Holiday camp "Schloss Dankern" 2025 - Games, fun and community

From July 14 to 19, 2025, 41 children and young people aged 7 to 18 made their way to Schloss Dankern amusement park. Even upon arrival, excitement was high: a spacious park, a swimming lake with a sandy beach, and plenty of colorful playground equipment promised an exciting week.

After a hearty lunch, we moved into our forest houses. These were equipped with a living room, kitchen, and several bedrooms – a real highlight for many of the children, as they could feel like "little adults." The groups consisted of four to six children each. The grounds offered countless opportunities to romp, explore, and try out new things. In addition to the lake and the large outdoor playgrounds with knights' castles, slides, and climbing frames, there was also an indoor play area with bumper cars, a bouncy castle, a laser course, and much more. The indoor pool with its numerous slides was particularly popular. The daily schedule was clearly structured. After breakfast, the mornings were dedicated to group projects prepared by the supervisors. The goal was to strengthen the sense of community and promote collaboration across age groups. After lunch, the children were able to work in teams and decide for themselves which activities they wanted to pursue. In doing so, they learned to take responsibility for themselves and others.

One special project was exploring the topic of democracy. In small groups, we explored concepts such as equality, free elections, and human rights and prepared short creative contributions, such as sketches, poems, or short plays. The evening presentations were not only informative but also highly entertaining and provided many aha moments.

At the end of the camp, we celebrated together with a big party. After a flash mob dance to kick things off, which we had rehearsed beforehand, we danced, laughed, and celebrated until the evening. Music and dances from various cultures also played a part in the fun – a lovely, unifying end to a successful week. Looking back, the camp was a complete success. Thanks to the diverse program, there was something for every child. The weather cooperated, team spirit grew from day to day, and we all took home wonderful memories and new experiences. We've grown closer as a group and would love to travel together again next year.

A big thank you goes out to all the sponsors and supporters who made this trip possible through their support. Without your help, such a trip would have been unthinkable for many children and young people.

For this we say a heartfelt thank you!

Report card and Easter holidays 2025

The report card break at the end of January marked the beginning of a lively and varied holiday season at the Butze. Since classes ended early that day, the facility opened at 10 a.m. Around 24 children participated in a diverse holiday program that combined creative and athletic activities. They created imaginative crafts, played around on the playground, and demonstrated team spirit and fair play in a soccer tournament. A group baking session brought the holiday days to a successful close.

The Easter holidays also featured an exciting program with numerous excursions. The visit to the swimming pool was met with great enthusiasm – especially among the children who had recently passed their Seahorse test. Other highlights included a day at the Ballorig indoor playground and a trip to the children's forest, where the children discovered nature through play. A particular highlight was the intergenerational visit to the zoo. Children and older participants from the senior citizen services program spent an eventful day together, characterized by exchange, encounters, and shared experiences. The holiday activities impressively demonstrated the importance of reliable, creative, and movement-oriented leisure activities for children. The intergenerational approach, which facilitated lively encounters and shared learning, was particularly enriching.

Fall break 2024

As quickly as the last holidays passed, the new ones arrived. At the end of the year, and just before the Christmas season, the fun of the fall break begins. But what would the holidays be without a fun and exciting program?

Fortunately, we once again put together a varied holiday program this holiday season, allowing the children and young people from the Butze and JugendButze to participate in activities and projects. In keeping with the season, we collected chestnuts and did crafts. We were able to stop at various trees near our facility and set a new Butze record: with 732 chestnuts, we filled several bags and used them for crafts in the Butze. Together, we created various figures, such as animals, little men, and decorations. With the help of toothpicks, glue, colored paper, and a bit of imagination, we created some fantastic works of art. We also went to the swimming pool and the cinema, which were unusual activities that provided lots of fun and entertainment. A trip to the Hanover Zoo was also more than promising. There, we were able to marvel at local animals on a long walk and enjoy many small games to make the afternoon extra special. The excursions and walks were particularly captivating when we visited the nearby playgrounds, which we then used for group games and picnics. Another highlight was a football tournament organized by the district, in which the Butze kids won a hotly contested second place.

The fall break at the Butze and JugendButze were therefore a complete success. With a mix of creative, sports, and community-building activities, the children and young people not only had a great time but were also able to further develop their skills in various areas. The chestnut crafts, the trip to the swimming pool, the walk through the Tiergarten park, and the soccer tournament are sure to remain in the children's and young people's memories for a long time to come.

