Strange sightings on the Lahn! Scientists, pirates, mermaids, engineers, musicians and members of an Indian tribe have been cavorting all over Marburg and the surrounding countryside over the past few weeks. Yet, what sounds like a fantasy movie was entirely real, and was, in fact, part of the holiday care program for the children of CSL Behring’s employees, run by the company for the 13th time.
This year, however, everything was different than usual. Normally, around 100 children between the ages of six and twelve take part in the two-week program. But during these unusual COVID times, the offer was extended to cover the entire six-week summer break in Hesse, in order to support families, especially following the enormous challenges they had to overcome during the months of school and daycare closures.
Difficult planning conditions
Due to the tightened protection and hygiene measures, planning was particularly difficult this year. But thanks to good cooperation with external partners and constant dialogue with parents, all the activities were planned in line with requirements. Tanja Templer, Senior Director HR, was extremely pleased: “Despite coronavirus, this year we once again succeeded in putting together a varied and much longer summer break program for the children, which even went beyond the originally planned scope.”
Full program
The various programs offered a mixture of tried-and-tested and new activities. Climbing on a forest ropes course, swimming in the bathing lake, farm activities, building their own forest playground, composing musicals or working as researchers in the laboratory – the children were offered a lot of variety. According to Martin Stump, Site Head Talent Development, this variety came at just the right time: “Especially after long school closures, the holiday childcare program offered the children the opportunity to participate in fantastic activities with their peers.”
Needless to say, plans for the 14th CSL Behring Marburg holiday childcare program will not be long in coming.
