and the girl have saved the village!

Wilder Kaiser
- Andreas and Co.

Kaiser Franz Josef, who lived i the 19th Century wanted to have adventures. So one day he went with his girlfriend Sissi to a mountain in this ara. This mountain was unknown and had no name. Franz Josef and Sissi needed some hours. They decided to stay there for the night. They built up a tent on the peak and had a very funny or wild night. And since that Franz Josef and Sissi have called the mountain, "Wilder Kaiser."

Day 6 - August 29, 2008

2008-08-29T14:09:00.000-07:00

In the morning we learned about using a map and compass...then it was out for a little practice...the orienteering run...

Later in the day, we zipped down the flying fox...

...and said goodbye to Eric!

Day 5 - August 28, 2008

2008-08-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

...the next morning...it was a short solo sit and writing and then capture the flag and stream walk!!!

Day 5 - August 28, 2008 Solo sits – Writing

2008-08-28T13:04:00.000-07:00

Today it’s nice. The sun shine. I hear the river. It’s nice to see the much flowers on the ground of the nice wood where I stay.
- Robert

Hello, I am Felix. I’m sitting on a stone in the river. I can only hear the river. I can feel the sun on my back. The place around me is very nice. I’m writing and drawing.
- Felix

Perfect Creek
Relax
-such a beautiful, sunny day
-the creek is one of the best things in this creek. I really love the relaxing sound that is always around. I like the colors and the water – I will show it sometime to my daughter. The creek is running quite fast and the sun makes it shine like stars at last. The stones we in a beautiful grey there’s nothing else to say.
- Alex, Praktikant

The water is beautiful and loud. I saw a wonderful flower near by the river. The sound of nature is great. The river is clear and blue. When you look at it, you feel happy.
- Marc

I’m feeling the sun!
I can hear the water and see a piece of wood swimming along the creek. Fahr away I can hear a (Grille). And the gras, I can feel it at my neck. It’s wonderful…
I can smell it too, it’s “Natur pur”!
I see a flower, a nice flower! I want it! But stop! It’s a living thing and I don’t want to kill something/someone…
I feel something at my arm… It’s a Käfer and I let it be!
I’m hearing a bird on a tree!
And I am thinking about the song “Lemontree” “…I am”
(summen)…..I am singing.
I look around me and see Andi, he is writing something…
He looks around, see me and smiles.

I am singing “Lemon Tree” while I am looking to the air.

Just be happy and love the nature!
- Klara

I like this place because it so still but I have see a zeck. He set on me but I have früh genug kill he. I think I heart rocks from me. I see a stone. he was big and he was the biggest in this area. I lie left of the way. A flie get on my nerves. Right of the way I see a tree he was jung and I think he was dead. Left of me is a stick he is very old I think. I only heart the water. Around of me are many pflanzen. Any stones I give names, the big ones name is Karl. On Karl are moos, and at the site climbing pflanzen hinauf. And this is my place.
- Unknown author

It’s really cool to watch the clouds and hearing the creek. Because of this I paint this picture.
- Lukas

Reality?

Some days ago I had a dream. In this dream people could fly and animals can speak. The earth was as beautiful as some years ago, but the people had all the Technik that we have. I thought I was there for years but suddenly it made Bang! and the picture began to change. The earth wasn’t a beautiful plant any longer. It was dark and grey, it didn’t give rivers seas or ozeans any longer. The whole planet was very dried and everywhere were Vulkans. I was shocked. Then it goes a second time Bang! and I woke up. Since this dream I thought about the earth, the people, and the “Weltall.” When I thought about this there’s also always the question what’s reality. Is reality something that we can eat, drink, feel and smell? Is only the earth a planet where people live on it? Did it give Aliens? These questions were very difficult and strange… For me is reality something I can feel, smell, or touch. I like it this way and I hope these questions were answered… Sometimes.
- Jucy

Some students couldn't express their thoughts/experiences in words...

Day 4 - August 27, 2008

2008-08-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

The camping day is here!

After a "Photo click" game...,
we had to learn how to set up a tarp tent & pack our backpacks...

then it was up, up, up...

and then down, down, down...

