Learning through experience, which the students quickly absorbed during trips and workshops, was the dominant educational approach. The region’s history and integrated nature and ecology classes proved to be a very attractive way for the young people to spend their time. Expanding their knowledge in these fields, the students verified what they had learned using prepared worksheets and developed their interests and abilities. The numerous excursions were undoubtedly a major asset of the trip, enhancing the students’ knowledge of the region. Under the supervision of a mountain guide, the young people improved their tourism skills by climbing the peaks of the Karkonosze Mountains, while also learning to observe safety rules and cooperate with their peers in the mountains.
The students of the School and Preschool Complex in Kruszyn also had the opportunity to develop their communication skills while working with a group of students from the partner Primary School in Kamienna Góra, who, like them, were spending their holiday in Szklarska Poręba. New friendships were formed, and the young people’s organizational talents could also be observed, as joint cultural events such as karaoke, discos, volleyball matches and a campfire with sausage roasting showed that the students of the School and Preschool Complex in Kruszyn are characterized by a high level of personal culture.
The five-day stay passed very quickly, but despite this, the students enjoyed many attractions. The most important included:
- A coach trip to Cieplice, during which there was something for both body and spirit. Among other things, they learned about the town’s history and the Schaffgotsch family, ever-present in the region’s history. They visited the Museum of Nature, which also houses exhibits concerning the region’s earliest times. Some people were surprised that the history of our region is so colorful and fascinating. At the same time, the students enjoyed the attractions of the Cieplice Thermal Baths, where they could regain their strength.
- A mountain hike to Szrenica, the highest peak in Szklarska Poręba, at 1,362 meters above sea level, from which they could admire beautiful views of the Jelenia Góra Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges. The Polish-Czech Friendship Trail also provided many exciting moments, as the students were sometimes on the Polish side of the border and sometimes on the Czech side. Walking several kilometers allowed them to observe the fauna and flora of this beautiful area. They had a moment of respite upon reaching the Shelter under Łabski Szczyt, located at an altitude of 1,168 meters above sea level, offering a magnificent view of Szklarska Poręba, the Jelenia Góra Valley and the Izera Mountains, beyond which the panorama of Lower Silesia stretches, reaching, in good visibility, as far as Ostrzyca, approximately 35 km away.
- An amethyst excavation site, where every student could independently find a beautiful blue-colored semiprecious stone.
- “An Evening of Karkonosze Legends” and “An Evening of Regional History”—the students listened, with flushed cheeks, to fascinating stories about legendary and historical figures associated with the part of the Sudetes where we were staying. The students were introduced in a special way to the atmosphere of bygone eras.
- Climbing Chojnik Mountain (627 meters above sea level) and visiting the castle, whose rich history dates back to the 13th century, was undoubtedly an attraction for the students, who learned about its history and the fact that, as one of the few castles, it was never conquered.
- Visiting tourist attractions in Szklarska Poręba, including the Kamieńczyk and Szklarka waterfalls, Krucze Skały and Krzywe Baszty—the students learned the histories and legends associated with these places.
- A visit to the Karkonosze Centre for Ecological Education will also remain in their memories for a long time. There, the students had the opportunity to learn about many aspects of the region’s fauna, flora and history. Using digital technology, they could move to any location in Karkonosze National Park. The use of multimedia presentations about the first people to appear in the region was an excellent opportunity to expand their historical knowledge.
The five-day stay was very intensive, but the students demonstrated extensive knowledge and courage during the mountain trips. Their self-discipline and, above all, their ability to cooperate and their aptitude for advanced qualified tourism should definitely be emphasized. For the students who are now in Grade 6, this was their last trip together, and I am convinced that it provided many unforgettable experiences; we will all remember the moments spent together for a long time.