A truly well-rounded education should involve training not only the mind,
but the heart and the hands too.
Last November 19, social tourism enterprise MAD (Make A Difference) Travel in partnership with Human Heart Nature organized a Kids Camp for children aged between 5 and 12 at the GK Enchanted Farm.
When I was introduced to Charlotte Mason teaching style, nature study is one of my favorite parts. We eased in nature study in our previous homeschooling year. At least once a week, we go out to explore nature. I let my child stay out under the sun, get some fresh air and burn up some of his energy. I gave him freedom to explore and roam around to observe. Many times, we marvel at God's creation, even nature reveals His glory.
This year, we haven't really got the chance to do it once a week since I started working from home and having no helper. That's why I am so blessed to be invited to this activity.
Children got involved in a series of hands-on activities, from farming, feeding the pigs, peanut butter making competitions with First Harvest to stitching their own stuffed toys with Plush & Play, bread making & designing cookies with Make Peace Bakery.
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| Stuffed Toy Making with Plush & Play |
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| Crinkles Making with Make Peace Bakery Gabi made different shapes such as a circle, calamaries, snake, mountain, and even a fat person. |
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| Peanut Butter Making with First Harvest Gabi used sugar, peanuts and soy sauce for his peanut butter. Yes, soy sauce! I think he put 3-5 tablespoons, other kids used vinegar. Surprisingly, it tastes good. |
These fun activities help to connect the children to nature through experiential learning. “Through farming, animal feeding and planting, the kids will get a better idea of where their food comes from, and how important it is that we develop agriculture in a sustainable way,” Raf Dionisio, the co-founder of MAD Travel, explains. The kids had fun exploring & learning in the outdoors without their parents having to worry about mosquito bites, too! Each camper got a DEET-free Bug Shield Oil Spray by Human Nature, the first Asian brand to receive a Sustainable Beauty Award from Organic Monitor.
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| Experiential Tour of the Farm |
“With many of the activities centered around social enterprises based at the farm, children will also be given a fun introduction to social enterprise and see how business can serve not only to enrich ourselves, but to make the world a better place” Raf explains.
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| Feeding Goats |
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| Feeding Pigs |
For children growing up in the age of iPads and video games, it is an opportunity for them to have fun outdoors and interact with kids from different backgrounds, including scholars from Gawad Kalinga communities, who will join them in certain activities.
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| Our kids got a chance to play with the GK Scholars |
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| Boodle Fight Lunch |
For its part, Human Nature emphasizes that children need to be encouraged to “step away from the screens and into the sunlight” to become fully understand the world around them. Human Nature partnered with MAD Travel because it believes that the Kids Camp is a creative and fun way of teaching children about environmental sustainability and serving the poor.
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| Art Attack! Paint and Draw with Nature while munching their baked crinkles |
Raf, who through MAD Travel has developed other eco- and social tourism initiatives across the country, believes in the importance of outdoor camps because they had such an impact on him as a child: "Thanks to the kids camps I attended, I really grew to love the countryside. Holding these camps at the Enchanted Farm can hold an even greater significance: through bringing together kids from vastly different backgrounds, we hope to inspire not only a future generation of successful people, but nation builders, too.”
The Kids Camp takes place at the GK Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan every month. The farm, surrounded by 40-hectares of land, is already hub for social entrepreneurs and volunteers coming from across the world. With high quality facilities such as a spa and an infinity pool, it is also a relaxing and inspiring destination for the entire family.
As I rekindle my childhood years, I can say that I have the fondest memories interacting with nature as a child. I want my kids to also experience that despite living in the city. Thanks to MAD Travel and Human Nature, especially to Ms. Tish Martinez - Castillo for having us. Their advocacy and passion really inspire us to raise well-rounded children.
We have a lot of take home from the farm, more than the products is the experience our kids will forever cherish. We've gained new friends from this activity and we are so grateful.
I hope the love of nature will be instilled in our kids' hearts through our years of nature study. Morever, to cultivate a love for God as Creator and to be a good steward of the Earth.
As I rekindle my childhood years, I can say that I have the fondest memories interacting with nature as a child. I want my kids to also experience that despite living in the city. Thanks to MAD Travel and Human Nature, especially to Ms. Tish Martinez - Castillo for having us. Their advocacy and passion really inspire us to raise well-rounded children.
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| Gabi meets Gabby |
We have a lot of take home from the farm, more than the products is the experience our kids will forever cherish. We've gained new friends from this activity and we are so grateful.
I hope the love of nature will be instilled in our kids' hearts through our years of nature study. Morever, to cultivate a love for God as Creator and to be a good steward of the Earth.
Nature is one of God's beautiful creations. Through nature, God is able to teach us, speak to us, and provide for us. For this reason, we can find in scripture that we humans are called to protect all which is of He has created. But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? ~ Job 12:7-10 NIV Source: Bibletools.com
Upcoming Kids Camp schedule: January 14, February 11, March 11, April 15
Registration fee is Php 2,200/head including farm-fresh lunch, (2) snacks, Human Nature Bug Shield Spray, and all activities in the itinerary. Round-trip transportation is available upon request.
Open to kids 3-12 years old. 3-5 year old must be accompanied by their parents. Register now at bit.ly/mad-kids-camp
About MAD Travel
Make A Difference Travel is a social enterprise that creates opportunities for and with marginalised communities through sustainable social tourism. We create alternative travel experiences that bring together people from different walks of life, immerse them in local culture, and inspire them to make a difference.
www.madtravel.org
fb.com/MakeADifferenceTravel
@madtravel_ph
About Human Nature & DEET-free Bug Shield Oil
Human Nature is about loving the Philippines, loving the environment and loving our families as we provide personal care products that feel as good on your skin as they do in your heart. We hope that your everyday choices will have a positive impact on the poor, our country and our planet. Human Nature’s DEET-free Bug Shield Oil are safe for kids and it is made by Human Nature, the first ever Asian brand to receive a Sustainable Beauty Award from Organic Monitor.
www.humanheartnature.com
fb.com/humanheartnature
@humanheartnature
Mukhang nag enjoy si Gab ah!
ReplyDeleteSuper! Hahahahaha.
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