Upper Primary Camp Week at HKIS is back – virtually
In collaboration with Hong Kong International School (HKIS)
An annual highlight of Hong Kong International School’s Upper Primary experience is attending camp. When schools went online in Hong Kong in February, many students were concerned that they would not be back in time for the school’s yearly March offsite overnight camp. Unfortunately, after a nerve-wracking month, camp was cancelled for the second year running, due to the pandemic.
Knowing that the Upper Primary Camp is one of the most unforgettable opportunities for HKIS students, the administration met with the Parent Advisory Group (PAG) and shared the idea of a virtual camp, their response was overwhelmingly positive. Next, the administration invited passionate faculty to join a camp committee. The committee met and brainstormed a variety of ideas, and explored ways to provide a memorable and engaging virtual camp experience for students.
“We knew that we wanted to create an experience that was as memorable as our traditional camp,” says Ms Genta Branstetter, Upper Primary Associate Principal.
The HKIS Upper Primary School Camp and its significance
The three-day, two-night HKIS Upper Primary School Camp is an important part of the school’s social and academic programme. It offers the opportunity for students to connect with their peers and teachers outside of the school setting, as well as grow and gain new skills.
Ms Branstetter explains: “At camp, students become resilient; they have the opportunity to collaborate with one another and develop their leadership and team-building skills. Students practise communication and demonstrate care, support, and empathy for others. Camp also provides the opportunity for student creativity to be cultivated. Collaboration, creativity, and resilience are the HKIS transdisciplinary transfer goals and UP Camp is a setting that helps our students practise these skills.”
The HKIS Upper Primary School Camp 2022
From March 9 to March 11, 2022, a schedule was created for the virtual camp, to provide late-night storytelling and community drumming along with various mindfulness and community building activities during the day.
“Our Camp Committee and teachers designed the grade-level On-Zoom and Off-Zoom camp activities and our talented UP Librarian, Ms. Amy Robinson, and Art Teacher, Ms. Claire Kirk organised the all-school special events. We were intentional with these choices thinking about how we might replicate a true camp experience in a virtual setting.”
The camp turned out to be a success. Students participated in three days of fun-filled activities, which included a virtual pillow fight battle, minute-to-win-it, hiking and tent building. Some students were placed into virtual cabins and made class chants and flags. On Friday, students had the opportunity to choose from a variety of activities offered on the school’s Off-Zoom Choice Board.
For Ms Branstetter, the highlight of the camp was seeing students and their families snuggled up in their tents in their living rooms listening to storyteller Donna Washington, who joined live via Zoom.
“And a memorable moment was when I had to drink a cat food shake during the Opening Ceremony – it was awful!” She laughs.
Afterthoughts of the camp
During the planning of the camp, staff, teachers and parents were worried about “Zoom fatigue” and the fact that students were already coming off weeks of online learning. They knew that they also wanted to create the opportunity for students to “off-screen”, so they designed Friday to be “Choose Your Own Adventure” and created an Off-Zoom Choice Board.
Luckily, everything went well and both students and teachers had an experience they’ll never forget. “We learned that it was possible to create a memorable experience even in a virtual setting. While it was a lot more work on our faculty, we are confident that these memories will last a lifetime. Fingers crossed, UP Camp will be in the traditional outdoor environment next year!”