... a nice dip in a swimming hole.

...and at last, up with the tents!

...watch out for the "Taily Bone!"

Day 3 - August 26, 2008 (later that day...)

2008-08-26T13:43:00.000-07:00

Great fun with Chickenrun…

After lunch we went back to the rock and suddenly Peter got headache. We started climbing and then Nate told eight people to do the “Postmanswalk.” At the Postmanswalk you go on a thin, rope across a river. The best thing was that you were fixed on another rope. When all the eight people were on the other side we went to the Chickenwalk. The Chickenwalk is a funny game with the slackline. You have to go from one island to the other island and the problem is that everybody of the team must stay connected with each other. It was cool and funny but also very difficult because everybody must have the balance. It was very important to communicate well with the whole team because otherwise you wouldn’t win. Cool!!!!!!
- Jucy

Day 3 - August 26, 2008

2008-08-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

Safety Climbing? Yes!!!
Today after breakfast we went to a rock and did at first a funny game for a better balance. Then Nate told us about climbing rules with a funny picture. We have to ask: “Am I on belay?,” “Yes, belay is on.,” “Can I climb?,” “Yes, climb on.” And then we are allowed to climb. Before climbing the buddycheck is really important. After these rules we climbed in teams of 3 until lunch.

Day 2 - August 25, 2008 (later that day...)

2008-08-25T13:24:00.000-07:00

Emergency, what’s that?

Today at afternoon we played emergency. In this game you must think that you live for 2-3 weeks in the nature because your airplane was crashing into a mountain or so. You can only take 5 things with you. First we must thought what we took alone and then in little groups from 4 persons. Then we went into the wood. There we got some different places. We must make a shelter with the 5 things. After 1 hour our trainers came and said that the time was over. We went to all 4 places and suddenly it began to rain (the trainers took a cup of water) into the shelter. If it was a good shelter you weren’t very wet. I was totally wet! Then we gave notes if the group would live 3 weeks in the nature. It was great fun!!
- Jucy

Day 2 - August 25, 2008

2008-08-25T12:50:00.000-07:00

Started off with a few get-to-know you and group challenges...

The “Lava Game,” but how goes it?
The Lavagame is a realy cool game. You can play it inside and outside. It goes like this: you need two ropes and ca. 10 people and a pair of shoes. (They are two jokers).
First, you put the ropes on the ground (<-3m->) Then one person must put on the shoes. All persons must come over the lava (wich is between the two ropes) But you are only allowed to touch the lava with the shoes.
We had very much fun in this game.
But you must have good teamwork to “survive” this game.
- Anna-Marie

Camp 3 Begins ...the last of 3...

2008-08-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

Off to a good start!

Parting comments from Camp 2 campers

2008-08-17T23:24:00.000-07:00

"It was very interesting and very funny we learn lots of English. and we play lots of games that is very cool."
- Denise

"This was a very great week. We were a small family. I liked everyone. And I think that I will miss everyone. In this week, I have learn more English. I never forget this camp."
- no signature

"The camp was really funny. We spent a great time here in the Hinterbärenbad. Thank you to Nate, Eric, and Glaucia!"
- Danielle

Day 7 - August 17

2008-08-17T14:31:00.000-07:00

The Last Day...

Ah, what a nice looking group...smile!

Now, show everyone how you really look!

Parting shot...once again, how did the leaders get us to walk 15 minutes longer than we had to!? Some things we'll just never know...

The End.

Day 6 - August 16

2008-08-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

A few games in the field!

some great artwork...

2008-08-15T22:36:00.000-07:00

Storytelling - Place names in Kaisertal

2008-08-15T13:12:00.000-07:00

Some great stories were created to explain the various names in the Kaisertal...beware...some stories are gory!

