Go exploring, students! ——The Grade 7 Chongming Island Field Trip

Growth is not only gained in classroom learning, but also in the vast natural world. To encourage students to stimulate their potential in an unfamiliar environment, develop the courage to overcome difficulties, and feel the sense of accomplishment brought by conquest and adventure, Grade 7 students participated in a two-day field trip commencing on 2 November.

Joy from ‘adventure’

The first stop of the trip was Xisha Wetland Park. After getting off the bus, everyone watched with great interest the rows of neat bird statues standing in the wet soil and beside the tree roots, the small crabs on the aquatic plants, the endless reeds, the traces of thousands of ravines, and the strange tree carvings… The students were divided into groups and challenged to catch crabs. Currently, most crabs were immature with a blue-gray colour, like elves in the night. Some boys, despite the risk of getting dirty, jumped into the wetland in search of bigger crabs. The big crab that was caught opened its teeth and claws, ran rampantly, and waved two big pincers, frightening the surrounding classmates into joyful screaming and retreat. At that time, a classmate who was bold turned the crab over, but the little crab rolled over and left in a funny way, and in an instant, smiles climbed on the faces of each classmate.

Teamwork from ‘adventure’

The second stop was Xiangduo Happy Farm, where students took part in the Junior Spartan Challenge. The team leader distributed the task maps, and each team had to work together to complete various challenges on the task list: crawling forward, which had students roll in the sand and then cross the competition area in various postures; rope climbing, where everyone climbed a rope hanging in the air with their hands and feet; using a roman water cannon – according to the principle of levers, the students set up a triangular turret and launched a water balloon to a target. During the competition, sometimes more than a dozen people rushed into a dead end together, stumbled out and comforted each other while looking for the next way. A group of gamers were transformed into adventurous young Spartan warriors, experiencing the incomparable fun that mobile games cannot provide.

Ease from ‘adventure’

As night fell, the bonfire was lit. Crimson flames licked the sky, the moths circled low, and the students formed a circle, completely ignoring the embarrassment of singing out of tune. Yet, they sang confidently. “Green Flower Porcelain” gave us a sense of elegance of the Chinese style. “Chi Ling” expressed the desperation of the “singer” who was born at the wrong time. “The Lonely Hero” encouraged us to be a Jedi, even in the darkness, and “City of Stars” made us see the stars shining for ourselves. The flame, light and stars made the night full of laughter.

Surprise from ‘adventure’

The kayaking adventure on the second day made the students feel the charm of water sports. When they first got on the canoes, everyone was obviously a little nervous, and there were many students who could not turn their canoes around with their paddles. But when they cooperated better and better, they began to relax and enjoy the beautiful lake sceneries, including tall metasequoias, pine trees, low small wildflowers, blue-gray stone slabs, moss, antique pavilions, occasional goats, and bright boats moving like swimming fish, frolicking freely on the water. Students were reluctant to go ashore as they were so excited.

Harvest from “adventure”

At the last stop of the trip, the students came to the Dongtan Bird National Nature Reserve. It is an important station for migratory birds in the Asia-Pacific region in spring and autumn, an important wintering ground for migratory birds, and one of the few wild bird habitats in the world. Here, we could see the silver reed flowers, the high sky and clouds, and a few herons flying over us from time to time. The students held binoculars to watch the birds, looking for the red-headed pochard fishing, and explored the traces of the curlew-like birds trekking on the dangerous shoals.

The two-day field trip had ended.

Students gained not only knowledge,

but also a sweet memory in their life journey.

As the saying goes,

“It’s better to travel thousands of miles than to read ten thousand books.”

Reflection

7E 王珂 Dowson

The Grade 7 field trip was an adventurous journey that allowed us to grow and gain valuable experiences through many challenges. Just like exploring in the forest, fishing in the river, and overcoming obstacles on the beach, we bravely moved forward, discovered new things, and built our physical strength. During this hiking activity, we not only acquired knowledge and skills, but also learned how to face difficulties and challenges, cooperate with our peers, and become better versions of ourselves.

7B 汪若涵  Olivia

In the “Youth Sparta Challenge Activity,” we moved through ropes with hanging bells, scaled walls, and overcame various obstacles, experiencing the difficulties of success. In the wilderness, we also needed to learn basic survival skills. While exploring, we collected charcoal and ingredients to prepare dinner. By preparing our own meals, we learned to cherish food and avoid wasting it. Overall, the hiking trip required both courage and strength, serving to enhance team cohesion and acquire valuable knowledge.

7F 应凤梧 Judy

The wind blew through the treetops and carried away the leaves as we embarked on this field trip. In this “Adventurous Youth” field trip, we relied on ourselves to find the way, strive, and struggle. Through this trip, we seemed to have grown up. In the forest, there were many small crabs due to the wetlands, and we all wanted to catch and try them. However, the muddy path made me stop. Although I did not catch any crabs, I had a wonderful experience during the kayaking activity. Along the way, we also chased after migratory birds, observed them, recorded their behaviors, and learned a lot. There were some regrets about the two-day-one-night journey, but the happiness was genuine!

7F 吕卓轩 Jack

I had a wonderful time on this field trip. The “Roman Water Cannon” taught me that ‘unity is strength’. The walking course brought us many insights, and I saw various bird species, gaining a lot of knowledge through the teacher’s explanations. Watching classmates sing along to the music at the bonfire party was also very appealing to me. Overall, this experience was incredibly special, and I was incredibly happy!