Some trips are about ticking boxes. Others are about discovering what you’re really capable of – and for this group of students, South Tyrol was definitely the latter.
Over the course of a week, students dove into a packed program of outdoor adventures that included canyoning, hiking, rafting, and archery. Without phones, distractions disappeared, replaced by mountains, stars, and shared experiences.
Defne summed it up: “We did a lot of activities. It was nice, I enjoyed archery most.” For others, it was about pushing limits. “I had to jump off a bridge into the river to start the canyoning,” said Melle. “I definitely overcame my fear of heights.” Leya agreed, rafting may have been her favorite, but conquering her fear of heights was a personal highlight.
There were peaceful moments, too. Valentina described sleeping under the stars near the cabin: “We saw the outline of the trees and the stars, it was so beautiful.” The group set up a tarp next to a cabin deep in the woods, gathered around a campfire, and shared a delicious meal that everyone had helped to prepare. Some got more sleep than others, but the experience quickly became a highlight of the trip.
For Lucy, the triathlete among them, the challenge was less physical and more about supporting others: “I really enjoyed helping my teammates, and canyoning was just so much fun.” “The waterfalls were awesome, I was looking up at this seemingly alive force of nature in front of me. It gave me a perspective on life.” Carson said. And as Marc put it, “It was a chilled trip. I had a lot of fun with the activities and the people. I enjoyed this outdoor trip more than I would have a city trip.”