Summer vacation 2024

Sun, sport, and fun were the three key words for our 2024 summer holidays, and as is so often the case, the six weeks of school-free time turned out to be far too short. To make the time until the start of school exciting and varied, we had devised a comprehensive and eventful holiday program, with the main focus on taking advantage of the (hopefully!) good weather and keeping the children and young people busy with a variety of activities. For the children and young people, summer holidays meant time off from school, homework, and other obligations. With us, they were given the opportunity to make friends, take part in exciting activities, and experience things for which they often lack the time or opportunities in their everyday lives. They were able to take part in trips to the swimming pool, the Hanover high ropes course, the Park of the Senses, and the children's forest. There, the children and young people gained new experiences, whether testing their swimming skills and jumping from the 1-meter and 3-meter diving boards or pushing their own limits at the dizzying heights of the high ropes course. In the children's forest or on excursions through the surrounding area, the children were able to familiarize themselves with the local flora and fauna, encountering creatures along the path that aren't found in their own gardens or on the playground around the corner, or that go unnoticed in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Experiencing this wasn't just exciting for the children and young people; the teaching team also continually learned new things and, thanks to their time and attention, was able to engage with the children and young people on a completely different level. But where the sun shines, it sometimes rains – we haven't always been rewarded with warm, dry days. When it got too wet even for our hardiest children, we devised a variety of activities in the "Butze" itself. In addition to board games and numerous creative projects, the children also invented and contributed new games, sometimes even leading them. This gave the children and young people the opportunity to participate in the planning of the Butze day and, with the assistance of the supervisors, to present and realize their ideas. The days were also used for creative activities, such as painting, crafts, and the creation of all sorts of works of art, which the children could take home at the end of the day or display as decorations in the Butze.

All in all, it was once again a very nice summer holiday from which everyone benefited.

A huge thank you goes to our association's many sponsors and donors, especially the German Children's Fund, to whom we owe these wonderful projects. It was only through these generous and appreciative contributions that we were able to put together such a comprehensive holiday program and bring joy to so many children!

Wangerooge holiday camp 2024

During the 2024 summer holidays, our long-awaited holiday camp took place on the North Sea island of Wangerooge. A group of 40 children and young people aged 6 to 17, along with 10 supervisors, set off for a week full of adventure and fun. The journey began early in the morning with a bus ride to Harlesiel, from where we took the ferry to the island. The crossing was a special experience for many of us, as for some, it was their first time on a ship.

When we reached Wangerooge in the evening, most of us were already exhausted, but also very excited. After exploring the rooms in the youth hostel, we were able to move into our rooms and beds and get to know the surrounding area. A little later, we were all able to have dinner together and then go to bed. The following days were going to be quite an eventful one. The next few days included a variety of activities: a mudflat hike, where we learned a lot about the unique flora and fauna of the Wadden Sea; a trip to the seal banks, where we not only gained interesting information but also had the opportunity to observe seals in their natural habitat; and trips to the beach. These were a true highlight of the trip; since many of the children and young people had only ever known swimming pools, the sea with its waves and salt water was a special experience.

In addition to the planned activities, there was plenty of free time in which we could play, talk, and laugh together. It was especially nice to make new friends and bond as a group. We often spent the evenings playing board games or hanging out together at the youth hostel.

On the last evening, we really let it rip with a party. Along with singing and dancing, the children and teenagers were able to discover a whole new side of themselves and take over the dance floor with their friends to select songs. The week flew by, and before we knew it, it was time to pack our bags and start the journey home. When we said goodbye, most of us were very tired. Since our ferry left at 8:00 a.m., we all had to get up at 5:30 a.m., which naturally led to general excitement. However, since we had to stick to the ferry schedule, we unfortunately had no other option, so we started the return journey very early. While one half slept, the other half made the journey comfortable with games and conversations until we finally arrived back in Vinnhorst.

Looking back, the holiday camp on Wangerooge was an unforgettable experience for all participants. The combination of nature, adventure, and community made the week truly special. We returned home with many wonderful memories and new friendships and are already looking forward to the next one.

