As part of the summer semester project week, students from both cohorts of the STEM programme participated in a full-day excursion through the region surrounding THM in Friedberg.

A total of 19 students and 4 lecturers joined the hike, which covered 12.7 kilometres and approximately 330 metres of elevation gain. Despite temperatures reaching 32 °C, all participants successfully completed the route.

Travelling by bus from Friedberg to Rosbach, the group began a journey that combined physical activity, regional exploration, and hands-on learning. The route led to a sandstone quarry, the historic Kapersburg, the Kuhkopf, the telecommunications tower on the Steinkopf, and the Wintersteinturm before continuing to Ockstadt and returning to Friedberg by bus.

Throughout the excursion, lecturers regularly stopped at points of interest to provide practical insights into local customs, regional history, geology, sustainability, and development issues. These discussions connected academic STEM topics with real-world observations and encouraged interdisciplinary exchange between students from both cohorts.

Particularly noteworthy were the extensive areas affected by forest dieback, which offered a visible example of environmental change and its impact on local ecosystems. The group also passed areas designated for future wind energy projects, providing an opportunity to discuss renewable energy and the challenges of the ongoing energy transition.

The excursion was designed not only to deepen academic understanding but also to strengthen teamwork and foster interaction among students and lecturers. A shared picnic at the Wintersteinturm provided a welcome break, while the day concluded at THM with a communal barbecue and local Hessian specialties, including "Handkäse mit Musik".

The excursion successfully combined outdoor activity, cultural and historical exploration, sustainability education, and community building, making it a memorable highlight of the project week.