Joint Advent Festival in Kapfenberg: Bergwacht and mountain rescue united!

Joint Advent Festival in Kapfenberg: Bergwacht and mountain rescue united!

In an impressive step of collaboration, the mountain and natural guard Kapfenberg and the local site of the mountain rescue have bundled their strength. On December 21 and 22, 2024, they organize a joint Advent festival on the picturesque Loreto hill above the Oberkapfenberg Castle. During the event that begins from 1 p.m., visitors are spoiled with culinary delights and impressive chainsaw carving. A special highlight will be the "Flying Christkind", which flows through the air at dusk and will receive letters, as meinbzirk.at reported.

Common commitment goes beyond the Advent event. Both organizations look at the future with a clear goal: the membership recruitment. With currently 30 active members in mountain rescue and 25 at the mountain rescue service, the emergency services are trying to do young talent. On the last Monday of the month, a regulars' table is organized, which is welcome to promote the activities of the mountain rescue service and the knowledge of nature, as the representatives of the organizations explained.

protection of flora and fauna in focus

The Kapfenberger mountain rescue service has committed itself to protecting nature despite volunteering structures and criticized that the relationship to nature is often underdeveloped in children. This important topic is addressed by various information actions to sensitize younger generations to the protection of the environment. In the Bruck-Mürzzuschlag region, 200 tested mountain guards are active, which also take care of the control of hiking trails and environmental protection measures, such as kleinezeitung.at reported.

The organizational managers Harald Frager and Rainer Heber referred to the challenges with which both groups are faced with, especially with regard to financing and recruiting. So many members have to finance their equipment themselves, and yet the desire for more support from the federal government and the country remains unheard of. The two organizations hope to be able to better counter challenges together through their cooperation.