Easter holidays 2024

The year hasn't even really begun yet, and the first big holidays are already over. The Easter holidays were a fantastic start to our 2024 holiday programs, offering the children and young people a wide range of activities and projects, as well as unforgettable excursions and experiences. The year may have just begun, but after the Easter holidays, the school year for children and young people is already on the home stretch towards summer. It's the perfect opportunity to switch off for two weeks and leave the daily grind of school behind. We were particularly able to help the children and young people who attended our programs during the Easter holidays with this. Just being a child or a young person for a change? Nothing could be easier. Besides crafts, cooking, baking, painting, playing the electric piano, and lots of soccer, we also visited a few playgrounds and familiarized ourselves with nature in the children's forest. Anyone who was up for an exciting day in and out of the Butze was welcome to join in. As already mentioned, we didn't "just" explore Butze and the nature in the district, but also went on longer excursions. We spent a whole day at the Springe bison enclosure and got a close-up look at local animals. For many children and young people, it was their first time, so the excitement and joy were almost palpable. But that wasn't enough; to offer "our" young people a change from their everyday school routine, there were also some great activities organized as part of the JugendButze program. One highlight was the trip to the soccer park. A "must-have," as they themselves said. We were able to test our soccer tricks with several young people there and score a few beautiful goals. Finally, we rounded off the vacation at Butze with another group trip to the swimming pool, followed by an Easter celebration, including an Easter egg hunt. With that, the Easter holidays were already over, but they provided a nice transition into the Easter holidays and were a great way to get in the mood for the upcoming summer holidays!

Fall break 2023

This year, the children and young people once again had a relaxing and eventful time at the Butze. The Butze was open every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and every child was warmly welcomed to spend their day with us.

We played, did crafts, cooked, and of course, there were plenty of excursions planned. Full of enthusiasm and motivation, every day was special, and unique moments were captured. For example, we, the Butze, took part in a soccer tournament with our immediate neighbors, and it turned out that we have a few talented soccer players in our Butze. A trip to the Phaeno science center was also a highlight of our autumn break. In addition to many activities and scientific experiments, we were also able to foster group camaraderie through such trips. It's not just about fun and games, though; discussions about the children's problems, fears, and worries are also important elements, and we again found time and space for these during the holidays.

Like every vacation, the fall break has come to an end. Two wonderful weeks have passed, but now the children have to go back to school. Homework support and daycare will once again take place daily from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the Butze, and the learning support program is also back in full swing.

But none of this would have been possible without our supporters, sponsors, and volunteers. Therefore, we would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone, especially the German Children's Fund, for the 2023 fall break.

Summer Holidays 2023 The summer holidays at the Butze and JugendButze are a time of freedom and adventure for many children and young people. We often use this time to offer a diverse and educationally valuable holiday program. This year, the programs again reached many children and young people and ensured a lot of fun during the holidays. Especially at the beginning of the holidays, in addition to sunshine and good cheer, trips to the outdoor pool were a must. In addition to swimming, learning, and playing in the water, beach volleyball was also discovered this year, which attracted quite a lot of interest, especially among the young people. With the cool water next door, it was wonderful to first exercise on the sand in temperatures of almost 30 degrees, and then jump into the cool water, where the fun naturally never ended. But the water experiences were also a valuable treasure of the summer holidays for the very little ones. Under the supervision and support of the educational staff, some children were able to learn or improve swimming techniques step by step. This was culminated in our summer vacation trip to Hesse in the middle of the summer holidays. In Hesse, everyone had the opportunity to get to know each other better, away from the daily grind of school and other commitments. In addition to activities like making necklaces, soccer, basketball, mini-golf, and many other activities, team spirit, a sense of community, and getting to know each other were fostered and developed. Unfortunately, we also brought rain with us from Hesse, which somewhat limited swimming and outdoor excursions for the rest of the summer. However, this didn't harm our programs and offerings. Quite the opposite; we increasingly focused on projects like cooking, baking, crafts, card games, and much more... and with complete success. Our offerings were fully embraced and utilized until it was time to say, "Good morning, school starts at 8:00 a.m."

In the meantime, everyday life has returned to normal, but the summer holidays are still precious memories for the children and young people.

But none of this would have been possible without our supporters, sponsors, and volunteers! We would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the 2023 summer holidays!

Summer holidays 2022

The exhausting 2021/2022 school year was drawing to a close—and the children were showing it. Shortly before the holidays, the mood was already very cheerful: hardly any homework, the sun was shining, and water balloons were being thrown.

During the first week of the holidays, we went to Sylt with three supervisors, two volunteers, and 35 children. The children wrote a report about their trip (see below). After we returned from the Sylt holiday camp, the holiday fun began at the Butze and the JugendButze. The Butze Kids' days are divided into excursions, craft/sports days, and cooking.

