Benediktbeuern Trip

About a month ago, MadHatter's entire 3rd grade went on a 3 day/2 night trip with school.  I thought they were in for a bit of a challenge with 26 8-year-olds on their hands but I was assured that they had done this for many years and it always turned out to be a great time.  And according to MadHatter they were right. She had an incredible adventure and even now, a month later, I get regaled with stories of the time she spent with her friends in the woods.  

The kids were all asked to pack according to a list sent home.  And they truly meant that the kids would have to do the packing as they would be the ones who would have to pack it all up and bring it home so they needed to know what they had.  And they were even quizzed on what was in their bags before heading out to make sure that parents hadn't just gone ahead and done it for them.  MadHatter's question - what color are your pajamas and do they have a character on them?  Of course, she got it right because any chance I can get to make her responsible for her own things I am certainly going to take it.

Here is MadHatter with her suitcase, her backpack full of hiking supplies and a small snack for the road.  She is bursting with excitement!

I dropped her at school that day and received instructions on how to follow along with their adventures.  The teachers would be posting photos to a private twitter account so parents could get a glimpse of what the kids were doing and how it was going.  The only restriction was that none of the children's faces could be shown in full so we would be getting a good look at all of their backsides.  Which brings me to why I am just getting to this post, a full month after they left.  The kids were not allowed any electronics on the trip which meant no digital cameras.  I sent MadHatter with two disposable film cameras and I am just now getting the pictures she took back from processing.  The pictures she took will be the ones with the grey borders around them...the pictures the school sent us are the others.

And they are off...

On the bus ride there...

The checked into their hostel and were immediately put to work.  They had to make their beds and set up for lunch.

A selfie before heading out into nature on their first hike.

MadHatter and a friend getting a lesson on poisonous insects to watch out for in the forest.

Just some pictures of the hike.  They ended up in the moor - literally.  MadHatter said she sank to her thighs and had to be pulled out by one of the teachers.  And loved it!

Some of the kids getting stuck.

They ziplined...

Played oversized musical instruments...

And generally just had a great time.

Back at the hostel, after a hearty dinner and some showers, MadHatter and her friend P wrote a song about the Mud they encountered in the Moor.

And they finished it up with a movie.

Day Two started with a bit of breakfast (and a picture of what Maddie was wearing so I knew to look for a black tshirt and white shorts in the pictures).

Ready for another day of fun!

The group hopped a train that took them to the mountains - right about to where the kids are pointing.

Walking to their destination in the mountains.

They passed a few cow on their way...

to this gorgeous lake...

And, of course, the first thing they did was jump in - clothes and all.

After a snack and some drying off, they crossed a bridge or two to get to the waterfalls.

Heading deeper into the woods to play a game of survivor (love that MadHatter had the red backpack - so easy to spot her in the photos).

Playing survivor - they are all blindfolded and being asked to find their way around an obstacle course.

The classes were quiet that night with no further check-ins to report but bright and early the next morning we got a picture of the sunrise from their dorms.

Today was a short day as they had to be back at school for pick-up at 1:30 so they toured (and were amazed by the Abbey.

This monastery was founded in 739 and is one of the oldest in all of Bavaria.  MadHatter loved every second of it as she is simply fascinated by churches of all types.

And then they were home.  Tired (exhausted), a bit dirty, and with a lot of new friendships made.  The trip got two thumbs up and she keeps asking where they are going next.