The first week of the summer vacation program had it all: from music and painting to animal adventures, there was something for every interest. The first day of the vacation started in Tiefenstein with an exciting badminton workshop in the Stadenhalle. The Idar-Oberstein badminton team introduced 16 girls and boys aged between 9 and 15 to the basics of the sport in a fun way. After warm-up games and exercises with rackets and balls, the children were able to directly apply what they had learned during free play and clearly had fun.
In several taster courses at the Mathias music school, the children were able to gain their first experience with the acoustic and electric guitar, while the dance and music school Dezibel got loud, with the drums taking center stage.
Gaby Hofmann took the participants on mysterious trails, where everything revolved around dragons and bats. The Tiefenstein Staden table tennis day, organized by TuS Tiefenstein, was a sporting event. Children were able to try their hand at basketball at TV-Oberstein.
There was also a lot going on at the youth club at the market. Sandra Welsch visited with her "Creative Green Suitcase", which was filled to the brim with colorful craft ideas and unusual hands-on projects. Day after day, the JAM was transformed into a small workshop where people hammered, glued, built and experimented. Whether it was the popular rocket vehicle with balloon propulsion, decorated boats for the little stream in Idar city center, colorful treasure chests or self-built marble runs, children were at work everywhere with zeal and enthusiasm. On the last day, exciting experiments with the elements of air, water and fire were on the program.
In the first week, they went to Bundenbach in the Hahnenbach Valley with Michael Brzoska. Among other things, they discovered the world of the Celts. Together with a group of curious children, they walked cross-country along the still visible ramparts of the Altburg, a former Celtic settlement. The children showed great enthusiasm for the history and asked questions with great interest. Towards the end of the excursion, the children were able to give free rein to their creativity: They made individual necklaces and bracelets from natural materials and were also able to try out archery. On the outdoor day, the focus was then on bows and fire, the children were able to make fires, practise archery and look forward to more exciting group activities.
A special highlight was the project "The mysterious suitcases", which was offered for the first time. A creative journey through time in which the children rummaged through their grandparents' attic, discovering and trying out old treasures such as typewriters.
The weekend was also colorful this year. Artistic activities included acrylic painting with Nada Fitz at JAM and a new activity by Marina Engelmann on feelings, self-confidence and inner strength, where the children spent three days exploring their own perception and expressiveness. For fun and games with dogs, the Idar Dog Friends Association invited them to the VdH Idar dog park, where humans and animals met in a very special way.