Outward Bound Training at MCC
As a boarding school, Malvern College Chengdu offers its students daily extra-curricular activities in both their study and leisure time. During the winter and summer holidays MCC also arranges different levels of outward bound training and trips for all its students.
This year, MCC students are aiming to complete the “The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award”, and the school organized trips to Chiangmai (Thailand) and Guilin to assist with the outward bound training. MCC teachers accompanied our students to the activity centres and worked with the local professionals to deliver targeted training to the students.
Chiangmai is the largest and most culturally significant city in Northern Thailand. A lot of people enjoy the leisure life in Chiangmai but for MCC’s students the city had something else in mind – excitement, challenges and adventure.
Students depart from the airport.
They do not know that the team in Chiangmai have prepared many challenges for them.
Students arrive at Chiangmai airport, ready to start their trip.
On arrival at the centre the students enjoyed a traditional Thai meal and waited expectantly to start the activities.
The first challenge for the students is not simple — make a raft to cross the river.
This program develops a student’s decision-making and preparation skills, as well as improving their team work skills.
The coach gives some instructions about tying the rafts.
The coach shows the students how to make the rafts
In the hot sun, students work together to finish the rafts.
Preparing to be launched, and examining the rafts they made.
Our students learned how to plan, organize, control, communicate and collaborate with each other. Decision-making is a complicated process and students discovered how to put the raft together by trial and error. During the task individual suggestions were ignored or rejected easily. This activity taught students how to communicate effectively and that it is important to listen to other people’s opinions whatever the task.
Certainly, working together is an important skill for students. Working as an individual is hard, everyone needs to be part of a group. Students gained an understanding that they are working together for the success of the team activity.
Rock-climbing is a challenging sport, and it can foster an awareness of cooperation and competition. Moreover, rock-climbing also enhances a student’s endurance, decision-making and responses.
The teacher taught our students some useful Thai words. It was not easy for students to learn the language but the students studied hard.
MCC students were able to use their new language skills to go to the market.
Our students went to the market to buy the ingredients needed for the recipes.
With guidance from the teacher MCC students learned how to cook Thai dishes.
MCC students are looking very professional as they wash and prepare the ingredients.
While some students wash and prepare vegetables, other students study the recipe. Everyone has his/her own task and everyone is working together as a team. Students are using their team building skills acquired from other activities this week. Together they cook a delicious Thai meal.
Would you like a taste? Students will now be able to prepare tasty Thai dishes for their parents when the return home.
The teachers enjoyed tasting the students cooking.
If you would like to find out more about the students’ trips to Thailand and Guilin then please look out for further reports.