The “Totensessel”
Tom was the richest man of the town Kufstein. Once met his friend Max in a pub to have fun by drinking something. After many beers they couldn’t think clear anymore and talked a lot of nonsense. That’s why Tom bet that he would be able to build a big hotel in the “Naturshutzgebiet” at the foot of the Kaisergebirge. But that’s not any place. There’s a dark wood where all the wild animals went. Scary stories were told about the sudden death of all those who wanted to build something there. It’s not very surprising that nobody wanted to help Tom building the hotel. But since Tom owned the “Froschl” - company he forced his men to go with him. So they packed there things and started to pass through the whole Kaisertal up to the area they wanted to build at.
They worked very hard and so work went very well. But one day the stream which flow straight beneath them didn’t bring any water anymore. It dried out. The sun burned down and they had no water left, neither to drink nor to build. Since Tom wanted to get the hotel ready very quickly, his men had to keep on working. But there didn’t fall any rain for days and days. And one day Tom gave up waiting for water and decided to have a break and work when water flows again.
When they were on their way down to the valley again all for a sudden a big flooding came after them and 3 of Tom’s best workers drowned. But Tom didn’t really care about this. He forced his very frightened men to accompany him back up to finish the hotel.
For some days there happened nothing special; the workers did what they had to do and Tom gave commands. But one morning when they started to work again, they realized that one of them was missing. When they came to his sleeping place they found him dead, nearly eaten up by millions of little ants which run around and over him steadily. The young man’s father, who is one of Tom’s workers too got very angry about this. He was very sure that his son wouldn’t have had to die if they wouldn’t had been forced to go and finish the hotel after the flooding. He decided to kill Tom.
Tom just finished his great seat in front of the building. For this he put down a big tree. Now he was so tired that he sat down on the chair and immediately fell to sleep.
The young man’s father catched this moment and took Tom’s axe. He put it behind his back and then slashed it down on Tom’s neck and the head rolled down the hill. At this moment a great thunder storm broke out. All workers were so scared that they left their stuff and the already finished “hut” behind them. The heavy rain took Tom’s body with it and brought it down into the Inn’s valley. There are still some drops of Tom’s blood on the chair and nobody dares to come nearer than one meter to it. And since the seat was the place where Tom had to die everybody calls it Totensessel.

Tom had lost his “Wette.” He wasn’t able to run a hotel at this frightening place. Now Max went up and took over the “hut.” But as soon as he tried to build the “hut” a bit bigger somebody who was involved in this building died in a strange way.
That’s the reason why the “hut” we stay in looks still like it already looked about 100 years ago.
The End
-Theresa, Danielle

Teufelskanzel

On the top of a a high mountain in Tyrol, not far away from Hinterbärenbad, devils met every 6th day of each month to hold the big conference which was hold in secret…
The place was illuminated by the moon and 6 statues of passed victims formed a circle. No one else than those devils was supposed to penetrate that satanic place but it happened from time to time that a lost sheep found it’s way up the hill…
So 6 lost people had found their way to the devils meeting and those were never seen again. No trace was found of the unlucky victims as they got petrified. One day a shepherd searched for his lost sheep as he got caught up in a storm. He found an escape from the thunderstorm by hiding next to 6 pretty authentic looking stone figures…
Not long after he had found his hiding spot, the devils appeared and this was the shepherd’s end. Ha Ha!
You can still see the figures today and the 6 devils might return one day…!!!???
- Michelle, Sara, Mira

Teufelswürzgarten

Once upon a time there were two brave hikers who wanted to go on a high mountain. They hiked the whole day and in the evening then they came to a house with a little garden with apple trees. They knocked at the door and a little man with a grey beard came out. He asked what the hikers want and they said him that they wanted to sleep in his house for going to the top in the next morning. The old man said that they can sleep there but only when they stay in their rooms at night.
In the night when the hikers went to bed, there heard strange noises. One of the hiker wanted to see where the noises came from. The second hiker follow him and the search together. Suddenly one of them saw the old man with the grey beard. The old man said: You are going out of your rooms I must kill you. The hikers ran out and the old man followed them as quickly as he can. The man got one of the hikers and killed him. The other hiker ran out of the garden an he saw that the old man “in wirklichkeit” the “Teufel” was and put salt at the killed hiker to eat him. That’s why the area is named “Teufelswürzgarten.”
- Matthias H. & Chriss

