#environmentalserviceproject

The school program included a unique Environmental service project, a tiered 24 hours Jungle survival introduction phase, plus adventure and team building activities. The School elected to fund raise their entire project contribution and so arrived with a vested interest.

I think it is safe to say that on the initial viewing of the pile of galvanised steel, wood and tools “and” then being told “you and these materials will produce a fully operational tree nursery” they were less than convinced, dare I say sceptical! However Alice Smith Year Ten prepared, constructed, and created a fully operational tree nursery. We do know best, but it is always more rewarding to let them see the objectives grow for real as they build, as opposed to trying to convince with words.

The nursery build is a long term project adopted by Ability Expeditions and will we hope facilitate a boost to the reforestation efforts in the Kiulu valley over the next decade or more. This drive was started with the students planting 240 saplings at locations in two village’s community areas during the project phase.

The Jungle phase is always a revelation for the majority, no matter how long international school students have lived in the tropics they rarely venture far into the wilderness, this is a genuinely daunting phase for many, and will always encourage and induce the biggest development personally  as individuals. To pack a bag with what you think you need for 24 hours is on its own a challenge, that bag needs what you want, the equipment you are told you need and then yet more collective food rations and it becomes the first challenge. All the while looking at the jungle edges from the safety of the centres landscaped grounds, the ominous hill horizons stealing your focus, “how far will I be trekking” an overload of the imagination is almost guaranteed. Nervous, anxious and void of any normal comfort zone reference points is now their reality. The only real safety blanket that they can see is each other, and that is the essence of the phase, strength and adaptability as a team. Only at this point it they are not one. Fast forward twenty four hours and the return with smiles, heroic voices greet their friends, tales of survival feats. A team who “number off” loud and proud, and a collection of individuals whom now believe they are a little bit tougher than they imagined they were before. We wish the Alice Smith Year 10 a fantastic summer holiday – you will be welcomed back any time.