We encourage pupils to explore nature and feel the power of life in the sunshine and the rain. We believe that classroom learning and practical experience complement each other and are mutually beneficial. Therefore, Hiba Nantong is committed to designing extracurricular activities that cater to the developmental characteristics of pupils at different stages by providing ample opportunities for them to apply what they have learned in practice and gain experience in real life.
Last week, pupils from different grades participated in field trips in a variety of locations around China. During their time away, pupils gained not only wonderful memories of walking side-by-side with their peers, but also acquired many new skills whilst facing interesting challenges.
Grade 1 Lingjuli Outdoor Base
Grade 1’s challenges were in the natural environment, including climbing trees, jungle exploration, and learning and practising wilderness survival skills such as camping, shelter building, and collecting water. The diverse range of activities allowed knowledge and imagery from textbooks to come to life before their eyes. For first-grade pupils, this was not only an extension of the classroom, but also a valuable opportunity to expand their horizons and learn about nature.
Grade 2 & 3 Wuxi
In the treasure hunt game, pupils established a cooperative relationship, divided tasks, learned to observe the hidden clues in nature, and maintained concentration. In the afternoon activities, pupils learned archery and climbed ropes set between trees, experiencing the joy and adventure of crossing the forest like "Tarzan".
In these fun and challenging activities, the pupils' curiosity and exploration were greatly stimulated. They immersed themselves in fresh challenges and, with the concerted efforts of their peers, completed tasks with full concentration, eliminating any difficulties.
Grade 4&5 Nanbeihu
For pupils who have never experienced boarding life, the bonfire party and camping with tents was a seminal experience. Pupils in grades four and five not only practiced the operation of fetching and purifying water, but also learned how to set up a distress signal in the wilderness. In the activities on the second day, they challenged themselves with rock climbing, rope net climbing, jungle hiking, tag rugby, and other activities.
Through these activities, pupils gained practical survival skills, physical fitness improvement in navigating the natural environment, direct experience of competition and cooperation, and the joy and laughter scattered under the starry sky.
Grade 6,7,8 & 10 Anji
The pupils kicked off the activities with an ice-breaking game. The following rock climbing and rope descents tested their physical coordination and sporting skills. On the second day, the jungle trekking and wilderness survival skills workshop challenged not only their physical fitness but also their practical thinking. Through hands-on experience, the pupils deepened their understanding of the relationship between humans and nature. They constantly pushed their limits, learned orienteering skills, set up camps, cooked meals, and learned to enjoy the dialogue with nature during their journey. The third day's race car assembly was the long-awaited highlight for many pupils. They designed and assembled their own cars in a larger activity space, found solutions through failures, and improved their car designs to compete against each other. In these team games, the pupils not only learned how to cooperate with each other but also had the opportunity to develop leadership skills. They sweated profusely, experienced frustration and conflicts, but the surprises of learning new skills, the scenery they saw after persevering, and the joy of winning the competition together made the experience even more precious.
We hope to provide pupils with more diverse opportunities for extracurricular activities, integrating knowledge and experience from both inside and outside the classroom. This will enrich the learning experience for pupils and help them to further their education by reading widely and traveling extensively. Over time, they will develop a more long-term perspective and learn to understand problems in a more profound way.
