The adult education center in Vaterstetten has put its new program under the topic “Upwind” – the father of the thought was probably a wish: the coming spring, and with it the new semester, should finally bring the end of the pandemic. The VHS, which is active in Vaterstetten, Zorneding, Grasbrunn, Anzing, Pliening and Poing, is pinning its hopes on this. However, this has not yet arrived in time for the start of the semester: some of the courses still have to take place online or in hybrid form. However, digital formats are only offered where it makes sense. A lecture or language course is more suitable than a cooking course, for example. But a lot is also possible again in presence. Unfortunately, the number of participants is still limited here, so in some cases a small corona solidarity surcharge must be demanded. In the course of the year, however, the adult education center hopes that the measures will be relaxed – and that the situation in general will improve.
If you’re lucky, you can win a ride in a hot air balloon
Because that is one of the facets of the semester topic: “Upwind” as a change towards something better. With this in mind, emotion training and coaching is offered in the medicine category, for example, which is intended to teach you how to deal with yourself better and say goodbye to negative feelings. As far as physical health is concerned, the VHS also provides its participants with a wide range of offers: For example, there are courses that deal with the theory and practice of sailing in line with the topic of updraft. And in the lecture “Around the world with the trade winds”, Hans H. Selzer reports on how he and his wife undertook a trip around the world in 1997 in their sailing boat. Those who would like to acquire practical knowledge about sailing themselves can learn in other courses how to assess the wind and other weather conditions, how to find their way on the water using a computer, or can simply be prepared for the practical sailing license. However, the latter requires prior knowledge. Far away from any wind, the VHS offers diving courses, and far from the water, but in close cooperation with the updraft, there is a lecture to win a ride in a hot air balloon.
You can also explore your home country – with a tailwind
In the area of politics, economics and law, the semester topic has to be understood a bit more theoretically: the courses discuss whether the subject is on the upswing or downswing. Various countries such as Russia, China, the USA and Great Britain are scrutinized, as are social and scientific topics relating to space travel and media development. In the same category there are also courses that offer participants the opportunity to discover their homeland. On numerous bike tours you can feel the wind on your skin and on your back. The educational content of these excursions is partly simply to explore the surrounding area or, for example, to learn something about the production of renewable energies. During an “experience bike tour” some stations on the topic are visited. Environmental protection and a conscious use of resources is also a topic in other courses and lectures, for example you can learn “Cooking for the climate” or how to deal with environmental pollution caused by plastic.
The kick-off event also revolves around a similar topic: Professor Michael Zäh from the Technical University of Munich will present the “Synergy” research project in a lecture and report on his work on shaping the energy transition. The topic will then be discussed with experts for renewable energies from the district. The event will take place on Thursday, March 10th, online and in person.