Pyramidenspitze

100 years ago, there was a man. His name was Viktor. he flew to Egypt to see and to climb on the beautiful pyramids.
Then, Viktor saw a big one. And he climb also on this pyramid. At the middle of the pyramid he made a brake and drank some water. Then he go again. When he was on the top of the pyramid, he was so happy that she shouted: “Hwwa!”
But then it happened: He heard a voice who said: come to me, come to me, follow me. but he can’t see anything, so he follow the beautiful voice. Then he was on the end of the pyramid and doesn’t know it. Normale, he fall down, but he hold on on a stone. So he allived. but he hurts himself. The stone made a big hole in his body. After 7 days, he had a hurtful dead. And now when some people climb on the pyramid and they climb on the top, they never were seen again. Many people say that the soul from Viktor is live in the pyramid.
- Vani, Beddi, Eli

Near a village there was a lake. One day a village was missing. A fisherman had found the heard of the missing village. So the strange man make a night watch.
A next day the villagers found the heard of the man. This goes more agane and agane.
They believe that there live a monster in the lake. One day a joung clever boy had an iddee.
To pumpen out the water of the lace. So the villager do this. The Monster was trying out. But the lace are never drying out. to the villagers must leave there village.
- Michaela, Denise, Katharina

Kopfkraxen

Many many years ago, there was an old hunter who can’t shoot anything. One day when he hiked to the Kopfkraxen, he went to his hunting tree house to shoot a bambie. His 3 legded dog was with him. The dog was old and she ??? It had only 3 legs and 1 ball because 9 years ago the hunter missed wrong the bambie again.
The hunter prepared his shotgun in his hunting tree house to shoot the bambie which he missed 9 years ago. In the afternoon the bambie came out of the wood and the hunter saw it. He loaded his weapon and aimed for the bambie. But he has drunk too much aimwater while waiting for the bambie and he missed it and he headshoted his dog. He wasn’t very sad because it he’s already been old and so he cut off it’s head to make a trophy out of it. He put the head and the shotgun in his kraxen and went home.

Kopfkraxen and the 3 legded dog are trademark of Lucas and Dany cooperation.
-Lucas & Dany

What do you do when it's raining outside?

2008-08-15T12:10:00.000-07:00

EAT CHOCOLATE!!!

Day 5 - August 15, a very wet morning

2008-08-15T02:08:00.000-07:00

Nate's crazy stories...and s'mores!

2008-08-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

on the trail again...camping day!

2008-08-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

First, we have to figure out what to take, where to pack it...and then how to put up a tarp tent!

Then, we're off...to the camping place. How did Eric, Nate and Glaucia get us to walk 2 hours out of our way...when it was only 20 minutes from the hut? Mystery! (and chocolate)

Day 3 - August 13

2008-08-13T13:11:00.000-07:00

“The River Flows”

Today we went to “the rock” to climb. It’s pretty cool ‘cause there is a hard side, but an easy one as well! The rock looks like a too big stone, that doesn’t fit to the alps but neither to little stones… so there’s just a big stone laying somewhere in the middle of a wood up on a mountain next to a river…and what are we doing there?
15 strange people on a mountain in climbing outfits trying to get up this stone. Actually, it worked great..and then there was soup for lunch… Soup…like…every day. This river next to the house started to annoy me… I thought I’m going to get used to it…but, I didn’t. The night was hot.. I had to get out of my sleeping bag and drink. Nathan, Eric and Glaucia did a great job in entertaining us with challenging games and river walks… The people started to trust each other…and listened more to new thoughts…that was awesome…It’s like we’re really getting new friends (here) Especially belaying needs trust… This people hold your life (or broken arms) in their hands! But everything was well. And the river flows wandering down to the valley…
-Sara

climbing & postman's walk

2008-08-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

& the chicken walk!

