Building better individuals, teams, communities and environments.

There is today a growing disconnection between young people and their peers, the natural world and communities they live in. Today’s fast paced, globalize and technological world has brought many new comforts and opportunities for today’s generation but along with it there has come many new distractions and a growing detachment between the youth and his/her environment, his/her peers and his/her communities.

Studies today show that for the healthy all round development of young people’s minds and body there is an essential need for reconnecting people with people and people with nature.

Educational Journeys intends to fill this void with a unique program that addresses the natural need for young people to interact with their peers, their natural surroundings and the community. Our programs are designed to inculcate leadership and teamwork skills, along with community service learning and an appreciation of the natural world.

 

Aspects of the program

 

1. Leadership and Team Building

 

The tool that we will use to teach leadership and teamwork is a purposed built traditional designed Malay sailing and paddling outrigger craft. The students will learn the basics of sail craft and our trainers will execute a training program that maximizes each student’s physical, mental and technical capabilities. The student will learn how to sail, paddle and handle the craft, he learns to lead and work as a team all in an atmosphere of unity for a common goal. With practice and proficiency they will gain in confidence of their individual abilities, leadership skills, an active understanding of the importance of teamwork in achieving common goals and feel the rewards of success.

 

2. Community Partnership: Building Community through Service Learning

 

Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience. It teaches civic responsibility and strengthens communities. In the Malay tradition of “Gotong-royong” the participants will visit local village communities and experience first hand their culture and lifestyle. The students will themselves study issues, brainstorm and come up with plans and implement them to help the community. From the practical experience they will gain a variety of skills especially in the decision making process, communication and civic participation.

 

The communities involved will participate as supervisors, collaborators and recipients. Service learning creates better understanding and respect between communities and students.

 

3. Nature studies and Conservation Project

 

The outdoor environment is the perfect classroom for the study of the natural world. The programs are designed to introduce the students to the wonders of the natural world in a fun, adventurous and scientific way. Our programs are designed to instill a spirit of scientific exploration in the style of the great scientific explorers of the past, like Alfred R. Wallace, and Malaysia’s living legends like Prof. Dr. Wong Khon Meng and Datuk Prof. Dr. Abdul Latiff.  The students will take a hand’s on scientific approach to the study of the natural environment. The participants will learn how to conduct field surveys, environmental studies and experiments and the data collected will be used in conservation efforts to protect the islands natural history.

 

Educational Journeys programs can change the way people think by allowing them to see life’s issues from a fresh perspective.  They gain new attitudes, then transfer these attitudes to the way they conceptualize daily life.

 

 

 

The Program

The program will be separated into modules with each module focused on a particular aspect.  Each module will be taught over a period of 16 days or over 4 periods of 4 days and will be conducted in English. It will be intensive, but transmitted in a fun and adventurous method. It will be centered at a base camp as well as a point to point campsite, depending on the module.