Experiments in the chemistry and physics labs to experience the natural sciences up close or creating new rhythms on the percussions - around fifty children experienced a real holiday highlight at the summer camp of the "Strengthen Diversity" project at Paderborn University. Under the motto "PaderPower: Our superpower - together we are strong", the children from grades three to seven spent a varied week on the university campus at the end of the summer holidays. The summer camp took place for the eighth time this year.
The staff of the Centre for Educational Research and Teacher Training - PLAZ-Professional School and the Institute for German Language and Comparative Literature at Paderborn University, who organise the camp every year with the support of the alumni association PLAZEF, were also pleased with this praise: "It was great to see how the children had fun and learned new things over the course of the week. But we were also able to learn something from them," said camp director Dr Maria Mochalova.
Students gain valuable practical experience
Student teachers looked after the children in small groups. Together they took part in the themed workshops and used the time individually in their groups. In the process, the students gained valuable practical experience, as reported by Luise Scheffler, who was active as a supervisor and is studying primary school teaching: "We learned a lot in a short time and it was impressive how quickly the children with many different mother tongues grew together and had fun together."
Claudia Holle, Managing Director of the Osthushenrich Foundation, was also enthusiastic about the atmosphere and the benefits for all involved: "The Osthushenrich Foundation is very pleased that the 'Strengthen Diversity' summer camp has been so sustainably successful. The children can make new friends and get to know the university as a place where they can develop through play. And the students gain valuable practical experience that will best prepare them for their future professional lives." The Gütersloh Osthushenrich Foundation supported the "Strengthening Diversity" summer camp as the main sponsor with 4,000 euros. Bernhard Lünz, who heads the Municipal Integration Centre (KI) at the Paderborn District Education and Integration Centre, was also impressed: "The summer camp was a highlight for the participating children from all corners of the district. My heart sank professionally and personally when I saw the enthusiastic children." The KI sponsored the holiday programme with 1,000 euros.
"The summer camp is a successful model and shows how teacher training can have an impact in the region and be an attractive learning, experience and development opportunity for the children and the students," summed up the director of the PLAZ Professional School Prof. Dr. Bardo Herzig.
This text has been translated automatically.
