Boats Transmit Dreams - Child-focused Retreats in Wernshausen
Every year, the picturesque town of Wernshausen plays host to an unforgettable event - an annual kids' camp designed to provide a summer filled with adventure, learning, and personal growth. This year, from August 5th to 7th, 41 children aged 9 to 12 embarked on a journey of discovery.
Activities
The camp offered a wide range of activities designed to cater to every child's interests. Outdoor adventures included hiking, nature walks, team sports, and water games. Creative workshops allowed children to paint, draw, compose music, act, and even script their own plays. Educational sessions focused on science experiments, cooking classes, and environmental education.
Themes
This year's camp was themed around "Peter and Many Fish," encouraging environmental awareness, cultural exchange, and innovation. Activities were designed to promote sustainable living, protect wildlife, introduce kids to different cultures, and encourage creativity and technology.
Participant Feedback
Participants reported high levels of enjoyment, citing favorite activities like team sports, creative workshops, and the rubber boat rides on the Werra. Many kids made new friends, improved their social skills, and appreciated the opportunity to try new activities and learn new skills.
Some suggestions for improvement included offering more options for kids with different interests or abilities and providing more opportunities for kids to choose their activities or influence the program.
Highlights
One of the camp's most memorable moments was the first day, when a self-staged theater piece about Peter was performed. Many kids named this and the rubber boat tour as their personal highlight. Not a single boat sank during the float, making it a successful and enjoyable experience for all.
The second day brought sunshine and a train ride to Wasungen for some children, their first train ride ever. Rubber boat rides on the Werra were a highlight of the second day, accompanied by a Jesus song. Pizza and stick bread were served, followed by a campfire in the evening.
A poignant moment came on the third day when small groups built wish boats using branches, moss, leaves, nuts, and imagination. Each child placed at least one heart's desire in their boat, and the wish boats were set afloat on the Werra, marking a moving moment for all.
A huge thank you goes to all the helpers, teamers, and team leaders who made this camp possible. As one participant summed up the camp, "Everything was beautiful!"
The annual kids' camp in Wernshausen continues to provide a unique and enriching experience for children every year, fostering a love for adventure, learning, and personal growth.
Accepting various personalities and interests, the camp highlighted outdoor-living activities such as hiking, nature walks, and water games, which complemented the home-and-garden themed creative workshops where children painted, drew, composed music, and scripted plays.
This year's camp unveiled a recurring performance inspired by "Peter and Many Fish," encouraging innovation, cultural exchange, and home-and-garden themed education focusing on sustainable living and environmental awareness.
