This article features the Tanglin Trust School X Beyond Expeditions overnight campcraft programme for students aged 9-10.

Our instructors hosted 200 of Tanglin Trust’s Year 5 students over four days (27th February- 3rd March 2023).

Through this article, get a glimpse of how young international students hone their sense of resilience, teamwork and survival skills, all while experiencing the outdoors in Singapore!

Our team of trainers at Beyond Expeditions hosted 8 classes of students (also fondly known as Lions) from Tanglin Trust School for a 2d1n camp craft programme at our campsite a couple of weeks ago. We covered four camp craft skills; building a natural shelter, sawing, chopping, and building a bushcraft stool. We also designed the programme to bring out a sense of resilience and camaraderie, as we challenged students to overcome obstacles alongside fellow schoolmates from different backgrounds. Through this article, you will witness how these little Lion explorers from Tanglin Trust pick up crucial skills and values that help them learn to trust themselves more when they’re in the outdoors.

To all International School teachers in Singapore who find themselves inspired to want a similar experience for their young ones after reading this article: reach out to us by simply sending us an inquiry email! We would love to share more and explore how we can work together to craft meaningful experiences in the outdoors for you and your students. We can also curate our program in a way that allows us to bring the outdoors to your students within the school compound, if that’s what you prefer!

Note: This article is written in the format of a 9, 10-year-old’s perspective, because that’s the age range our participants belonged to! Connect with the child in you as you read, and may this article help you better understand if the nature of outdoor programmes we offer could be what your students need too.

01: Camp begins!

Yay! Today is the first day of my school camp and I'm super excited! I heard that we will be learning how to chop wood with an axe and make chairs to sit on! Can you believe it? I've never done anything like that before!
When we got here, there was this massive white tent with a mountain drawn on it. I even saw a bunch of grown-ups waving and saying hello to us. It made me feel really welcome.
I can't wait to start and see what adventures we'll have at camp!

02: Camp begins!

The trainers split us into four teams, which was great because I got to make new friends! We played some really fun games together, and I couldn't stop laughing!
After that, it was finally time for us to start our activities. Today we're learning four new crafts! We'll be building a shelter, using a saw, chopping wood and building a bushcraft stool! I've never done any of these things before, so I'm really excited to try them all out and see how they're done!

03: Natural Shelter.

My group got to start with the 'Natural Shelter' station, and it was so cool!
Our trainer, Ms. Wani, was amazing. She had this tool called a hatchet and she used it to carve off the end of a thick branch so that it could become a wooden pole for the shelter. The pole was a lot heavier than I expected, but we took turns helping each other carry it around.
I learned so much from Ms. Wani, and she made it really fun to learn. I can't wait to see what else is in store for us!

04: Natural Shelter.

Ms. Wani showed us how to tie thin red cords between two poles to create the frame for our shelter. We then placed a big, grey blanket (I can't remember what it's called) over the frame to complete the shelter!
To keep the shelter in place, we used big nails called pegs to hold the sides of the shelter down to the ground. It was really cool to learn all these new skills, and Ms. Wani was an amazing teacher! I can't wait to try building a natural shelter on my own!

05: Natural Shelter.

After teaching us how to build a natural shelter, Ms. Wani gave us a group challenge - to build a strong and sturdy shelter that could keep us safe and dry from a heavy storm!
We didn't want to get wet, so we worked together and followed Ms. Wani's instructions to create a natural shelter. Once we were finished, we climbed inside and huddled together. Suddenly, we could feel strong winds and a lot of water pouring down on our shelter! It was scary but also really fun at the same time!
When the storm passed, we emerged from the shelter feeling triumphant - we were all dry and safe! It was such a great experience working together as a team and learning new skills. I can't wait to see what other challenges await us at camp!

During this segment, our trainer introduces the importance of shelter-building to the students. They learn that in the wilderness, building a sturdy shelter that can keep us dry, warm, and safe from predators is key to survival. We also emphasised the concept of resourcefulness; what do I have in my bag as a trekker? How can we use what we already have in our bags? Can we find items in nature to use for the shelter too?