2008-08-13T12:51:00.000-07:00

2008-08-13T12:50:00.000-07:00

2008-08-13T12:49:00.000-07:00

Day 2 - August 12, 2008

2008-08-12T13:10:00.000-07:00

After a yummy breakfast, we went outside and started some outdoor games. As it was one of our first team games, we struggled a little with appropriate communication…after an hour of chaotic discussions; we had come up with a solution and executed it quite well. In the afternoon, we walked upstreams in the creek. The water was freezing (!!) cold and it all took us quite some time to get used to it. Some of us even swam and we all had a great time. After all that excitement, we all enjoyed the warm showers and the very nice pasta we had for dinner.
-Michelle

I hope the week will be good. Tomorrow we are going climbing and bouldering. I hope the weather will be good. The last two days were fantastic. And I think the other days will be too. Our activities are great (funny, interesting, cool). I’m here with great friends and two great native speakers. My biggest frighten is the weather. When it is raining we couldn’t go outside. The house we are is cool, but the problem is that you have only cold water in the “Dusche.” When you want warm water, you must buy. The sleeping room is small but cozy. All in all, it’s a good week still now.
-Lucas

2008-08-12T12:09:00.000-07:00

2nd Camp - 14-16 year olds!

2008-08-11T13:08:00.000-07:00

The second camp was a lot of fun with a diverse group of campers from across Austria. Here are some photos and stories/reports from the campers!

You can add your comments!!!

2008-08-10T09:31:00.001-07:00

If you want to add comments to the blog or pictures, just click on the "Post a comment." Also, if I have made a mistake, please let me know!!!

Thanks, Nate (aka Monkey King)

Some photos from Amelie...

2008-08-10T09:12:00.000-07:00

Pictures speak a thousand words...

2008-08-09T12:11:00.000-07:00

more great pics!

2008-08-09T12:10:00.000-07:00

...and...a few more...

2008-08-09T12:09:00.000-07:00

...and...a few more...

2008-08-09T12:08:00.000-07:00

2008-08-09T12:07:00.000-07:00

2008-08-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

Final Thoughts - from Rita, Praktikant

2008-08-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

Even though I work during the year and only have 5 weeks of holidays for myself, it was definitely worth investing the time to work at this camp in my "free time" - every single kid visibly grew into the group, and in the end all of us together. We were more than the sum of 15 kids and 3 instructors, much more. I can see that these kids will grow up to become great people, great characters. Knowing that they are now curious about the world and in touch with nature (how they observed spiders, for example!). I feel that one day having been at this camp might make a difference in their lives. I am happy I was able to be a part of this experience.
-Rita Fuchs

Final Journal

2008-08-09T10:09:00.001-07:00

I'll say...it was sooo cool!!! Next year I'll come again!!!
I wouldn't write more but I'll say it was sooo cool! Hope that I see you soooon!!!

Final Journal

2008-08-09T10:06:00.001-07:00

Hello and bye...I don't know what I'll say. I'm really sad because we must leave the camp today. I don't know. I will miss the camp very very much!!!

Final Journal

2008-08-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

Hi, today is the last day at the English Experience Camp. I liked the camp very much because I have found many new friends and did lots of sports. Yeah, it is a pity that the camp is over now. It would be very cool if the camp would be a bit longer. But I enjoyed the time here very much. Yeah, maybe I come here another year.
- Alex S.

We’ll Miss You All the Time

2008-08-08T09:59:00.000-07:00

We’ll Miss You All the Time
(song by Elena)

Refrain
Rita, Eric, Nate – we’ll miss you
all the time. Nothing seems
to be fine – without you.
it’s true.

Rita smiles a lot at us
and makes us smile too
she lets the sun shine for you.
Ref.
Eric we don’t know what to say.
You’re so funny and
we want to stay.
Ref.
Nate you’re our monkey king
oh yeaaahhhh
you make us the Abschied so schwer.
Ref.
but we had to go home
and the way is so long
we hope we’ll see us again.

