echtzwei Apprentice Camp 2026
A week full of ideas, teamwork, and new experiences!
Once again this year, our apprentices traveled to Ticino together with the apprentices from the Fust carpentry shop. This time, the focus was on the joint apprentice company echtzwei. In various workshops, the apprentices took an in-depth look at what has worked well so far, where the challenges lie, and, above all, what echtzwei 2.0 might look like.
After arriving in beautiful Ticino, the apprentices headed straight to the ÜK Center. There, they first attended workshops on the two companies, IGP and Fust. Afterward, the management team at echtzwei introduced the new apprentices to the company and gave them an overview of the project and its background. In the evening, a game night was on the agenda, during which they competed in groups in various disciplines such as cornhole, water polo, volleyball, and darts.
The next day, things really got underway. Marianne Portmann (CMO / CSO / C&S) and Serge Eggler (Head of Ecoleo and Woodcoat) guided and supported the trainees during additional workshops. In the morning, they focused on their greatest opportunities as well as the challenges they had faced in the past. Over lunch, the leadership team decided which points the trainees should continue to pursue and which they should set aside. In the afternoon, they brainstormed together about how to move forward with echtzwei. The various groups presented their ideas, which were then compiled and documented for further development. We’d like to take this opportunity to extend a heartfelt thank you to Marianne Portmann and Serge Eggler for their support, their insightful contributions, and their guidance during the workshops. After this productive day, the group headed to the beautiful old town of Ascona in the evening. There, the students enjoyed a delicious dinner together and wrapped up the day in a cozy atmosphere.
On Wednesday, the day began right after breakfast with an action-packed go-karting experience. They spent their lunch break at the Maggia River, where they enjoyed a refreshing dip. In the afternoon, a forest work assignment was on the agenda. Together with forestry experts, the students removed invasive plant species from the forest. Since these plants are not native, they can crowd out the native flora. Through their efforts, they made a small contribution to the protection and preservation of the forest.
Before the week slowly drew to a close, the students spent another eventful day in the forest, where they removed more invasive plant species and learned a great deal about the plant world and forestry. After lunch and another refreshing dip in the Maggia River, the schedule included a visit to the sawmill and the test planting site in Losone. There, they gained fascinating insights into regional wood processing and learned how different tree species are tested to determine which ones can best withstand future climate conditions.
As the apprentice camp came to a close, it was time to pack their bags again on Friday. The apprentices cleaned up their accommodations together and reflected on the past week at the ÜK Center. They then set off for home, making one last stop together in Lenzerheide along the way. They then headed back to Wil – with many new impressions, great experiences, and wonderful memories of a varied and productive week.
For even more insights into the apprentice camp, feel free to check out our Instagram channel. There you’ll find various Reels featuring exciting highlights and moments from the camp week.
