Education, Excitement and Exploration
The ISJ Residential was a trip to remember! The Year 6 and 7 students went on a fantastic journey to reward their hard work. Cibalung Happyland Camp was their destination: a fun-filled resort with games, challenges, welcoming villas, and lots of new experiences set in the mountainous wilderness of Bodgor.
At 7 am on Wednesday, 23rd April, the students bundled into a minivan with their teachers and some snacks! From the moment the door closed, the noise level increased with excited chatter, laughter and socialising. Some people sang while others tried to get a few last-minute moments of sleep before the big event. Approximately 1.5 hours later, they arrived, full of energy and ready for fun. They headed to the main Villa area, led by some traditional dancers and were greeted with some more snacks and a briefing about what to expect.
Before they knew it, they had set off for some very messy activities. Students sat on some seats pulled by some buffalo and ploughed the watery land, preparing to plant crops. Next, they moved to a pre-plowed area where they got to plant rice crops. Shortly after that, they fed some hungry cows and then moved on to plant their own strawberries (which they later took home). Although their hands, legs, feet and arms were covered in mud, their faces were also covered in smiles. Lots of fun was had by all.
A quick change, shower, and get onto the water park!
The giant pool was a highlight of the day. The water park consisted of a warm shallow pool, a deeper area for splashing, four water slides, a lazy river, and a ginormous water bucket that poured vast amounts of water with a lot of force from above. This was a lot of fun!
Another quick change into some dry clothes, and the students made their way to the kitchen area, where, adorned with their own personalised apron and chef's hat, they tried their hand at creating some local desserts. These were enjoyed by everyone! The favourites were definitely the homemade potato crisps. There was lots of food, lunch, and a few more snacks, and it was time for the students to enjoy the activities.
There was a wide range of things for everyone to do, from the giant trampoline to archery, the zipline to target shooting, the slingshot to mini ATVs, and let's not forget the time spent with the adorable rabbits in the rabbit park. It was truly brilliant to see everyone trying their best with lots of new things and overcoming some fears. The supportiveness from all the students and enthusiasm were a wonderful part of this trip.
After a few hours, it was time to get ready for dinner and an evening of games. The food was exceptional, with a variety of different BBQ options. Two Korean students treated everyone to a display of Korean BBQ cooking, which was delicious. The sausages, rice, chicken, beef, and everything else were all great, and it was finished off with toasted marshmallows over a BBQ pit.
Finally, before heading to bed, the students got changed into their comfy clothes, and we all gathered together outside for a group game of Werewolf (a game involving mystery and solving clues to discover who in the group is the hidden Werewolf). Some students showcased some hidden talents for trickery, while others showcased their inner Sherlock Holmes. Everyone had a lot of fun before we headed back to our two villas, ready for a well-deserved sleep and some more snacks!
After a good night's sleep, everyone awoke for breakfast, and another go at all the activities before bundling back into the minivan and heading back to school and their awaiting parents.
The trip was a brilliant success, and everyone enjoyed it. Many requested another one soon, and the main priority was the chance to stay away for even longer next time.
As teachers, we couldn't be prouder of how our students embraced every challenge with courage, curiosity, and kindness. From muddy rice fields to zip lines, cooking classes to campfire games, every moment was a memory in the making.
A huge thank you to the Cibalung Happyland team, our wonderful staff, and our incredible students for making this residential so special.
Until next time.