Bye, Bye

See you soon…

Day 5 – Storytelling

2008-08-07T09:38:00.000-07:00

"Totensessel"
Many hundred years ago, the green patch on the north side of the Kleine Halt didn’t have a name yet. One day, Olaf, on a holiday wanted to prove that he was a good climber. He went up to the Hinterbärenbad with some friends but from there he decided to go alone – he thought he was the best climber anyway. He went up toward the Kl. Halt and took a break. He went on but on a loose rock, he fell down part of the rock face. He was hanging on the wall, injured, with broken legs and screamed for help. His friends down in the valley heard him. They were sitting on the veranda having a drink and recognized his voice. With a car they drove toward the mountain and started to climb but their efforts to rescue their friend were in vain. Olaf had fallen down onto the green patch beside the Kl. Halt. When they found him, he was sitting in the green bushes just like in a chair. The people at HBB decided to name that place Totensessel ever after.
- Sophie, 10 years old (transcribed/translated by Rita)

The “Fleischbank”
Once upon a time there was a mountain called “Edelweißkogel.” It was very peaceful there and everybody who lived on the mountain was very happy. but there was one very horrible secret over the village. Because there was one man who was a very rich man. He had lots of cows but he slaughtered them for eating. He had some men which helped him to slaughter the animals and sell them on the market. But the rich man was very greedy and he didn’t pay for the men who where working for him. So the men became angry and they wanted to get their money. So the man had a cruel idea to solve the problem. He threw the men into his bank but inside of the bank was a “eiserne Jungfrau” (iron maiden) and the men died a cruel and horrible death. And the bad rich man sold the ground meat of the men. And this is why the mountain is called Fleischbank!!!! Weeehhhh!
- Elena, Viki, and Emelie

Journaling by the creek (after camping day)

2008-08-07T09:35:00.000-07:00

The sun is shining and I lie here in the sand on my sleeping mat. it’s sooo wonderful!! I think I have the best place from all!!!! I lie beside the creek and on the other side are high grasses and I lie in the middle of the creek and the high grasses in the sand. It’s only wonderful. I think I’m in the paradise!! Beside me in the high grass are the two wonderful yellow flowers!! They look like the sun!! Behind me is a small water becken where you can put your feet in it!! Around the water becken are many stones where you can sit and put your feet in the cold and fresh water!! The creek is loud, but I like this noise very much!!! you hear nothing – only the creek it’s sooo wonderful!!!!!!! The water from the creek is so clear. I wanted to go in!! Because it’s soo wonderful and clear!! I lie here and write and I think that the high grasses and the beautiful yellow flowers look at me!! It’s only wonderful and I think Nate give me the best place from the whole world!! In the water stand a big stone with grasses and moss on it!!! It looks so wonderful. Nate and Paul came by but I wanted to stay here and write because here it is sooo wonderful!!! On the sky are no clouds!! A butterfly flys around. The grasses are moving in the wind. It’s only wonderful to lie here and write!! With my fingers I made a sun in the sand!! I see another flower too, a white flower with a yellow point in it!! This flower looks like a lake rose!!!! now I’m finished I go back to Nate!! He said when we all were finished we must read it to the others!! I wanted to read it because this place are sooo wonderful and than the others maybe can see it with close eyes!!!!
-Marlene

I smell the grass, I heard the creek, I feel the sun, I heard some grills. That’s funny here. I lie on the ground in the grass. It’s funny here. A spider comes and wieder weg. It’s funny here. It’s funny here. Some insects came and zoomed by my ear. It’s funny here. It’s funny here. Some sticks are broke. a funny noise a tree come down and es ist aus. It’s funny here. It’s funny here bet then came Nate and I must go.
- Johanna

I’m sitting here and I don’t know what I should write.
I’m sitting here and above me is the sky.
On my right side is a little river.
On the left side is some grass.
I’m alone…I’m too alone.
It’s beautiful here.
Oh, what’s that…it’s…oh god…it’s a beetle.
It’s a very big beetle and I’m afraid of it.
I’m afraid of lots of things.
You know I’m afraid to cross the river and fall in…
I’m afraid of my wet shoes and socks and it’s all because I’m alone, I’m too alone.
- Elena

I’m laying here and hear to the beautiful water. It’s all that I do at the moment.
It’s a good feeling to laying in the grass and relax.
- Paul

I hear the water from the creek.
It’s beautiful here. I’m sitting in the sun, and I see a spiderweb. I see also a white beautiful flower. I see many stones in the water. The water is so fantastic! It couldn’t stop! Around me are many trees. I hear a bird singing. And I feel like an Angel! Now I see a bee on the white flower. I see also a butterfly now! I look in the sky now and it was so blue. I love this place. And I’m sure that I will come here again!
- Lea

I’m sitting in the grass and look in the water. I think there are so beautiful stones and small waterfalls. It is so beautiful to relax and listen to the water. In front of me there is a small tree with small leaves. It is a good feeling to sitting in the nature and look at the small animals and the flowers. I’m so happy.
- Alex R.