Mondays are cooking days. The children can choose what they want to eat, and then they discuss what will ultimately be bought and cooked. The older children especially enjoy this, as they really get involved and help out conscientiously.

Tuesday was the scheduled swimming day. Nobody could have predicted that the holidays would be soooo hot! And so Thursday was also used for swimming a lot. The children had a ball swimming and splashing around in the Hainhölzer natural pool. Splashing, sliding and jumping from the edge, in singles and even triples, really made the holidays a special time. Many children don't have the opportunity to visit a swimming pool in their everyday lives. For some, it was their very first visit and contact with water. So we were all the more pleased to see the children playing with shining eyes in the water and with their new friends! Tired but very happy eyes at the end of the trip are what we love to see most. The children can test their limits here and sometimes overcome them. From children who did loops in the water to those who got their swimming badges, but also children who relaxed and spent time eating melon and playing UNO in the shade, there was everything. The trip to a trampoline park got all the children sweating and strengthened the group's team spirit.

We have been supported throughout the holidays by our intern Tim. Soccer and "pig in the middle" are part of the daily routine with him. Iron-on beading has also been an integral part of the holidays – I'd say we're all iron-on bead pros now and have created quite a few works of art together. Overall, it can be said that the summer holidays are always a wonderful time together, where the group spirit is strengthened and friendships are solidified.

… and: They're over far too quickly! ;)

Most children are now looking forward to going back to school, their classes, and their teachers. At the Butze, everyday life is returning, with lunch, homework, healthy snacks, and plenty of time to play.

We would like to thank all donors and sponsors for the 2022 holiday program!

Holiday camp on Sylt 2022! (Kids' report)

The long-awaited holiday camp to the North Frisian island of Sylt in Germany made the start of our holidays a little sweeter for us children! We left Hanover Central Station at 9 a.m. on Monday morning. We took the ICE train to Hamburg and then traveled across the sea to Westerland. We arrived at our accommodation, "Heim an der Düne," a bit late. There were plenty of rooms, and we shared our rooms in groups of either four or six. After some refreshments, we went to the sea for the first time. From our youth hostel, you could walk directly into the dunes (yellow sand dunes) and in just a few minutes you were right on the sandy beach by the sea! It was incredible for all of us! We walked into the water with our feet and were immediately surprised by large waves that soaked our legs and clothes! In the evening, the DLRG (German Lifesaving Association) team arrived. They watch over the sea to make sure no one sinks or drowns. They told us very important rules, such as how to behave and what each flag color means. After this exciting first day, we were able to sleep soundly.

The next morning our supervisor woke us up really early with loud music - none of us children and teenagers were happy about it! The doors slammed shut again... Doris, Angelika and Doro then went to the other side of the sea with the younger children. The Wadden Sea! We discovered soooo many mussels, little crabs and even starfish - a whole new world for many of us. The older ones were allowed to go to the other side where the big waves were with Stefan and Aljoscha. But the little ones were also able to go in the afternoon when the DLRG, the German Life Saving Society, was guarding the beach. We all had a huge amount of fun again! After the great day at the sea, the parents from the youth hostel prepared a delicious, warm dinner.

The next day was similar, with lots and lots of time spent at the Wadden Sea and on the wave side! It was a real vacation. We had really good weather too! Our youth hostel also had a very large soccer field, table tennis courts, a volleyball court, and comfortable seating. We made good use of all of these, of course. Our supervisors brought toys from home. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't so good on Thursday. Then we went to the town of Hörnum and did a bit of shopping. In the evening, unfortunately, we had to pack our things again... We were actually looking forward to going home, but we were also sad to have to leave Sylt. The return journey was very good, again on the ICE train. At the main station, we were all very happy to see our families and friends again!

We would like to thank our supervisors Doris and Angelika, Stefan, Aljoscha and Doro, who made this wonderful time possible for us.

However, they said that this trip wouldn't have been possible without YOU sponsors—so THANK YOU SO MUCH! You gave us a truly amazing time.

We look forward to our next vacation together!

Your kids from Sozialwerk Vinnhorst eV

Easter holiday fun 2022

Unfortunately, the Easter holidays also went by much too quickly.

