Off to the mountains to experience theory live! Under this motto, the advanced geography course of the Johannes-Brenz-Gemeinschaftsschule set off for Berchtesgaden on 12 July 2024, together with the two teachers, Frau Hentschel and Frau Jährling. The four-day excursion focused on topics relevant to the Abitur and served to deepen and revise the specialist input given at school.
„The water really has an enormous force! Now I understand the erosive effect much better!“ – said one pupil on the very first day. Straight after checking in at the Berchtesgaden youth hostel, the hiking boots were packed and off we went to the Almbach Gorge. The SchülerInnen were able to experience for themselves how fluvial processes shape landforms while hiking through the Almbach Gorge. The prior knowledge about how gorges form finally became tangible and could be experienced first-hand.
With perfect weather, we set off on the second day with our two 9-seater minibuses to Lake Königssee. But our destination was not the touristy St. Bartholomä – for us geographers, we went all the way to the end of Lake Königssee, to the final stop at Salet. There we crossed the terminal moraine of the last Ice Age and finally reached a breathtaking panorama overlooking Obersee. Here, too, theory came alive in perfection: with tablets, we took photos and sketched and analysed the shape of the valley. The expert group of the day provided the necessary background information. And that was not all: we hiked around Obersee up to the foot of the largest waterfall, which supplies Obersee with meltwater and rainwater from the mountains.
One highlight followed another when we set off early in the morning the next day for Werfen to visit the largest ice cave in Europe. Drenched in sweat but overjoyed, we reached the entrance to the ice cave after a steep climb, including a short cable car ride. We had started at over 20 degrees and arrived below freezing – a challenge for our hiking gear. With carbide lamps, we crossed the ice cave, climbed 1,400 steps and were lost in wonder. The theoretical knowledge was once again turned into practice and into emotions. In the late afternoon, a small group of tireless pupils did not stay at the hostel to rest before dinner, but accompanied Frau Jährling on to Hintersee. The fluvial landforms as well as the unique flora and fauna are also worth admiring.
On the last day of the geography excursion, we visited the Salzwelten salt mines in Hallein, where we refreshed and extended our knowledge of how mineral deposits form and how they are mined. Full of positive experiences, unforgettable memories and feelings of happiness, we began the journey home. The excursion has achieved its goal. The pupils of the advanced course were able to deepen Abitur-relevant content and link it lastingly with positive emotions and experiences, so that a big step towards learning for the Abitur has already been taken. Everyone also developed their social skills. People were encouraged to keep going, fear of heights was overcome as a team, and despite aching legs, everyone fought to reach the shared goal. Nobody was left behind, and everyone was accepted and valued just as they are. That is Gemeinschaftsschule – learning with head, heart and hands.
