German language immersion and adventure school trip to Rhine-Westphalia
This residential language immersion trip in North Rhine-Westphalia, near the stunning Eifel National Park offers a mix of onsite adventure activities, with German-native Betreuers and self-guided local cultural excursions. Not far from the Belgium border, the centre is easily reached from the UK by coach, making it our most accessible and affordable German immersion school trip.
Voyager exclusive
Native German Betreuers
Year round
Evening entertainment
Workbooks
Immersive learning and adventure in rural Germany
From the moment you set foot in the centre, all on-site activities and evening games are led in German by our experienced native Betreuers, to create a totally immersive language experience. Every opportunity is seized to encourage German language practise in real-life situations with a fully German team! Groups can spend two full days experiencing the on-site activities which include high ropes, climbing, GPS expedition, archery, rope bridge construction, go-kart building and more! These activities are a conduit to speaking the language. If students want to take part in the activity, they have to speak German! Your students will be making tangible improvements in their language speaking and confidence, whilst having fun and gaining invaluable team work skills.
National Park excursions offer plenty of fun for your school group. A popular visit is a walk around the beautiful Rurberg lake, followed by a boat trip, ending at the wonderful Eiscafe! The pretty resort town of Monschau and the wildlife park and bird of prey centre in Hellenthal are also very close by, or you can opt for a day at Phantasialand theme park, which is just an hour away and always proves a big hit with our groups.
This is our sample short German immersion trip. Contact us with your budget and learning objectives for a bespoke itinerary.
Day 1
Arrive late afternoon/early evening
Meet the Betreuers and evening meal at the centre
Evening activities with the language team
Day 2
A day of supervised adventure activities using the centre's fantastic facilities - all in German our course!
High ropes
Slacklining
Big swing
Ladder climbing
German games
Day 3
A second day at the centre working on fun language activities with the language instructors
Spend the day designing and building your own car
Evening German games
Day 4
Phantasialand theme park
Farewell party
Day 5
Depart
Arrive home
This German school trip is located in Hellenthal which is set in the Eifel Hills of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Though close to the Belgium border, the area has a traditional German feel with forests, picturesque villages, half-timbered houses and lakes to visit. Because the area is not well known to English tourists, your learners are encouraged to use their German on all the excursions. Take your pick from our suggested excursions below. But don't forget to leave at least a day to make the most of the adventure facilities at the centre.
Phantasialand
Bad Münstereifel
Eiscafé
Kasselburg: Eagle and Wolf Park
Monschau
Rursee Lake
Urft Dam
Ordensburg Vogelsang
Monschau Christmas Market
Phantasialand
This theme park is a popular choice with teachers because there is something to suit every student. There are six different themed areas with rides and attractions to suit all ages and sure to keep your group entertained.
Bad Münstereifel
A beautiful old spa town characterised by historical timber-framed houses, ancient 13th-century walls, and the river Erft ribboning through the centre of the town. Your students can visit the many quaint shops along the cobbled alleys for shopping and German language practise.
Eiscafé
Take a step inside a German ice cream shop - a wonderful place to practise your language skills by ordering in German and enjoy delicious ice cream!
Kasselburg: Eagle and Wolf Park
Set in an impressive 12th Century castle, the grounds are home to over 15 different species of birds of prey, and the largest wolf packs in Western Europe. Learn about the lives of these elusive animals, their hierarchy and social dynamics. Feeding times with the wolves and bird of prey shows with falcons, eagles and hawks are a highlight!
Monschau
Visit the charming town of Monschau and whizz through the winding hills of the Eifel region on a toboggan slide! Visit here include mustard mill, glassworks, historic sawmill. Optional evening meal in local restaurant tonight for traditional German food night.
Rursee Lake
Pay a visit to the stunning lake. There is the opportunity for you to go swimming or sunbathe in a designated swimming area, and also canoeing in the summer months. Students love the boat trip on the lake - the best way to see the beautiful lake and surrounding greenery is by taking to the water! Board your boat and take a trip around the lake.
