The Thunder Bolt

A few weeks ago our high schoolers traveled to Danang, Phong Nha, Hoi An, Cham Island, Nam O Beach, Hue, Bach Ma, and Dong Hoi. Throughout their adventures, the students fully immersed themselves in a wide range of activities, creating unforgettable moments that will be cherished for a lifetime. The students partook in hiking, bonfires, bicycle rides, duck farm visits, exploring caves, jungle expeditions, giant rope swings, scavenger hunts, scuba diving and snorkeling! 

CAMPS is a comprehensive and transformative experience that empowers students to develop essential life skills, broaden their horizons, and cultivate a sense of compassion and leadership. Each trip focuses on one or more of the following goals: Cultural awareness, making community, personal growth, and service. Concordia is proud to offer the CAMPS program with the primary goal of enriching the lives and educational experiences of our students. By participating in CAMPS, our students gain the opportunity to cultivate valuable life skills, foster lasting friendships and develop a deeper appreciation for the world around them. Through a variety of carefully curated trips and activities, CAMPS provides a unique opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery, that prepares students for success in their academic and future endeavors.

“My favorite part about the CAMPS trip was being able to see people that I’ve known for years outside of an academic context for once. I was able to talk about things to my classmates that weren’t about school and to my surprise I actually became closer to a few of them through that. CAMPS was a good opportunity to break out of my comfort zone and see my classmates in a different light than what I had been for the few years I’ve known them. I think it was a way to become more than just a classmate and now a friend.” Lanna (G11)

“The best part in my opinion was when we finished the chicken coop. The widow that we built it for saw it and she gave a speech about how this would help her. She got emotional during that time.” Michal. (G9)
 
“For this camp I got to go with the Mandarin teacher who had never taught me before. It was a good chance to talk and understand each other. I saw how hard they try to protect us and care for us. It was good to get bonding time.” Chau Anh (G10)

“My favorite part was being with the kids. A lot of these kids were disabled, and we were doing activities with them and teaching them English. I had to put myself into their shoes and try to understand them. The first day was difficult, but as we spent more time together, we understood each other more and it got easier. That was my favorite thing about the trip.” Clara (G10)

“We were able to get out of our comfort zone, and strengthen our class bond. We learned a lot about the culture of the Cham island people, their history and their motives to protect the environment.” Van Anh (G12)

Mr. Richmond shared, "Marine Life CAMPS Trip has been wonderful. We enjoyed Hoi An Ancient Town. We had group scavenger hunts throughout the area and built up our understanding of history. The next day we ferried out to Cham Island. Here we’ve been learning how to scuba and snorkel, as well as how to identify species from a variety of biomes. We helped set up our camp site and enjoyed s’mores and camp songs before bed. What a great trip!" 

Through these experiences, students can pursue personal excellence in academics, co-curricular activities, creative endeavors and in thinking critically. Students are able to become active global citizens through live service, being environmentally responsible, and by respecting community members. Lastly, students are able to make ethical decisions by respecting others, exhibiting stewardship of resources (time, talent and treasure) and living with integrity.

Read more about our high school program.