Primary Week Without Walls: Learning Beyond the Classroom

Earlier this month, our Grade 3, 4, and 5 students traded their classrooms for the great outdoors, embarking on their annual Week Without Walls(교외 체험 주간) camps, an experience that has become a cornerstone of holistic education at UIS.

Grade 3: Leaf and Learn in Xiangwo

Lush Hills of Xinxing County

Deep in the lush hills of Xinxing County, our youngest adventurers immersed themselves in the theme “Leaf and Learn.” Students stepped into the role of tea farmers, harvesting fresh leaves by hand from terraced gardens and learning the ancient art of tea-making from local masters. They explored pristine ecosystems as “Forest Detectives,” engaging all five senses to discover the secrets of woodland habitats. Back at camp, team challenges taught them that communication and trust are just as important as strength and speed.

Leaf and Learn

Grade 4: High Adventure in Yingde

G4 CAMP 2026

Against the dramatic backdrop of Yingde’s legendary limestone karsts, our Grade 4 students embraced “High Adventure.” They pushed their limits on world-class climbing crags, learned to trust both their equipment and their teammates. Beneath the surface, they donned headlamps to explore ancient caves, marveling at glittering stalactites and underground streams. A heritage walk through a centuries-old village connected them to the rich cultural tapestry of rural Guangdong, proving that adventure comes in many forms.

Grade 5: Ready to Go! in Pak Lap

Our oldest primary students journeyed to the pristine wilderness of Pak Lap in Hong Kong’s Sai Kung Country Park. They hiked to remote campsites, mastering navigation and outdoor survival skills, building shelters, purifying water, and even lighting fires without matches. Kayaking through crystal-clear coves and scaling coastal cliffs, they discovered strengths they didn’t know they had. Team challenges on white sand beaches and a collaborative tie-dye session created bonds, and colorful shirts, that will last well beyond the trip.

G5/CAMP

Why Camps Matter

These experiences are far more than a few days away from school. They are carefully designed opportunities for students to develop resilience, adaptability, and collaboration, skills no textbook can teach. When a child conquers a climbing wall, navigates for their team, or simply offers a comforting word to a homesick friend, they grow in ways that stay with them long after the gear is packed away.

The laughter around campfires, the pride in a tent pitched together, the stories shared on the bus ride home, these are the moments that build confident, capable young people. Our students return with dirt on their shoes, stars in their eyes, and a deeper understanding of themselves and each other.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate another successful camp season, we are already looking forward to next year’s adventures. To our incredible teachers and China New Horizons staff who made this possible: thank you for your dedication, your patience, and your willingness to sleep in tents and hike endless trails. You are the reason these experiences transform our students.

To our families, thank you for trusting us with your children. We cannot wait to see them at next year’s camps.