With thousands of years of history, diverse geographic and cultural features, the Middle Kingdom is the focus of Concordia’s week of experiential education. China’s vast landscape, numerous minority ethnic groups, and evolving culture provide an ideal backdrop for students to acquire self-knowledge, form new friendships, challenge preconceived ideas, and put the needs of others before their own.
Each September, middle and high school students travel to destinations around the country to experience unique educational opportunities designed around culture, service, and adventure.
Grade 5 traveled to Nanbeihu for three days of self-discovery and adventure.
Grade 6 students tried abseiling, ferrate, slack line, hiking, and team building activities in Moganshan
Grade 7 students experienced Beijing; adventures spanned the busy streets of the capital to rural farms and mountain climbing excursions.
Grade 8 experienced scenes from Yangshou, Guilin, where they learned camping skills and challenge themselves to try things they’ve never done before.
Introducing the TrIBES program
As part of the high school’s Transforming Individuals by Education & Service (TrIBES) program, students choose from a wide variety of ed-travel courses. TrIBES are made up of students from different grade levels across the high school led by teacher advisors. Here are a few highlights from a few of this year’s courses.
YEP Teaching and Learning had students teaching English to kids at school in Yunnan.
Students participating in the Ancient Tea Trail Trek hiked and camped for three days along the trails of Yunnan's Abujee mountain.
Students on the Makerspace Technology Experience trip traveled to Shenzhen, where they assembled a DIY vehicle in the Open Source Makerlab.
The TrIBES experience does not end once everyone is back in Shanghai. Each TrIBES group meets weekly to continue to grow together as a unit, sharing meals and participating in service and other projects around the school and the city. Former Concordia high school principal Nicholas Kent, perhaps put it best when said, “We leave for TrIBES as a school; we come back from TrIBES as a family.”
