07 YEAR
Action Week: Unplug & Connect
KAENG KRACHAN Monday, 14 September – Thursday, 17 September 2015
The NIST Middle School Global Citizenship Programme recognizes at its core that: by learning in different environments and places, we will develop personally, build relationships, and engage with communities. This program provides a cohesive learning journey for students in Years 7-9 at NIST through the following sets of experiences: • Advisory (daily 30-minute lessons) • Advisory+ (60-minute lessons, once per 6-day cycle) • Action Weeks in September, December, and June Together, these experiences throughout the 3 years, help students develop the skills necessary to undertake the MYP Community Project in Year 9. In each year, students explore the following: • Year 7: Who am I? [Identity] • Year 8: Who are we? [Community] • Year 9: What can we do together? [Community Engagement] As part of this Global Citizenship Program students in Year 7 participate in Action Week - Unplug and Connect. This week will take place from Monday, 14 September to Thursday, 17 September 2015 in Kaeng Krachan. GOALS OF THE EXPERIENCE • Developing a better understanding of the year 7 theme “Who am I?” • Developing personal resilience and open mindedness • Building relationships within the year 7 community This experience helps year 7 students to: • become more resourceful • develop problem-solving skills • share in group decision making • develop leadership • understand more about responsibility within a group • grow in self confidence • support peers
BE PREPARED Read this booklet with your friends in Year 7 and family, and make sure you are comfortable and understand the activities. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS Make sure you read the equipment & clothing list and try to bring everything on it. Check to make sure you haven’t added anything unnecessary. HAVE AN OPEN MIND Be prepared to join in and try out the activities. LISTEN CAREFULLY Otherwise you may miss out on important instructions. TECHNOLOGY STAYS AT HOME No phones, music players or computers. You are “Unplugging and Connecting” with other student in Year 7. If these items are found they will be taken and given back upon return to NIST.
OVERVIEW Situated within the Kaeng Krachan Estate in the middle of a vast area of natural beauty, including forests, lakes and mountains, the chosen resort is ideally located for our Unplug & Connect programme. The extensive grounds of the resort lend themselves to a variety of outdoor activities. The activities are intended to enhance your transition from elementary to middle school, allowing you to bond as a year level. Year 7 advisors and other NIST teachers will accompany students in all activities. No student or staff member requires any previous experience, as full instruction will be given before any activity commences. As some of the activities could be viewed as potentially risky, the safety of all participants is always the top priority. All participants are individually insured under NIST’s group insurance policy for accidents. Planet Scuba and Wild Planet, our trip providers, and NIST staff are trained in emergency first response, and a full medical kit and an emergency vehicle are present during all activities. Two NIST nurses will accompany the group for the four days. Evacuation plans are in place for all locations, and local clinics and hospitals are informed in advance of events in their area. First aid kits are carried on all activities. Full safety equipment is provided for each student and accompanying staff members for all activities. This will include a pre-cycling assessment at NIST and the wearing of helmets while riding. Our providers are all Scuba Schools International (SSI) qualified Instructors, and life jackets are mandatory for the sit-on-top kayak sessions.
