Course Description
CAS CERTIFICATE: each student will receive a certificate with exact dates, hours and description of the accomplished programme and duties and will be able to have this camp fully recognised by his/her CAS programme coordinator back at school and also use it in the process of university application.
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WE INVITE YOU to an absolutely unique and exciting summer CAS programme in a unique & traditional alpine setting in the heart of Austria!
Our 5-day CAS Adventure Trip in the picturesque mountain village of Mariazell and its surrounding Ötscher region will be a forever memorable experience in the stunning Austrian Fore Alps. This region is less than a 1.5-hour drive from Vienna, Austria’s capital. Vienna also is the city where IBWISE operates and runs its MID IB & PRE IB Summer Revision Camp!
Vienna International Airport or the Hauptbahnhof (central train-station) will be the airport and train-station of choice for students arriving internationally.
Mariazell is a picturesque gem in the Ybbstal Alps with an impressive history dating back to the 12th century. It is known for its magnificent gothic basilica and has therefore been a place of intercultural meetings since many centuries. But this region is also known for its astonishing landscape, canyons, turquoise waterfalls and its spectacular national park with impressive wildlife.
You will be immersed in the old Austrian culture & traditions of a mountain village, will be invited to bake your first brown bread, help feed and milk farm animals and make your own butter and cheese. You will experience breathtaking mountain hikes and spend a night in a typical ‘Schutzhaus’ whilst discovering the secrets of this spectacular national park with our nature guide.
You will help the local rangers clean up this magnificent nature park and learn about the ecosystem and the nature of the Alps, and, you will be experiencing some unique evenings in one of Austria’s very authentic spots, close to the peak of the Ötscher (1893m).
Participating in our CAS summer camp will foster and deepen your understanding about alpine nature, Austrian mountain village culture, and the IB CORE. The focus will be on local and global issues, and the course offers both PRE-IB and MID-IB incentives. All students will complete the camp with a memory that highlights their own experiential learning for their individual CAS programme.
You will engage in a variety of exciting activities, for example:
- Creativity
- Learn about old Austrian craftsmanship, e.g. forging
- Traditional baking and the making of butter and cheese
- Learn to play a traditional Austrian instrument
- Activity
- Hiking in nature and wilderness
- Mountaincarts
- Rope climbing
- Service
- Volunteer in a unique Austrian nature park
- Clean up nature
- Help a day in a kindergarten
- Help in a typical restaurant and farm
This summer experience will allow you to meaningfully further your CAS exposure, be immersed in the typical traditional Austrian alpine lifestyle in the fore Alps, its crafts and old traditions, discover the purity of nature and support it, and stay in a typical ‘cosy’ village hotel!
About our CAS Trip Coordinators & Mentors:
Alexander Grubich was born and raised in Upper Austria and studied languages in Vienna, Paris, Málaga and Santo Domingo. After finishing his university career, he taught German language, Spanish language and Austrian culture at the University of Rijeka, Croatia and at the same time he finished his PhD in the field of “German social studies” in the topic ” The image of Austria in Croatia”. Since 2008 he is a teacher at Vienna International School incorporating different roles such as: teaching IB German, French, Spanish, Service and Action coordinator, homeroom teacher and since 5 years CAS coordinator. Additionally, he became an examiner for the IB in the field of language Ab initio and is an IBO professional development workshop leader for CAS and Language Ab initio. Alexander is also an IB school visiting team member.
Alexander is passionate about many different kinds of sports such as running, skiing, tennis, hiking, beach volleyball and cycling. Further he is socially engaged in different charity events throughout the year. He really likes to inspire students in order to convince them they can help create a better world with more respect for each other.
He lives with his family in Vienna and spends most of the weekends in Mariazell, Styria.
Alex will be joined by Lena Bröderbauer, one of our highly motivated and wonderful activity coaches! Like Alex, Lena is sportive, knows the Mariazell-Ötscher region inside out and will be an absolute pleasure to spend time with! She is about to finish her teaching degree (BEd) and will have a lot to give and add to make your experience an absolutely unforgettable one.
We look forward to hear from you!
Dates and Fees
Alpine CAS Adventure Dates:
July 11th-16th (5 days/5 nights)
Cost per person (half board, transportation, 24/7 care & activities): 1350€
Vienna Intl Airport, July 11th: please arrive at the airport latest by 2pm. We will collect in-coming students at the airport at 2pm (at the McDonalds in the VIA- arrival hall).
