While we are setting up the website, I will be posting APS updates here.

    Last week we completed a wonderful week of APS bonding. The camp theme was outdoor education, but the main focus was getting to know each other. I wanted to have a camp where I could spend time with as many of the APS students to get to know them better. It worked so much better than I thought. There were definitely times when we had communication difficulties, but as a team we worked through that. The students had fun learning about each other, making friends and trying new things. I learned how much fun it was to spend all day with them.

    Our first day we spent the day doing a lot of different activities. We made bracelets to show the students how to follow (complicated) directions, they also learned how to ask for help with this activity. We gave them maps of the school and let them explore the campus looking for things to familiarize themselves with the school grounds. We had teamwork activities in the field to help them work together. The kids had a great time, and were introduced to several of the teachers in the school.

    On our second day we went down to Fangshan. The kids were given the opportunity to kayak. For some this was a scary experience, and they did not want to do this on their own. Others were quite happy in the kayaks, scooting around the lake on their own. I spent the morning riding around with 2 (or 3) students in my kayak. Sometimes we’d have to go out and help tow a kayak out of the grass. But the kids had a wonderful morning, followed by bbq lunch. That afternoon, some of the students were given the chance to rock climb.

    This was followed by alternating days of Field trips and training at school. We went caving, (Spelunking). We entered the caves on our feet, and ended up climbing ropes, and crawling through tiny holes. The students had a great time. We saw bats, and “stone flowers”, and water dripping from the roof. I must admit, that I discovered that I still have “claustrophobia” (fear of enclosed spaces). I didn’t know that I had this, and so it was a bit hard. But In the end I did have a good time.

We also had campsite training. We learned to hunt with a bow and arrow. How to use the sun for telling time, and how to work together. There were times that I could see some of the kids did not understand what was expected, and we had to patiently show them what was needed. (Except during the hunting practice, when I had to run out and carry a student out or the firing-range, because ran out in front of other archers when they were about to shoot…)

One of the parents (Felix’s) made wonderful photo-essays of each day. And I think they are very good to share.