Urft Dam
See inside this impressive Urft dam and enjoy a fascinating guided tour, and take in the amazing views.
Ordensburg Vogelsang
National Park Centre and exhibition on the history of Ordensburg Vogelsang. Once a former Nazi estate, this Castle was Hitler’s training ground for young men to be shaped into Nazi leaders. The infamous Vogelsang is now a thought-provoking museum and a sobering reminder of the events of WWII.
Monschau Christmas Market
The Monschau Christmas Market is small but charming and has received an award for being one of the most beautiful Christmas Markets in western Germany. The Monschau Christmas Market extends from Richters Eck through Rurtrasse past the town's church and monastery to the market square where there is a large and beautifully decorated Christmas tree.
The Hellenthal Youth Hostel is well equipped with fantastic onsite activities, including an all-weather high ropes course housed in a huge open barn, and a giant swing activity, set in the centre's woodland, which is designed to promote teamwork.
Our highly trained Betreuers will supervise all the onsite activities and ensure that students only hear and speak German throughout their trip.
Groups can spend two full days experiencing the on-site activities such as climbing, GPS expedition, rope bridge construction, go-kart building and more! Many of the onsite activities have the added focus of teaching students about sustainability.
Team up to design and build a car from various provided materials. Once you’ve mastered your motor-making skills, it’s time to take to the test track. The team with the fastest car wins… ready, set, go!
Volleyball
Your students will be split into teams to play volleyball on the centre's own court. The game is a great way to practise numbers, instructions and directions in the target language.
Archery
Students get the chance to be a Robin Hood. After the obligatory safety talk and explanation of the equipment, the students shoot the arrows onto targets, an excellent opportunity to practise numbers and directions in a second language. All this followed by a balloon shooting competition!
Table tennis
Table tennis, ping-pong or whiff-whaff? Whatever you call it, students have use of the centre's table tennis facilities during their stay.
High ropes course
Treetop adventures await your students at the centre's very own high ropes course. The centre offers exhilarating outdoor activities designed to encourage teamwork and build confidence - all supervised by the centre's highly trained actvity leaders.
Woodland climbing
Climbing sessions take place in the centre's own forest course which is suitable for students of any age. After issuing equipment and explaining the safety procedures. They will use commands in German to each other and will learn German words for movements and parts of the body. Students will also learn how to set up a climbing course without harming the trees.
This German language immersion programme includes:
A trained German-native Betreuer to lead all on-site adventure activities, such as high ropes, and team building activities in German
Nightly German language evening entertainment at your accommodation
A German language activity workbook per student
Off-site trips and cultural excursions as specified in your itinerary
Board and lodging as detailed in your itinerary
Free teacher to student ratio approx 1:8 (coach trips) / approx 1:10 (air groups)
Your choice of return travel; coach travel, with ferry crossing, applicable tolls and taxes included, or return flights and overseas transfers
Supplements for small parties, single rooms and additional adults
Drinks with meals other than breakfast
Meals en route
Entrances other than those specified in your itinerary
Rhine-Westphalia is a year-round destination for schools and depending on when you choose to visit our knowledgeable team can recommend seasonal activities, traditions and festivals to match your educational objectives.
Low season travel offers excellent value for school groups and for Rhine-Westphalia, there are learning opportunities, activities and excursions all year round. Travelling during low season is cheaper, the excursions less crowded and the accommodation centre will be quieter meaning more round the clock attention for your students.
All year round excursions
Monschau Glassworks
Historic sawmill
Freilichtmuseum Kommern (open-air museum)
The Vogelsang Castle (dark Nazi past)
Grube Wohlfahrt mine
Remouchamps Caves ( February - November)
Eifel-Therme Zikkurat (swimming pool, open all year round except September for 3 weeks)
Kasselburg Eagle and Wolf Park
Spring / Summer Activities
Summer tobogganing (Open April to October)
Urft dam and boat trip back (Open April to October)
Rursee Lake swimming and canoeing ( Summer months only)
Winter Activities
Monschau Christmas market
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