Not all classrooms have four walls: HSH Grade 5 camping trip

“Research in education has shown that we remember field trips long into adulthood.”

   ——Neil deGrasse Tyson, Astrophysicist 

Living in an era where we all are investing an increasing amount of time staring at screens, almost every parent struggles with getting their children to unplug, stop and smell the flowers. Camping provides a wonderful solution to that. Wellington College Hangzhou offers a residential trips programme for our pupils to immerse themselves in nature, cut the cord from devices and stay physically active and imaginative. Research from the 2011 American Academy of Ophthalmology Meeting states that increasing time spent outdoors can help reduce the risk of developing myopia and its progression in children and adolescents. Sue Waite, Associate Professor at the Plymouth Institute of Education, found in research on the relationship between education and camping that camping makes children happier, more engaged in classroom, and learn transferrable skills for later life. 

With this in mind, Ms. Wang, Grade 5 Leader led our Grade 5 pupils on a two-day and one-night camping trip to the historic city of Lin'an and had a long-awaited outdoor residential trip. How did our pupils spend these days? How do they enjoy the trip? Ms. Kang, our Chinese teacher from Upper Primary, is here to give us a retrospective on the exciting tour. 

As a part of a “second classroom”, our residential learning outside the classroom is a demonstration of our educational philosophy of "education is everywhere." Pupils dive into nature as they experience the charm and explore the mystery of nature. What a wonderful approach to broaden their horizons and spark their curiosity and thirst for knowledge. 

Feel the pulse of nature away from the hustle and bustle  

Spending a night in camp tents is an almost primitive way of life that allows people to retreat into nature and enjoy life itself. It was such an incredibly exhilarating experience for children growing up in the city. When nightfall came, pupils lay down in the tents, listened to the insects chirping and wind whispering, and felt the vitality and energy of nature. Woken up by the first brush of sunlight, they walked out of their tents, sat on the hillside, and watched the sunrise in the east. The sun shone on the tents through the branches where the birds were singing and the dew-kissed meadow sparkled in the sunlit dawn. When we camp, we put the hustle and bustle of the city away from us and live in harmony with nature. It allows our pupils to find that the simplest things in life are the most touching, so they will cherish and love this world more. 

During this residential camp experience, our pupils engaged in a variety outdoor activities.  

Vintage sports 

Have a look at these fun-packed vintage sports games our pupils enjoyed! They ran and jumped, celebrating victories and releasing their energy. 

Paddleboard surfing 

Pupils formed groups and jumped onto the paddleboards to surf. They paddled hard with their arms, making the boards fly fast on the lake. What a treat for our eyes to see the sun shimmer on the clear lake and green trees. 

Fluid Bear DIY 

With creativity and imagination, pupils created some adorable “Fluid Bears”. They were filled with pride to see their works slowly taking shape.

Frisbee challenge 

In these challenging and exciting games, Huili pupils learned the importance of teamwork and individual strength and found the charm of sports. 

How do our pupils feel about this camping activity? 

Amy

It was so much fun. We took part in many outdoor activities such as paddleboarding, frisbee challenge and DIY fluid bear. The most memorable part was watching the Harry Potter movie in the evening. We sat on the grass together and it was so cosy and relaxing. 

Jack

I felt closer to nature through this camping trip and found the beauty and mystery of nature. I also learned many new skills, such as how to paddleboard and play frisbee – things that are not usually learned easily. 

Tony

I really enjoyed this residential trip because we could go outside and see many different creatures and plants. I also discovered some laws of nature, such as why fireflies glow and what makes rocks float on water. 

Our residential camping trip provides pupils with the opportunity to present, challenge and surpass themselves. Throughout the trip, they collaborated, worked hard and overcame challenges. They wielded their creativity and leadership skills, which will directly support their personal growth, career development and social interactions. We believe that this experience will continue to equip our pupils with the Huili values of courage, integrity, responsibility, respect and kindness, laying a solid foundation so that they grow into inspired, intellectual, independent, individual and inclusive talents for the future.