During the holidays, we looked after between 15 and 25 children at the Butze. The weather was great, so we were able to do lots of outdoor activities with the children. Besides cooking together, crafting, playing games, going for walks, watching a movie with popcorn, and chatting, we also went on many great excursions.

We went bowling, to the swimming pool, played mini-golf, and went to the gym. The kids and I had a wonderful time together!

We would like to sincerely thank all our sponsors and supporters! Without YOU, this fantastic program for the children would not have been possible.

Dankewschön!

Fall holiday fun 2021

As soon as school is over, the holiday program at Sozialwerk Vinnhorst eV begins!

A varied program is offered in our premises Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additionally, activity days for children from the Wegbegleiter Project and the JugendButze were held during this holiday season.

In addition to creative days and cooking events, activities such as "Mister X," "Beat the Caregiver," and "Werewolf" were part of the program.

The trip to the Phaeno Wolfsburg was a highlight for all the kids at the start of the school holidays. There was something for everyone, big and small, to experiment with and marvel at.

The absolute highlight was the trip to Heide Park with all the children from the Learning Support, Butze, JugendButze, and the accompanying group. With the help of the Retours bus company, we were able to have a smooth and stress-free arrival and departure. Thank you again!

After two weeks of vacation, a Halloween party was held at the Butze. Everyone dressed up in costumes and feasted on delicious, spooky food.

Now it's back to school. Homework support and supervision are available daily from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the Butze, and students are also busy learning again in the learning support program.

Thanks to the support of many sponsors, we had a great two weeks of vacation together!

Summer Holiday Review 2021

Thanks to the support of many sponsors, up to 45 children and young people from the various projects of Sozialwerk Vinnhorst eV were able to experience a varied holiday fun in the summer of 2021.

In accordance with the current Corona regulations, the excursions were planned in a participatory manner with the children and young people, so that everyone's wishes and interests were taken into account.

In addition to play, cooking, and creative activities, various excursions were organized at the facility, including to the swimming pool, the zoo, the high ropes course, the Maschsee lake, and the trampoline hall. A special highlight this year was the five-day holiday camp in Kirchheim, Hesse.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to all sponsors and volunteers who made this holiday program possible and who, in turn, brought a smile to the children's faces.

Autumn holiday program 2020

"Autumn, autumn, autumn is here!" was the motto we kicked off the fall break with. During these holidays, we wanted to welcome autumn together with the children and young people. Over the two weeks, we participated in many great activities and experienced exciting things with around 30 children and young people. During the fall break, we experienced firsthand how cold and wet autumn weather can be; but we didn't let that get us down!

A highlight of the holidays was the trip to Hanover Zoo, as the one during the summer holidays had already generated a lot of excitement. We experienced other exciting activities during visits to the nearby woods, the Eilenriede and the Children's Forest, as there are so many great things to discover in the woods in autumn. So that the children and young people could really let off steam, we also visited the playgrounds in the woods and played games together. A popular game was "Group Sching, Schang, Schong". We also did great things on days when we weren't out and about. For example, on the creative days we continued building our treasure chest and decorated the "Butze" for autumn. On toy days we played lots of great games both inside and outside.

During the autumn break, the children and young people were able to forget their often dreary everyday lives and experience many wonderful things. On behalf of the children and young people, we would like to sincerely thank our sponsors and supporters for this!

Summer holiday fun 2020

"Holiday fun despite the coronavirus" was the motto for this year's summer holidays. "Coronavirus" was also present during the summer holidays, but that doesn't mean we let it get us down. This year, too, we wanted to give children and young people an unforgettable summer holiday, thanks to the support of the Hannover Sparkassen Foundation.

With an average of 25 children and young people, we participated in a variety of activities. Since the weather was once again perfect for swimming, we spent several days with the children and young people at the outdoor pool. It was a success! Many of the children and young people were able to practice for their Seahorse badge and successfully pass the swimming test. Swimming wasn't the only highlight; in addition to creative and play days, we also organized short trips to nearby playgrounds where the children and young people could really let off steam. Another destination was Hannover Zoo; there we had a wonderful day with lots of animals, information, and lots of fun. The highlight for the children and young people was, of course, this year's trip to Heide Park!

Thanks to the fantastic activities, even during the coronavirus pandemic, the children and young people were able to truly enjoy their summer holidays while adhering to strict hygiene regulations and experienced many wonderful things. On behalf of the children and young people, we would like to express our sincere thanks to our sponsors and supporters who made all this possible!