Today the camping was really nice and I liked it a lot. We were sleeping under the sky with the stars without a tent but it wasn’t too cold. So I liked it. The food we brought to the camping place was also nice. Now I’m looking at the grass and all things around me like flowers trees and so on. And I’m listening to the river. It sounds good. And it’s a relaxing sound. But the ants around me suck a lot. They always want to go on my foot. I hope that there will not be too much spiders.
- Sebastian

The sky is very beautiful. He is only blue. The creek is very loud. There is another noise. A dog bells but not very loud. Then sun is very hot. The wind blows but not strong. Around of me there are a lot of trees and some gras. There sing some birds. I’m so tired. There is a car. I know it’s not a lot but I don’t know more! Sorry!
- unknown author

Yesterday we walked up to camp. We are going to a big grassland. There we did camping for the night in the next morning we have breakfast. Then the boys lies in the sun. For some minutes we walked over a big “Brett.” Elena falls off the “brett” and in the water. Yet everybody lies in the woods and writes something. I have seen a butterfly with orange “Flügel” and I have seen a butterfly with black and red “Flugeln” I saw a small spider. It was black.
- unknown author

I hear the water from the river. bird
I see a lot of stones because I am sitting in a river but there is no water in it. I see black bird on a tree sitting. now an “Libelle” fly across the old river. A bee start to fly from a stone. I saw a stone it looked like a smiled face. I see a cold tree with his branches on it. The sun shine down from the blue sky and it’s hot. A little wind came and the branches of the tree moved. A little bird fly over me away.
- Michael

Creek
It’s very funny to look how the water break in a wave and then slowly gets faster. I want to know how many water goes down this creek everyday. I think it’s the hous of many fishes and insekt larvae and frogs. I mean the water is only so clear because it’s so cold. The flowers at the creek are so beautiful then are so many insekts like an little grassjumper.
- Valentin

The water in the creek floats and floats and floats.
It floats over a stone up and down. The next one. Up and down. A fish. It jumps out of the water and dives under a rock. A frog just sits here on a stone and hides behind some grass. Yeah. The water floats and floats and floats.
- Alex S.

Day 4/5 – Wednesday & Thursday

2008-08-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

Day 4:
On day four, we went camping. As a morning program we learnt how to build a tent in the nature and how to pack a rucksack for hiking and at least how to go with a compass and a map. After lunch we walked with our heavy rucksacks to the camping places. It was really hot. When we were at the camp places we first build a tent but in that tent we only do our rucksacks. We slept outside. The night was very cold and wet. My sleeping bag was wet and my isomatte also. After dinner we went to a cave to story telling.
Day 5:
We got up at 8 o’clock. Everything is wet. I put my thing in the sun to dry. After breakfast we packed everything. Then we play a relaxing game. We had to relax for 3-4 minutes and then we had to write something. In the relaxing time I see some flowers, a butterfly and I hear the creek. I’m sitting hear at the creek. It’s very loud. The trees around me are very high. It’s hot.
- Hannes

Day 3 – Tuesday, August 5

2008-08-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

Today we go on a hill and should heard some noises in the wood. It was cool what we had play in the wood. Then at the afternoon we go climbing. I was an “Anfanger” but Nate said that Amelie, Viki, and I “schnell Vortshritte gemacht haben.” I think it was very cool because I have so much fun there. Today is my Birthday and I think this day was the greatest Birthday I ever had. I’m so lucky!!!!!!!!
-Johanna

My name is Lea. I’m in the English-camp. Today we played in the outside. It was very cool. Then we went in the wood and search things of animals. I found a spider web. Then we went back to our house and then we went climbing and bouldering. It was very cold and loud around the creek. Then we have dinner. And it was a really good and nice day!
-Lea M.

