The third week of summer vacation was also a hit, featuring sports, creativity, and outdoor adventures, and once again offered the children a varied program with numerous exciting activities.
The event kicked off with two “Fun and Games with Dogs” activity days on July 11 and 12, 2026, in cooperation with the Idar Dog Lovers Association (Verein der Hundefreunde Idar e.V.). There, the children learned in a playful way how to teach dogs exercises and tricks. In addition to lots of interesting information about how to properly interact with our four-legged friends, there was plenty of time for going for walks together, playing, and practicing new tricks.
The action continued at the three-day tennis camp hosted by the Idar-Oberstein Tennis Club. From July 13 to 15, 2026, beginners and advanced players alike received instruction tailored to their skill levels. In addition to learning how to handle the ball and racket, the program included basic strokes, various game formats, and a range of movement-based games.
In the self-assertion workshop on July 14 and 15 with Alexandra Böning, girls ages 8 to 12 learned in a playful way how to stand up for themselves with confidence. Together, they explored their own boundaries, feelings, and personal strengths and built their self-confidence through various exercises. The emotional highlight was breaking through a wooden board—a powerful symbol that each of them possesses great strength and can rise above their own limitations.
Three exciting nature adventure activities took place in Bundenbach in collaboration with nature and landscape guide Michael Brzoska. During the castle expedition “The Secret of the Forgotten Knight” on July 14, 2026, brave children embarked on an adventurous treasure hunt and, through play, learned a lot about knights and medieval life at Schmidtburg Castle. At the “Climate Camp” on July 15, 2026, participants became little climate detectives and explored, among other things, why leaves “sweat,” the important role the forest floor plays in our ecosystem, and how each individual can help protect our planet. The event wrapped up with the “Outdoor Games for Everyone” on July 16, 2026, during which the children tackled various team games in meadows, in the forest, and in the stream. The day ended with an awards ceremony.
Another sporting highlight was “Table Tennis Day” at TuS Tiefenstein on July 14, 2026, where both beginners and experienced players had the opportunity to improve their skills. A special highlight was the chance to practice with a table tennis robot.
The creative activities at the youth center on the market square were also very popular. During the “Acrylic Painting” workshop with Nada Vitz on July 15, 2026, participants created colorful works of art on paper and cardboard, as well as personalized magic wands in the children’s favorite colors. During the “watercolor painting” sessions on July 15 and 16, 2026, led by Bärbel Busch, participants learned about various painting techniques and experimented with, among other things, the wet-on-wet technique, salt effects, and other exciting creative possibilities.