School Trips in Taiwan: TYAS Fall 2023 Outdoor Education Experience
When it comes to school trips in Taiwan, the best experiences go beyond simply visiting somewhere new. They give students opportunities to work together, take on challenges, learn practical skills, and experience environments that are very different from their everyday classroom.
In August 2023, Imagine Taiwan welcomed Grade 6–12 students from Taoyuan American School (TYAS) for a three-day outdoor education experience combining teamwork, adventure, camping, and time in nature.
From a two-day Civilization Game to campsite cooking, tent camping, and stand-up paddleboarding at Fulong, our school trips in Taiwan are designed to encourage students to learn through experience and discover new strengths outside the traditional classroom environment.
A Two-Day Civilization Game
One of the central experiences of Imagine school trips in Taiwan is our two-day Civilization Game.
This activity challenges students to work together to create and develop their own miniature societies while navigating a series of problems, decisions, and challenges. Over the course of two days, students had to communicate effectively, develop strategies, manage resources, solve problems, and make decisions as a group.
Some strategies work. Others don’t. Sometimes a team discovers that having lots of resources isn’t enough if nobody has communicated how they should be used. Sometimes students who are quieter in the classroom discover that they have valuable ideas to contribute when their team is facing a challenge.
The Civilization Game creates a space where these lessons emerge naturally through play and experience. The extended format is an important part of the experience. Rather than completing one short challenge and moving on, students have time to see the consequences of their decisions and adapt their approach.
SUP at Fulong
The trip also included a day on the water at Fulong, where students tried stand-up paddleboarding (SUP).
SUP combines balance, coordination, physical movement, and environmental awareness. For students who may not regularly spend time on the water, it is also an opportunity to experience Taiwan’s coastline from a completely different perspective. Water activities are an important part of many of our outdoor education programs because they encourage students to engage directly with their environment while learning a new physical skill.
Whether students are confidently paddling across the water or trying to stay upright on their boards, there is plenty of room for encouragement, laughter, and teamwork.
Tent Camping and Living Outdoors
The students also experienced tent camping as part of the trip. Spending the night outdoors changes the rhythm of a school trip. Students have to think about their belongings, their sleeping arrangements, the campsite environment, and the needs of the group.
These small responsibilities can become meaningful learning opportunities. Outdoor education doesn't always need to involve a dramatic challenge.
Sometimes it is simply about giving students the opportunity to manage themselves in a different environment and discover that they are capable of more independence than they expected.
Learning to Cook at the Campsite
Another important part of our school trips in Taiwan is campsite cooking.
Instead of simply arriving at a dining hall and having dinner served to them, students were responsible for preparing their own evening meal. Working together, they had to organise their ingredients, divide responsibilities, prepare the food, and manage the practical challenges of cooking outdoors.
Campsite cooking is a deceptively effective outdoor education activity. It requires students to communicate, plan ahead, solve problems, and take responsibility for a shared outcome. And, of course, there is an added motivation: everyone gets to eat what they have made.
For students accustomed to having meals prepared for them, preparing dinner outdoors can be a surprisingly valuable exercise in independence.
School Trips in Taiwan: Why Outdoor Education Matters
The TYAS Fall 2023 trip brought together several different elements of experiential learning: strategy, teamwork, cooking, camping, physical activity, and time outdoors. Each activity provided a different opportunity for students to develop. Some challenges required communication. Others required physical coordination or practical problem-solving. And camping created opportunities for students to take responsibility for themselves and their surroundings. Together, these school trips in Taiwan create something that is difficult to replicate inside a classroom.
At Imagine Taiwan, we believe that school trips in Taiwan can be an important part of a student's education. A well-designed trip gives students the chance to step away from their normal routines, experience new environments, and learn through doing. Whether your school is looking for a one-day activity or a multi-day outdoor education program, Imagine Taiwan can create tailor-made experiences designed around your students and learning objectives. Get in touch with Imagine Taiwan to start planning your next school trips in Taiwan.
Across Taiwan, we continue to design programs that thoughtfully combine outdoor adventure, cultural immersion, and structured learning outcomes. Each one is intentionally crafted to create experiences that are both meaningful and memorable.
If you’re a teacher or school leader looking to create an experience like this for your students, we’d love to connect!
