Bad Goisern – From September 3 to 5, the apprentices embarked on a special journey: the apprentice camp at Camp Yukon. Led by social and wilderness educator Günter Preisch and his colleague Martin Krejcarek, the three-day program offered a mix of nature experiences, self-reflection, and teamwork.
After a journey of about one and a half hours, all participants met at the agreed meeting point in Bad Goisern. From there, the group continued on foot. Working in pairs and equipped with a map, the apprentices set off toward the camp. The maps showed distinctive waypoints to help with orientation. After about an hour of hiking along a forest road, the group reached Camp Yukon.
There, they were welcomed with coffee, cake, and a crackling campfire. After a warm greeting, the group received a tour of the camp, where important facilities such as fresh water points, toilets, and the firewood storage area were introduced.
After settling into their sleeping places, everyone gathered around the campfire for self-introductions – a first step in getting to know each other better. The apprentices were then divided into three rotating teams:
The first shared task followed shortly afterward: preparing the afternoon snack with fresh vegetables, bread, cheese, and sausage. Re-energized, the group then headed into the forest for a special team exercise. In three groups, they had to transport a marble from point A to point B across several sections. Communication, coordination, and trust were required—and after several attempts, they succeeded brilliantly.
In the evening, the group cooked a potato goulash together, providing a culinary highlight to end the day. The evening concluded in a relaxed atmosphere around the campfire.
The next morning began with a hearty scrambled egg breakfast before the apprentices faced their next challenge: making fire without modern tools. In groups of three, they searched for suitable tinder, carved kindling under the guidance of Günter Preisch, and eventually managed to start a fire on their own—a moment of pride for everyone involved.
As a reward, the group enjoyed a barbecue before the day ended with a special highlight: under a clear sky, Günter explained several constellations and pointed out the North Star. The evening once again ended with songs around the campfire—a memorable close to an eventful day.
On the final morning, the program included a shared breakfast and cleaning up the camp. After a final reflection round, it began to rain—almost symbolically marking the end of the adventure. The group walked back together to the parking area, where they said goodbye to Günter before starting their journey home to Bad Hall.