English Experience Camp 1 - 2008! Off to a great start!

2008-08-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

Day 2 – Monday, August 4, 2008

“Outdoor Adventure Games”
Today was the 2nd day. It was such a nice day. We played lots of games. We had learned to work in teams. In the grassland or in the wood (we played the games). We wanted to do creek walking but the weather was too cold. Its nice here. You must come too and enjoy a week in “hinterbärenbad” am Wilder Kaiser.” Tomorrow, we’ll go climbing. I hope it will be funny too.
by Elena Zanker

A Poem
by Johanna, Lea, Elena, Viki, Amelie, Sophia, Marlene

The English experience camp is very cool.
Its much better than school.
We have a lot of fun and
everyday we play in the sun.
Rita, Eric and Nate are nice
and we always get at least a prize.
We are lucky that we’re here
Thank you for the time with you!

English Experience Camp 2 - Great Reviews!

2007-09-02T05:03:00.000-07:00

"That was the best camp I ever had...very magical...cool time with you all! Thank you!"
- Philipp

What I Liked Most: "The campfire, night walk, climbing, free time, the stories around the campfire, and the pizza!"
- Gunther

"This week was really great. I really liked the canyoning and the climbing. It was much fun and I learned a lot. The orienteering run was also good."
- Verena

"Fun? What do you mean by fun?"
- Markus

"I say only: A very great week."
- Armin

"I want to join this camp next year. It was the best camp I ever attended. Thanks to the staff and the new friends!"
- Lukas

"The best OAV week I've ever had. Really!"
"The river she is flowing, flowing and growing, the river she is flowing down to the sea,
Oh mother carry me, child I will always be, oh mother carry me down to the sea."
- Fabian

"The week was great and we had a lot of fun!"
- Lisa

"It was one of the best weeks in my life"
- Michi

"Martin is the werewolf, I know it! We should kill him. If he isn't the werewolf, you are allowed to kill me. But if you want to kill me, I'm not the werewolf! You are going to make a big mistake. Please don't kill me."
- Julius

Camp 2 - The crew!

2007-09-01T07:55:00.000-07:00

Day Six - Friday

2007-08-31T07:30:00.000-07:00

Woken by the sun!

Group Activity: Evolution...find your single celled friends!

Now, see if you can make a square with a rope!

Hiking down to the meeting point

Creekwalk/canyoning...and was it cold!

The dirtiest room...EVER!!!

Closing Ceremony

Day Five - Thursday

2007-08-30T07:17:00.000-07:00

Group Activity: Sinking Islands...will the international group of scientists (what else could you be?) make it to dry land?

Camping: Set up the tarps...and try to stay dry! Mmmmm, pesto pasta!

Gather round the campfire

Day Four - Wednesday

2007-08-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

Group Activity: Nitro Crossing - A Difficult (WET) Challenge!

Orienteering Run...can you find the right way?

Who's this stinky guy?

2007-08-28T07:59:00.000-07:00

Day Three - Tuesday

2007-08-28T07:05:00.000-07:00

Group Activity: Rescue the medicine from the radioactive waste lake!

Getting warmed up for a little rock climbing!

Setting up the climbs

Just hangin' out.

Is THIS Fun?

Day Two - Monday

2007-08-27T10:56:00.000-07:00

Teamwork Discussion & Leadership Models

Oh, no not this again!

Build-A-Monster!

Cross the Acid River

Survivors! Plane Crash in the Arctic

Night Hike

Camp 2 Begins - Sunday, August 26

2007-08-26T10:44:00.000-07:00

Campers arrive...and the fun begins!

English Experience Camp 1 - "Lots of fun!"

2007-08-25T22:55:00.001-07:00

Below, are a mix of photos and text from the first English Experience Camp (August 19-25, 2007) - most photos were taken and all text was written by the campers from Camp 1. Thursday and Friday there was no time available to write ...we were having too much fun!

Day Six - Friday

2007-08-24T22:50:00.000-07:00

No text provided.

Day Five - Thursday

2007-08-23T22:40:00.000-07:00

No text was written...but photos speak a thousand words...