Our trainer then explained how a mallet could be made from tree trunks and branches. The Lions also learnt how to use a pocket boy, a small hatchet, and the mallet to create sharp poles to hold the shelter up. They worked together to knock the poles into the ground, hang up the tarp, and use pegs to hold the tarp to the ground. Reminders like “Hey, watch out where your fingers are!”, “Be careful, the mallet is heavy!” echoed within each group, as the students looked after each other’s safety. They also discussed how they could carry materials from one place to another together when they realised how heavy certain resources can be.

Towards the end of their 60 minutes at this station, the students were challenged: build a sturdy shelter to keep them safe from strong winds and heavy rain! We saw groups instantly putting their heads and hands to work, constantly communicating what needed to be done, and caring for each other via words of encouragement and caution when heavy and sharp things were involved.

06: Chopping.

Our next station was with Mr. Shah, who was wearing this awesome cowboy hat that I loved! He introduced us to two different kinds of axes and showed us how to use them safely.
Mr. Shah then demonstrated the proper way to chop wood, and we all got to try it ourselves. I struggled a bit at first, and it took me three tries to finally chop my wood successfully. The axe was heavier than I expected! But Mr. Shah was really helpful and even helped me lift the axe.
I had so much fun learning how to chop wood with Mr. Shah, and I can't wait to show off my new skills to my friends and family when I get back from camp!

In this station, the Lions learn about chopping. For safety reasons, an assistant trainer will be present to always ensure there is a safe distance between the children and the main trainer’s demonstration.

The Tanglin Trust students were introduced to the importance of chopping when out in the wild, and our trainer shared about specific situations where chopping is useful. He then brought out two different axes, explaining the differences between them, their unique features and ways to use both. Lastly, he clearly demonstrated how to carry the axe, swing the axe, and the best distance to maintain between us and the log when chopping.

Each child then gets a shot at swinging the axe. The trainer helps to hold the axe in the right position above their heads, while the student gets into the required posture. We did this one student at a time, so that every student’s safety is taken care of and their learning is personalised.

We saw many students fail at chopping the wood in their first attempt, fail at the second, and still choose to keep trying again until they succeed. These 9-10-year-olds’ attitudes towards learning and growing was evidently stronger than their fear of failure!

07: Sawing.

After lunch, we moved on to our next activity - learning how to use the foldable hand saw with Trainer Dzul! We all gathered around as he explained the basics of using the Katana boy saw and how to do it safely.
P.s its blade is 500mm long!!
Trainer Dzul then demonstrated by sitting on a big log and sawing off a piece of wood! It was really cool to watch, and I couldn't wait to try it myself!
I was a little nervous at first, but Trainer Dzul was really patient and showed us the correct way to use the saw. It was a little tricky, but with some practice, I got the hang of it!

08: Sawing.

We all took turns sawing with the ‘pocket boy’, and it was so much fun! I liked this station a lot because the saw was light enough for me to hold and I felt safe knowing that Trainer Dzul was carefully watching and guiding each of us.
With each saw stroke, I could feel the wood getting closer and closer to being sawed off. It was really satisfying to see the finished result of our hard work, and I couldn't wait to show off my newly acquired sawing skills!

Similar to the previous station, there will be a trainer assistant there at all times to ensure the safety of the children during the demonstration.

Our trainer shared why sawing is important to learn at all; what is this outdoor survival skill used for, and why it's a necessary skill to learn for relevant outdoor situations they may face in the future). The students learnt about the different parts of the saw, the safety features it has, and the safest way to handle a saw. They proceed to try out the proper way of sawing, one Lion at a time. This involved understanding specific hand placements, body position, the distance between them and where they want to saw, different muscles they should use in their body and the right movement to execute.

Their curiosity peaked when sawdust began forming, and they learnt that they would be sawing off a piece of log to make a bushcraft stool later. Some of them also clapped and squealed in excitement when we told them they could saw off a small piece of wood to bring home as a ‘souvenir’ for their parents!

09: Bushcraft Stool.

Our last station of the day was learning how to make a stool to sit on! Ms Kavita and Mr Scott showed us the tools we needed, how to use them, and the steps to make the stool. I was most excited about the decorating part!
Ms Kavita showed us how to use an auger to drill three holes so that we could stick the legs in later. I had never used a tool like this before, and it made me feel like a mechanic for the day!

10: Bushcraft Stool.

Next, Mr Scott taught us how to use a hatchet to cut the legs of the stool to the right size to fit the holes we drilled. It was a little tricky to get the legs just right, but Mr Scott was there to help us and show us the proper technique.
It was really cool to see the pieces of wood transform into something that we could actually sit on! I was so proud of what we had made and couldn't wait to take it home and show it off.

