Canoeing on the Lahn—a summer festival with a twist

Thomas Fischer — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:31:15 +0000

Summer Party with an Adventure – AVMS Paddles Down the Lahn and Celebrates Team Spirit

On the morning of August 21, 21 enthusiastic AVMS colleagues from the Sulzbach branch gathered, ready for a very special adventure. In small groups, they set off in company vehicles for the Krumos Canoe Base near Wetzlar—the starting point for a canoe trip that would remain a topic of conversation for a long time to come.

Canoeing Down the Lahn – Team Spirit, Locks, and Nature Experiences on Our Canoe Trip

After a quick break to grab some bottled water and take a group photo—which already featured the first sunglasses and paddle poses—a shuttle bus took us to the Lahn Canoe Station at the Wetzlar Canoe Club. There, life jackets, paddles, and a safety briefing—led by a charming guide nicknamed “Captain Kai”—were already waiting for us. His words—“If you capsize, you can swim—but please do it with style!”—became the unofficial motto of the day.

The boats were launched, with four colleagues sharing each canoe. The six teams quickly developed their own strategies:

Team Turbo got off to a flying start and felt like they were already in Koblenz before the others had even gotten on board.
The recreational paddlers, on the other hand, enjoyed the tranquility of the Lahn, watched herons and dragonflies, and discussed the best side dishes for a barbecue.
Team Musik & Chaos may not have had much direction, but they did have a Bluetooth speaker blasting party music and the loudest laughter on the river.

The Lahn River showed itself at its best: gently meandering through green floodplains, past old mills, enchanting riverside landscapes, and curious families of ducks. The sun glinted off the water, dragonflies danced across the surface, and occasionally a hiker waved from the bank.

Things got particularly exciting at the three locks that had to be operated manually. This is where it became clear who was truly capable of multitasking:

Open the gate, open the lock, drive in, close the gate, close the lock, open the lock at the exit gate, drain the water, open the gate, drive out, close the gate, close the lock—a real lock-gate ballet!
Some teams managed it with precision, while others did so with lots of laughter and wet feet.

After about 10 kilometers and a few “Where is Team 4, anyway?” moments, the boats arrived back at the Krumos canoe base, well ahead of the others. Exhausted but happy, we headed back to the office—where the caterer was already waiting.

Barbecue Delights and Memorable Moments – A Festive Finale Honoring Our Long-Time Employees

Before the aroma of freshly grilled meat and vegetarian delicacies wafted across the company grounds, things grew quiet once more—and the atmosphere became very emotional. That’s because, before the social part of the summer party began, management took the time to honor three very special people: colleagues who have contributed to the success of AVMS GmbH for many years with heart, dedication, and reliability.

Amid loud applause and visible emotion, Laura from Sales, Christian from Project Management, and Steven from Scheduling were introduced. Each of them received a personalized, framed certificate of honor—as a visible token of appreciation and gratitude for their many years of loyalty and tireless dedication.

Laura is celebrating her 20th anniversary at AVMS—an impressive journey during which she has not only served countless customers but also shaped the company with her positive attitude and organizational skills. Her colleagues appreciate her for her reliability, her helpful nature—and her legendary stash of USB drives in her desk.

Christian, since A project manager for 15 years, he is known for his steady hand, even during turbulent project phases. When others get nervous, he stays calm—and always finds a solution. Whether it’s a trade show, an event, or a special project: Christian has seen it all and handled it all. His dry sense of humor is at least as valuable as his experience.

Steven, who has also been with us since A member of the team for 15 years, he pulls the strings behind the scenes as head of logistics. This isn’t a job for the faint of heart. Steven handles it all with a broad perspective, clarity—and a calendar that probably holds more secrets than any safe.

The ceremony was a moving moment—not only for the three honorees, but for the entire team. After all, they embody what AVMS is all about: teamwork, reliability, and the joy of working together.

After the certificates were presented and a group photo was taken amid loud applause, the evening moved on to the culinary portion of the program. Amid the aroma of grilled food, cool drinks, and lively conversation, everyone celebrated, laughed, and toasted to the years ahead together.

The barbecue was the perfect way to wrap things up: juicy steaks, vegetarian delicacies, salads, dips, and a dessert buffet that brought even the most paddle-weary colleagues back to life. Over cool drinks and relaxed conversations, there was plenty of laughter, new nicknames were handed out (“Lock-Schorsch,” “Paddle Princess”), and plans were already being made for the next summer party.

The 2025 Summer Festival was a huge success—a day filled with nature, team spirit, and culinary highlights. The Lahn River not only carried us along, but also brought us together. And who knows—maybe next year there’ll be a race with water wings?

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lahn Archive - AVMS

Canoeing on the Lahn—a summer festival with a twist

Summer Party with an Adventure – AVMS Paddles Down the Lahn and Celebrates Team Spirit

Canoeing Down the Lahn – Team Spirit, Locks, and Nature Experiences on Our Canoe Trip

Barbecue Delights and Memorable Moments – A Festive Finale Honoring Our Long-Time Employees