Every year, Concordia’s Middle School students have the opportunity to travel outside Hanoi on educational trips that allow them to discover more about Vietnam.

These trips give students a chance to step out of their comfort zones and push themselves physically and mentally by taking on a series of challenges.

Known as LAUNCH—Leadership, Adventure, Understanding, Nature, Community, and Helping—the program has been a guiding framework for Concordia's Middle School class trips for several years. It embodies the core values essential for student growth and development. Each letter represents a key focus area, providing students with opportunities to lead, explore, connect with diverse cultures, immerse themselves in nature, build community, and help others. Throughout these week-long trips to various incredible locations within Vietnam, students experience cultural richness, savor local cuisine, and embrace personal challenges. These valued trips allow students to grow together as a community, cultivating lifelong memories and skills.

Grade 6 traveled to Mai Chau, a Thai village four hours outside Hanoi. Staying in a traditional Thai homestay, students had the chance to walk through rice fields and learn about the process of planting and harvesting rice. They also hiked up a hill to overlook the village, tried rock climbing, and explored the area’s famous Chieu Cave. As a team-building exercise, students built rafts out of bamboo and other materials, and tested them on a nearby lake. They then completed an “Amazing Race,” riding bikes around Mai Chau and stopping at various destination points to participate in group activities as part of their team-building experience.

Our Grade 6 group also visited Napon Primary School for an afternoon of service. Concordia first presented the school with gifts of sports equipment, such as soccer balls, volleyballs, and volleyball nets. Our Grade 6 students then had a chance to interact with their Napon primary hosts, and to help improve the facility. Some Concordia students played games with the local students, teaching them how to play volleyball and tag. Other Grade 6 students helped work on leveling a 50 x 50-meter plot of dirt for the school to better use to serve their needs.

“Communicating with the kids at the Elementary School and the people there, and learning more about individuals outside of where we normally live, was a great experience,” said Avy (G6).

Grade 7 usually travels to Sapa, where students experience the beauty of the countryside beyond the city and explore the back hills of the province. They trek from village to village, passing through areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups such as the Red Hmong, Black Hmong, and Dao. Each group has unique cultural clothing and housing, which students can observe as they hike across the stunning landscape. The week includes staying in stilt houses, camping, enjoying the fresh air, breathtaking treks, plenty of laughter, outstanding food, and invaluable community-building experiences.

“Due to the weather this year, we changed locations and went to Vu Linh. Students took a ferry to the islands scattered throughout the lake, where they built bamboo rafts, stand-up paddle boarded, trekked to a beautiful waterfall, and practiced orienteering using a GPS and a compass. Some groups may have had to walk a little farther than others, but that only added to the adventure. A highlight of the trip was the raft race, where the student teams left the teachers in the proverbial ‘dust’ as the winning student raft crossed the finish line. The atmosphere was full of fun and laughter. Vu Linh is a warm, inviting, and comfortable place that provided us all with beautiful memories, community building, and enjoyment,” said Middle School Math and Science teacher Mrs. Zimbrick.

“It’s an amazing experience for 7th graders, and you learn a lot there. It's good because you understand how to survive and how to build things—and it's fun,” said Christian (G7).

Grade 8 traveled to Quy Nhon, where they participated in a series of team-building activities, including rock climbing, camping, abseiling, and a low-ropes course, challenging the students to step out of their comfort zone. The group then headed toward the ocean, where students built rafts in teams and tested them out on the water. The students also camped on the beach - putting up their own tents, cooked outside and were responsible for washing their own dishes. 

A key component of this trip was the service project. Students visited an institution called Nga Foundation, a Vietnamese-owned non-profit organization set up to support and teach life skills to those with physical and mental disabilities, where they had a chance to interact with the participants and help upgrade the facility. Inviting the Nga Foundation participants to lunch, Concordia students prepared, cooked, and served lunch for 80 people. During the meal, the two groups exchanged performances, as Concordia and Nga Foundation students took turns singing songs. Concordia Students also helped beautify the center through a series of hands-on gardening, painting and clean-up projects, even adding to the garden last year’s Concordia group had built. 

“The LAUNCH trip was a good experience. Even though it was challenging and we did difficult tasks in hot weather, we really had fun together. We got to meet new people, spend more time with our classmates, and bond with each other,” said Noa (G8).

“On the Quy Nhon trip, our Grade 8 students were both challenged and rose to the occasion. It was amazing to witness their growth and their willingness to step outside their comfort zones to truly grow personally and socially,” said Middle School Counselor Mrs. Bloemberg.

The LAUNCH program is part of Concordia’s commitment to its core values of Excellence, Student-Centeredness, Community, and Service.

Learn more about Concordia’s LAUNCH trips.