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Monte San Vigilio - Everyone into the woods!

Discover with Isabella Halbeisen

In the middle of the woods and the fresh mountain air, Monte San Vigilio is transformed into an outdoor classroom. Together with Isabella Halbeisen, South Tyrolean author of books for children and young adults, families come to discover Nature through the use of all five senses. During a guided excursion complete with stops for reading, the author combines captivating stories, in-depth information about animals and plants, and respect for the environment, showing people how valuable and inspiring time spent together in Nature can be.
Wide-eyed, the children stop in front of a massive anthill and stand there fascinated as they watch the frenetic comings and goings of the tiny animals, which are just a few millimeters long. These tireless forest workers emerge from their nests and come back bringing food, as well as collecting pine needles, small branches, resin and soil which they use to enlarge their “home” and repair it where necessary.
“Did you know that it can often take up to ten years for ants to build their nests? It requires a long time to create such a large anthill which is why we should respect their home and not just casually destroy it,” explains Isabella Halbeisen to the attentive little explorers.
Then she sits down with them in a circle, takes a book out of her backpack, and begins to read. It's the story of naughty little Tim, who along with his friends, sets off on a walk to a mountain meadow. But instead of showing consideration for the forest and its inhabitants, Tim behaves badly: he picks flowers and throws them on the ground without thinking, he kicks the mushrooms he's pulled from the ground like footballs, he frightens the forest animals with his screams, and finally he destroys an anthill. Effectively, he behaves exactly as you shouldn't in nature.
As Isabella reads, silence descends on the small group: none of the children want to miss even a second in discovering how Tim's story will continue.

Isabella Halbeisen is the first South Tyrolean author of books for children and young adults to have taken a professional diploma. For four days between July and August, she adds a valuable contribution to the varied summer program for children offered by the Lana Tourist Association, accompanying a small group of curious and confident children on a walk with their parents to discover Monte San Vigilio.
There, immersed in nature and through her illustrated book “Ist mir doch egal! (I don’t care!)”, she teaches her young listeners the important rules to respect in the forest and in the mountains. In recent years, the author, a mother of two, just lately a grandmother and originally from the Passiria Valley, has published a total of 21 children's books, many of which are also available in school libraries in the region.
“In my stories, I want to raise children's awareness about issues that are often overlooked in children's books” she explains. This is why her stories also address topics such as illness, bereavement, poverty and hardship, as well as practical aspects such as first aid. And of course, there's no shortage of entertaining characters, like Wolli Trolly the sheep and its educational adventures, all part of the author's colourful narrative universe.

The walk and reading on Monte San Vigilio starts at 10:00 a.m. at the cable car's valley station, in the hamlet of Lana di Sopra. After a brief introduction, children and parents board the cable car and in just a few minutes, they leave the bustling village behind and immerse themselves in the verdant greenery of the plateau. As the climb progresses, so does the anticipation.
Once at the top, the group takes a quick look at the surrounding panorama and then begins the adventurous hike to the Gasthaus Jocher. “The view of the Merano basin, the Texel Group, and all the way to the Dolomites is worth the climb up Monte San Vigilio alone” enthuses the author as she pulls on her rucksack.
Over the next ninety minutes, Isabella captivates children and adults alike with her knowledge of Alpine flora and fauna. She playfully explains for example, how important mushrooms are to the forest ecosystem, that nettle seeds are rich in vitamin C, and the surprising structures hidden inside an anthill. Between explanations, she reads passages from her book, connecting Tim's story to their surroundings and thus, in a light-hearted way, instilling respect for Nature.
Her mascot, Wolli Trolly the sheep, also helps her. “During the walk, I try to raise the children's awareness of Nature and teach them to care for the environment. I also explain the rules of the forest: for example, that it's good to remain silent, that fires are not allowed, that you should always take your rubbish away with you, and that it's important to follow the trail signs carefully so as not to get lost,” she explains.
Arriving at the Gasthof Jocher, a delicious lunch is waiting for everyone as a reward. Afterwards, of course, everyone plays together, the children draw, and revise the valuable information they've just learned with a short quiz. On the way back to the cable car station, the playground and Alpine zoo at the Malga Gampl offer the opportunity for a quick break before returning by cable car to Lana at 4:30 p.m..
What makes this family day on Monte San Vigilio so special? For Isabella Halbeisen, the answer is simple: “I'm really happy to have the chance to show people how important it is to spend time with each other, and that you can have fun without mobile phones or expensive toys. For example, doing things like building little cowsheds using natural materials like branches, moss and pine cones, or making a colourful crown with meadow flowers. All it takes is a little courage and imagination. I like to bring out the childlike creativity that often remains hidden, because children have so much of it; you just have to let them do their thing.”