"Most of them prefer action," says Isabel Hofherr. The 20-year-old from Lermoos is taking part again this year. The Tyrolean Family Nests children's programme, which the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena is offering for children as a partner region from 3 July to 15 September 2023, is all about nature. The outdoor adventures are free for guests of partner businesses, while other kids can join in for 25 euros per day. Siblings pay 15 euros. Together with play and adventure-trained child carers, the four to nine-year-olds spend a week transforming themselves into nature detectives, artists and adventurers.
A varied programme
The programme from Monday to Friday sounds tempting. The children's programme includes, for example, survival training with fire-making, water adventures and forest explorations in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena. "We also collect various herbs in the meadow and use them to make herbal salt or chocolates," reveals Hofherr. What parents usually try to do in vain succeeds effortlessly here: games on the mobile phone or computer are forgotten.
Every day, the Confetti-Alm takes you to new fantastic places, such as the Gaisbach, the Lärchenweg or the Wiesenweg. When the weather is bad, the children can do indoor gymnastics, arts and crafts or play. "The children always want to experience and learn something new," says Hofherr. "We often just go out into the forest, for example to identify the types of trees, do face painting or make wreaths from flowers we've picked ourselves."
Different concepts for the children in Tyrol
"Our child carers are all certified. They receive extensive training from the Tyrolean Association of Family Nests, for example in forest education, magical face painting, nature crafts, water knowledge, but also in first aid for children in everyday life," says Bianca McCarty from the Ehrwald Tourism Association. Following the concept of forest education, the young nature detectives learn a lot about tree species, birds and the forest. Using the concept of land art, the children can also create small works of art in and with nature. During their hike, they collect small stones and various types of earth in cups - which can be crushed with a hammer, for example. The children then use the earth pigments to create imaginative works of art.
In the midst of healing nature
"Land art can support therapeutic processes, promote personality development and team building," explains McCarty. "The parasympathetic nervous system is activated, which is an important part of the nervous system responsible for recovery and regeneration." The Tyrolean nature itself also has a holistically positive and healing effect on the children. All of this strengthens their social skills as well as their enthusiasm for interacting with nature. "At first, some children can't tear themselves away from their parents, but soon they don't want to go home. They all say we'll be back tomorrow," says Hofherr happily.
There is a special activity programme for young people and children from the age of ten together with Bergsport Total. Every Monday, 3D archery in Ehrwald requires full concentration. Here, recreational hunters can aim at three-dimensional animal dummies. Then it's off to the Häselgehr waterfall for a climbing session. And because it's so much fun, there's a parkour in the Bichlbach climbing forest on Wednesdays. After various challenges, which always take place on Fridays, the young athletes can look forward to a final barbecue. Of course, they light the fire themselves.