ACTIVITIES Throughout the four day you will rotate through the five activities: kayaking, trekking, cycling, introduction to scuba and visiting the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand. Kayaking You will operate a double sit-on-top kayaks. Instruction is offered in the basic skills of kayaking, along with essential safety advice. You will wear a personal flotation. Games and activities are also incorporated into the session. You need to wear hats, rash vests and plenty of sunblock. Junior Scuba Diving You will have the opportunity to try scuba diving in the pool of the resort. All equipments is provided by Planet Scuba. Your group will be taken through the safety aspects of diving and shown what it is like to be a real diver! No previous experience is required. However, for students who have dived before, a series of SEAL team challenges will be conducted. Cycling You will be equipped with mountain bikes and helmets, and given a thorough briefing on riding rules. Thereafter you will undertake a short skills assessment prior to riding around the resort. The guides are experienced riders who work regularly with international school students and are all qualified in emergency aid procedures. Trekking You will operate in a small POD with guides and will be encouraged to work together as a team. You will learn to use a GPS as part of this activity. The trek will take place over a 3-hour period and explore a range of local topography. The area surrounding the resort and the Kaeng Krachen National Park is an area of outstanding beauty. Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand You will have the opportunity to visit and learn about recused creating living at the Wildlife Rescue Centre. There are hundreds of animals and you will be able to get up close to the elephants in a way that is cruelty free and does not exploit them. You will use the Compass of Sustainability to look at some of the issues surrounding exploitation of animals. This experience connects to the year 7 science unit on endangered animals and will require additional transport from the resort. ACCOMMODATION Accommodation will be in triple/twin shared resort rooms. Rooms are all air conditioned with en suite bathrooms. The resort has expansive facilities, including meeting rooms and a restaurant sufficient to seat the entire group. The resort has large grounds which are utilized for the majority of our activities. MEALS Food will be Thai-style buffet, with the exception of breakfast, which will include toast and cereal. Throughout the day, water will be available from drink stations placed around the resort. You are encouraged to carry a water bottles, which can be refilled from any of these points. A morning and afternoon snack will be provided.
PACKING LIST Please check these items off as you put them into your bags. One large, soft sports style bag
Flashlight, with batteries packed separately or backwards
Underwear and socks
Mosquito repellent
Pajamas/sleeping attire
Toiletries
5 T-shirts/sports shirts
A. Soap and shampoo
4 pairs of shorts
B. Toothpaste and toothbrush
Long-sleeved sweatshirt/fleece for mornings and evenings
C. Deodorant
A pair of long trousers (not jeans)
One small day pack/backpack
Rain jacket
Sun hat
A pair of strong sports shoes
Sunglasses (optional)
A pair of strap sandals
Sun block
A swim suit/rash vest for sun protection
Camera or disposable camera (optional)
A towel
Drinks/snacks for the journey to the resort on Monday.
Water bottle ( at least 1 litre)
PROGRAMME FOR THE WEEK Monday, 14 September
Wednesday, 16 September
6.00 AM
Registration by the CAB with advisory teachers
7:00 AM
Wake up
6:30 AM
Departure from NIST
7:30 AM
Breakfast
10:00 AM
Check in to resort, evacuation drill
8:30 AM
Activity session 4
11:00 AM
Action Week expectations/journals
12.00 noon
Lunch
11:30 AM 12:00 noon
Activity session 4 debrief with advisors Lunch
1:00 PM
Activity session 1
1:00 PM
Activity session 5
4:00 PM
Session 1 debrief with advisors
4:00 PM
Activity session 5 debrief with advisors
4.30 PM
Organized recreation
4:30 PM
Organized Recreation
5:30 PM
Clean up and shower
5:30 PM
Clean up and shower
6:30 PM
Dinner
6:30 PM
Dinner
7:00 PM
Evening activity
7:00 PM
Evening activity
9:30 PM
In rooms getting ready to go to bed
9:30 PM
In rooms getting ready to go to bed
10:00 PM
Lights out
Tuesday, 15 September
10:00 PM
Lights out
Thursday, 17 September
7:00 AM
Wake up
7:00 AM
Wake up
7:30 AM
Breakfast
7:30 AM
Breakfast
8:30 AM
Activity session 2
8:30 AM
Student choice activity led by NIST staff
11:30 AM
Activity session 2 debrief with advisors
10:30 AM
Action Week reflection
Lunch
11:30 AM
Clean up and Shower
1:00 PM
Activity session 3
12:30 PM
Lunch
4:00 PM
Activity session 3 debrief with Advisors
1:30 PM
Depart for NIST
4:30 PM
Organized recreation
4:00 PM
Arrive at NIST
5:30 PM
Clean up and shower
6:30 PM
Dinner
7:00 PM
Evening activity
9:30 PM
In rooms getting ready to go to bed
12:00 noon
10:00 PM
Lights out