2nd Collection point will be from IBWISE-HQ, 1020-Vienna on July 9th: 3pm
Departure to Ötscher Region will be at 3pm with approximate arrival in Mariazell at 4:30/5pm.
Departure from Mariazell back to Vienna: July 16th, 12pm (arrival at IBWISE- Campus at 1:30pm, airport by 2:30pm).
Our CAS trip is a 5-day camp and is combinable with our PRE IB – and MID IB Summer Revision Course (in Vienna). You can hence book it alone or in combination with our Vienna based MID IB or PRE IB Summer Revision Course, with arrival date July 16th, 2023.
You are a PRE IB student: Sign-up by choosing the PRE IB online form
You are a MID IB student: Sign-up by choosing the MID IB online form
Course Schedule
Tuesday, July 11th:
Pick up students at Vienna airport (2pm) and IBWISE HQ (3pm) and road trip to Mariazell.
Arrival in Mariazell (Ötscher region)around 4:30/5pm in the afternoon.
Check-in at Hotel “Weißer Hirsch” (A-8630 Mariazell, Wiener Straße 6)
Tour of the old centre of pilgrimage town Mariazell and its famous Basilica
Dinner at Hotel Weißer Hirsch
Introduction to the CAS content of the week.
Wednesday, 12th of July:
Volunteering in an Austrian kindergarten (playing with the children and building with them small toys from natural materials in the woods)
Workshop in a traditional old trade “forging” (schmieden) in a Gußwerk
Workshop about traditional Austrian music instruments (Ulli Schweiger)
Dinner at Brauhaus Girrer
Thursday, 13th of July:
Learn to make bread and butter at a very typical Austrian farm
Volunteer in a typical Austrian restaurant
Dinner at Stadtheuriger Mariazell
Friday, 14th of July:
Hike to the picturesque “Bürgeralpe” and help “clean up nature”
Lunch on Bürgeralpe at Edelweißhütte
Workshop on making cheese at a typical Austrian farm (Feldbauer)
Volunteer in a typical Austrian restaurant
Dinner at Stadtheuriger Mariazell
Saturday, 15th of July:
Volunteer in this national park. Meet our nature guide at base of “Ötschergräben” and learn about the flora and fauna as well as the ecosystem of this unique region.
Walk through the canyon “Ötschergräben”
Overnight stay in a typical regional hut “Schutzhaus Vorderötscher”
Sunday, 16th of July:
Breakfast at “Schutzhaus Vorderötscher”
Hike back
Debriefing + reflection
Noon: Pick-up at base with IBWISE-bus and trip back to Vienna and drop-off (1.5 hours)
Arrival in Vienna at IBWISE – Campus at approx. 1:30pm, at airport at around 2:30pm.
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Additions and slight adaptions to this programme are possible.
More Info
If you have any questions, please contact us!
You are a PRE IB student: Sign-up by choosing the PRE IB online registration form
You are a MID IB student: Sign-up by choosing the MID IB online registration form
EMAIL us: office@ibwise.com
CALL US: +43-1-3191068
Nora is also available via cell phone or wifi options on smart phones: +43-664-1306197
We are happy to assist you!
Join as IB Educator
The 5-day Alpine CAS Adventure is a unique opportunity also for IB teachers!
Learn and gain new insights to CAS as a whole and experience this inspirational trip alongside participating IB students and our exceptional CAS expert, Alex Grubich. Many opportunities will be given to answer your questions regarding CAS almost around the clock. You can use this workshop as a fun and rewarding professional development opportunity and may even get it partially or entirely funded by your school.
You may also wish to chaperone a group of IB students from your own IB school and enjoy the Austrian Alps together with others from around the globe!
Our unique 7-day CAS experience is lead and guided by Dr. Alexander Grubich, who, besides being a highly experienced IB CAS educator, is also an IB Professional Development workshop leader for CAS and comes with a wealth of experience in this area.
If the idea of an in situ “student-teacher-CAS-experience” interests you personally or as a chaperone for a group of students, then please contact us as soon as possible to secure your spot.
We are thrilled to offer a limited number of spots to IB educators at a very reasonable price. First come first serve rule applies.
COST (for IB educators only): 950€
Contact us for more details and register at: office@ibwise.com
Call or WhatsApp us at: +43 664 1306197