29th Alpine Model Aircraft Camp in Hahnenmoos

Text: Res Dauwalder
Photos: Beat Hofmann

The 29th is over—the 30th is already on the horizon, which means it’s an anniversary...! That takes some staying power: For 29 years, dedicated model builders have ensured that around 20 young model airplane enthusiasts can continue to enjoy their beloved hobby together. This long run alone is remarkable; even more astonishing is that the leadership team, centered around a core group, has changed very little. This consistency speaks to the camaraderie within the leadership team and is key to the camp’s quality—longtime campers can attest to the truth of my words—otherwise, they wouldn’t make the trip to Hahnenmoos “under the wheels” year after year...!

So, in a nutshell: Dear leadership team, I would like to sincerely thank you—certainly on behalf of all camp participants from the past nearly 30 years and their parents—for your valued dedication!

Bänkli, Skilift, Schalmi, Luegli, or even Laveygrat—names that ring a bell for model glider enthusiasts and spark dreams! And for these campers, those dreams come true at a young age, year after year!

The young people enjoyed it once again in 2021: model gliding in all its diversity set the daily routine for an entire week. Time and again, the launch sites beneath the ski lift or at Schalmi were “populated,” sometimes in thick fog—but it was always a blast. What was somewhat missing were the Bisen winds that would have allowed flights from the “Bänkli” launch site, which is popular with the young people—that will surely work out again in the anniversary year...!

The day trip to Luegli, however, was all the more beautiful: the model gliders circled against the clear backdrop of the Ammertenspitze’s rock faces—it was truly beautiful and, at the same time, incredibly impressive for many participants!

Many young model pilots recognize the beauty of nature on their own, while others almost always notice it once it’s pointed out to them; conveying the beauty of nature is a core value of this youth camp.

The joy the young people feel at seeing each other again is also clearly visible: many friendships that last for many years are formed—as evidenced by the various groups of model airplane enthusiasts present during this camp week, who met at the youth camp and reunite every year during the camp week at Hahnenmoos.

The fact that many young people are surely already looking forward to the anniversary camp is undoubtedly also due to the accommodations: excellent meals and a welcoming hotel staff are key to everyone’s well-being during the camp week! Let’s hope the camp can continue to take place in its familiar and cherished setting, even if various changes are on the horizon for the hotel’s operations...! The camp consistently attracts future loyal guests...!

As I do every year, I’ll conclude my report by expressing my great anticipation for the 2022 camp week!

Are you interested in the camp? At www.alpines.ch, you’ll find the registration forms for the 2022 camp; space is limited—there are already quite a few people interested...!