11: Bushcraft Stool.

Finally, it was time to fit the legs of the stool into the holes we drilled earlier. It took a bit of effort to get them in just right, but with some teamwork, we managed to do it.

12: Bushcraft Stool.

I was amazed at how the pieces we made came together to form a real, functioning stool! We even got to decorate it with our names and some fun designs using coloured markers. It was the perfect finishing touch to our amazing creation.

In this last station, our Tanglin Trust students get to make their own stools and bring it back home! This is definitely the favourite station for many of them, given the smiles and excitement across their faces as they finish making the stools.

Tools such as the scotch eye auger, wooden mallet, pocket boy handsaw, and hatchet were used in the demonstration, alongside materials like the stump they sawed off earlier, and a long branch that will become the legs of the stool. Our trainer explained how to use each tool safely and effectively, before going through each step of the process of making a stool. The students are then tasked to complete making a stool as a group, and go all out in decorating it in theme with your group identity! Some students worked on using the auger to drill holes into the base, while others came together to work on the legs. They then gather together to finish up the stool as a team!

Note: For this campcraft programme with Tanglin Trust, lunch happens after two stations have been completed. Lions were instructed to bring a pre-packed lunch, which they will consume before carrying on with the other two campcraft stations.

OUTDOOR COOKING

Unfortunately, we were unable to capture photos from dinner onwards! Do keep reading till the end of the article as we move through an outdoor cooking experience, tent pitching, and the end of the camp itself!

After all four stations, we proceeded with an outdoor cooking experience with the Lions! We taught them how to use these equipment safely when preparing their meals; stoves, pots and pans, chopping boards, knives and tongs. Students were then provided with ingredients (nutritious pasta, salt, grounded black pepper, zesty chilli flakes, fresh garlic, fragrant olive oil, crunchy carrots, and tender fine beans). And the best part came after dinner; a bag of marshmallows and sticks was given in exchange for every set of clean stoves and utensils they return! Earlier on, we had set up a campfire for them, and they gathered around with their sticks of marshmallows and constant chatter. This was a meal that left them all with full hearts and happy tummies!

After finishing their meals, all students had to wash their own plates and utensils. Some Lions even came over to help our instructors with the washing up afterwards; an act of care and helpfulness we found beautiful to witness.

The rest of the night was as such;

The students headed off to wash up.
They settled in for personal reflection time and did some journaling.
There was a group debrief by our facilitators.
Lights out!

When it was time to rise and shine the next morning, the students washed up and got ready for the day. They packed up their items, had breakfast, and helped strike down the tents. As the sun rose high in the sky, the excited chatter of students filled the air as they eagerly awaited the start of their day at camp. The morning was filled with fun and laughter as the students participated in several games, led by our enthusiastic trainers.

As the morning drew to a close, the teachers took the stage to award several Lions for their exceptional leadership and team-player qualities. These students had truly shone throughout the camp, demonstrating a commitment to teamwork, a positive attitude, and a willingness to go above and beyond to support their peers.

Overall, the camp was a huge success, filled with fun, laughter, and valuable learning experiences. The students left feeling inspired and empowered, with new skills and friendships that would stay with them long after the camp had ended.

Then, the buses arrived to ferry them back to school, and it was time to leave the campsite!

Experiencing the programme with two different batches of Tanglin Trust students these 4 days allowed us to see how these students withstand tests of resilience; the way they chose to bounce back with positivity and enthusiasm despite not immediately succeeding in respective stations, the way they choose to persist in their attempts over and over again. Through these four different stations, these students also showed us how willing and capable they are of working together to overcome obstacles with one another, regardless of how well they know each other.

If you’re a teacher from an International School in Singapore or a parent with a wild heart, and you find yourself reading something in this article that inspires you to want a similar experience for your young ones too, reach out to us by simply sending us an inquiry email. We would love to share more and explore how we can work together to bring you and your students meaningful experiences with the outdoors. We can also curate our program in a way that allows us to bring the outdoors to your students within the school compound, if that’s what you prefer!

Here are some programmes we have conducted for children and young adults, to help you see if what we offer would meet your needs and requirements when it comes to planning outdoor education experiences for your students and children!

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