Every year, students from YCIS Pudong Secondary embark on a series of excursions across China and Asia as part of their Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC). The trips aim to extend the learning experiences of the students and to allow them to escape the hustle and bustle of the booming metropolis of Shanghai and give them the opportunity to experience the great cultural and geographical diversity that China and the Asian region have to offer. Each year group goes on a different trip, meaning that over their time in YCIS Pudong Secondary, students will amass a list of unique places visited and activities participated in that they can remember and cherish for years to come.
For their first EOTC trip with YCIS Pudong Secondary, students in Year 7 took to the ancient Chinese city of Xi’an in Shaanxi province, where they soaked in the historical culture of one of the oldest cities in China. As well as the visit to see the world-famous Terracotta Warriors, the students saw the city’s landmarks including the Drum Tower and Giant Wild Goose Pagoda as they took a 14km bike ride along the city’s Ming-dynasty wall. They even had time to experience a martial arts and lion dancing extravaganza at a famous local kung-fu school. What a great introduction to EOTC for these students!
Meanwhile, the Year 8 cohort made their way to Shandong province in the northern part of the East China region. The group visited a traditional Confucian temple and cemetery, after which they took a historical quiz to see how much knowledge they had learned. They then went to a local village, followed by Tai Mountain for some serious hiking. After all of this, they still had the energy for some team-based activities including an adventure course, and even some dancing! It was an excellent opportunity for team building and bonding for the students.
The sandy beaches of Xiamen and the mountainous areas of Fujian province provided the scenic settings for our Year 9 students. Spirits were high, and the students participated in many activities during their EOTC trip. This included tandem biking along the coast, a temple visit, doing a cultural scavenger hunt, exploring food and shopping streets, a 40km cycle through luscious landscapes including tea plantations, and an incredible experience going to a village featuring Fujian ‘tulou’ – traditional rural dwellings unique to this region. The final night provided time for the students to perform comedy skits for each other before heading back to Shanghai with incredible memories.
The sights and sounds of Beijing were enchanting for our Year 10 students. It’s not every day you can say that you climbed the Great Wall of China as part of a school trip, but our students did just that! The hiking-based adventure included camping in the wilderness in the shadows of the Great Wall and the picturesque Baihe Canyon. The group cooked healthy meals together daily, with an emphasis placed on food safety, proper knife skills, and safe cooking procedures. There was a strong focus on teamwork throughout the trip, and as well as yoga in the morning and stretching exercises, the group were encouraged to challenge themselves mentally and physically during the hikes. Overall, the very successful trip benefitted all of the students in attendance.
The Year 11 first-ever EOTC visit to the Philippines humbled our students. The trip was in coordination with the school’s charity, Seeds of Hope (SOH), and Kids International Ministries (KIM). Visiting a rural area of the country gave our students an insight into the lives of those less fortunate than themselves. The students worked incredibly hard to contribute to this rural community by volunteering at a medical clinic, helping to build a wall, and meeting students from the Cuatro Christian School. This was a great example of the students putting “Love and Charity” from the school’s motto into practice.
For Year 12 students, this year’s EOTC was bittersweet, as they knew it would be the last they would attend as YCIS students. They, therefore, made the most of their trip to Thailand with a series of educational activities. The trip included multiple field trips that tied in with their IB Learner Profiles, meaning that the students had many opportunities to fulfil Creative Activity Service (CAS) requirements for their IB diplomas. Staying near Chiang Mai, the students began by learning about Thai language, culture, arts, and crafts. They visited a night bazaar, shopped at local markets, and experienced local cuisine. Other highlights included visiting a royal residence, an elephant reserve, staying on a houseboat, and completing a jungle canopy adventure course. The group arrived back in Shanghai after a long week with another incredible EOTC experience under their belts.
Not only do the EOTC trips provide the students with excellent opportunities to explore places they may have never been and cultures they may have never seen, they also act as a great way to strengthen the bond between students and their peers, as well as their teachers, and to instil a sense of community among the year groups. Upon graduation in Year 13, our students recall EOTC trips as some of their fondest memories of their time at YCIS, and it’s easy to see why. EOTC trips like these give our students incredible learning experiences in some of the most diverse locations across China and Asia, providing them with extraordinary memories and personal growth opportunities that will benefit them for a lifetime.