Things are getting active: New highlights promote sports and play on the Klarenthal campus
Promoting physical activity plays an important role at Campus Klarenthal School in Wiesbaden. This is more evident now than ever. In addition to the wide range of opportunities for inclusive physical education classes in the modern gym, the school’s outdoor area now features new play and sports equipment, inviting students to get active and have fun together.
Three new highlights were unveiled today by the students and the teaching staff amid much cheering and high spirits.
“Three, two, one!” Everyone counted down loudly together with Principal Uwe Brecher. Johannes from the elementary school, who uses a wheelchair, was given the honor of officially opening the inclusive equipment—the wheelchair carousel and the wheelchair trampoline (photo). Amid the cheers of his classmates, he cut the ribbon and tested the new facilities with the principal and his classmates. With a beaming smile, he clearly enjoyed the new opportunities for physical activity, which are, of course, open to all students.
“Accessibility is a given for us,” emphasizes Uwe Brecher. Inclusion is actively practiced on campus—as it is throughout the entire EVIM Education system. This was evident on this day as well: classmates took turns with Johannes on the carousel and gently supported him on the trampoline.
However, such equipment isn’t a given: “We searched for a long time and finally found what we were looking for with a supplier in the Netherlands,” reports Uwe Brecher. Due to a lack of references in the region, they initially relied on experience and videos—with success. The facilities were supplemented by sustainable safety mats: an air-cushioned grid system with an integrated grass structure ensures that the surface remains safe and non-slip even in the rain.
Also new: a calisthenics facility for the students. Behind this somewhat unwieldy term lie combinations of equipment for training, supporting, swinging, and hanging, similar to classic training apparatus such as parallel bars, high bars, and rings. Such facilities are known, for example, from the Schlachthof e.V. Cultural Center. The idea for this also came directly from the student body. Magnus from the 11th grade had proposed it together with a former classmate and was therefore allowed to cut the ribbon himself. Here, too, students immediately began exploring what was possible.
The new facilities were funded through a grant as part of the high-quality all-day care program. “We’ve been advocating for this for several years and are very happy that it worked out,” says Karin Rosenthal. A total of 125,000 euros was made available. In addition to the sports equipment, this funding also allowed for the creation of a Snoezelen room and a new kitchen for the afternoon care program.
Anyone who would like to see the new features for themselves will soon have the opportunity: At the big campus summer festival on May 30, visitors can experience the new offerings firsthand. (hk)