Our trainee trip 2024
Every year, trainees from all training programs and years embark on a joint trainee trip. This year, 24 trainees took part, accompanied by our training supervisor Caro and our head of training Nadine. The trip is a great opportunity to meet other trainees and exchange experiences across different training programs. This year, our journey took us to the district town of Rotenburg (Wümme).
Day 1: Setting sail
Our bus was scheduled to depart from Grasleben at 7:00 AM, but the start was delayed by about 20 minutes. And no, no one overslept. The bus that was supposed to bring some of the trainees to Grasleben on time was running late that day. Despite this small delay, we arrived at our youth hostel as planned at around 9:30 AM, where coffee, water, and fresh pastries were already waiting for us.
Fishing in the acid pond
After a quick refreshment, our two trainers, Christian and Elisa, joined us. After introducing themselves and giving us an overview of what to expect in the next two days, they revealed that a third trainer was with them—one with fur, named Socke. Excitement erupted, and even a few happy tears were shed. Could it get any better? Yes! We kicked off with a balancing exercise on a rope, where we had to pass each other closely, leading to some initial physical contact and a fun icebreaker. Afterward, the 24 trainees were divided into two evenly matched teams. The challenge was to rescue objects from an “acid pond” using various creative methods. After this task, we returned to the youth hostel for a well-earned lunch, preparing us for the demanding afternoon ahead.
The Weichelsee regatta
After lunch, we boarded a bus to Weichelsee, where we were split into four small groups. Each group had to construct a raft, which we would later use for different water-based challenges. While some of the rafts wouldn’t have won a beauty contest—let alone withstood a storm—all of them served their purpose: not a single group had to swim to shore without their raft! After our nautical adventure, we disassembled the rafts and reflected on what went well and what could be improved. The bus ride back to the youth hostel was completely silent—everyone was exhausted from the day’s activities.
Evening event
Back at the youth hostel, everyone took the chance to freshen up before gathering for a barbecue. We all sat together at a long table, enjoying the meal. Once everyone had eaten, we reflected on the day’s experiences and continued getting to know each other over a few drinks. Due to the physically demanding activities, most trainees went to bed early, ensuring everyone was ready for breakfast at 8:30 AM the next morning.
Day 2: The marble run challenge
The second day started at 9:30 AM after breakfast. We met briefly in the seminar room to drop off our belongings before heading outdoors for the day’s activities. After a short warm-up, we were once again split into four equal groups. The morning challenge was to build a marble run that would keep a golf ball moving for as long as possible. Each group took a different approach, making every marble run unique. The structures were evaluated based on various criteria, such as duration, creativity, and design. In the end, everyone was a winner! Each team worked together to achieve a result that all members were happy with. Afterward, we dismantled our marble runs and packed away the materials.
Step by step toward the finish line
The final challenge of the seminar also took place outdoors. Called the “bog path,” the goal was to construct a path using carpet tiles to bridge a certain distance. The challenge was to maintain contact with all tiles at all times—if a tile was left unattended, it was removed from play, increasing the difficulty. Despite losing a few tiles along the way, we successfully completed the challenge as a team and even earned special praise from our trainers. To wrap up, we held a feedback session about the past two days, with mostly positive responses. Then, there was only one thing left to do—take the bus home. Despite poor weather and traffic on the return journey, we arrived safely and on time in Grasleben at 5:50 PM.
In summary, these two days were both enjoyable and educational. Everyone grew in teamwork and communication skills, the first-year trainees were well integrated into the group, and overall, the trainees got to know each other much better.