Summer Camp Spotlight: Green Camp Bali-A Sustainable Journey

At Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi, our education is dedicated to nurturing not just academic excellence but also global citizenship. Our holistic education transcends the boundaries of the classroom, empowering students to make informed choices, take inspired action, and generate a positive impact on people and the planet.

This summer, we provided students with exciting opportunities to explore and grow through dynamic summer camps designed to nurture each student's potential, ensuring they are well-equipped for the challenges of tomorrow.

Quoted by Lili Li
Green Camp Bali Trip Leader

Mandarin Teacher and Community Partnership Coordinator,

In August, students from Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi and Dehong Xi’An schools embarked on a journey of exploration to the Green Camp in Bali. Immersing themselves in a seven-day all-natural lifestyle, they experienced how to live in harmony with the environment and reconnect with nature.

Environmental sustainability begins with the environment around us.

At the heart of Green Camp lies bamboo—a symbol of sustainability, renewable, and resilience. Bamboo is the central material used throughout the school and the camp itself and has stood strong for 15 years. From toilet seats to musical instruments, bamboo pervades every aspect of life, strengthening our students' understanding that natural resources can be fully utilised without exhaustion. The constant companionship of mosquitoes, owls and lizards reminded us that humans are only a part of the natural ecosystem. At the green camp, our students learned about nature's circular systems, from the kitchen to composting and nurturing plants. On the organic farm, they made compost, planted trees, made eco-friendly pesticides, and crafted hot chocolate from tree-grown cocoa beans. They also extract natural dyes from plants and embrace the cycle of taking from and giving back to nature.

I have always enjoyed exploring nature with my Mom since I was little. I have hiked 10 kilometres in the scorching sun, followed a scientific expedition team to explore the primitive forests of northern protected areas in the Greater Khingan Range, and had a 9-hour hiking experience on tundra algae marshes. I have also explored and visited the 17 most primitive reindeer breeding and hunting sites in China. This time at the Green Camp, I learned a lot of new knowledge. Here, bamboo is a very popular grass that can grow as tall as a tree. When people cut the bamboo down, it grows very fast, and in about 2-3 days, it will be big again. That's why it is more sustainable than other construction materials. I was amazed to find out that most of the toilets here do not have flushes; instead, they use sawdust to cover waste, which then becomes compost to nourish the plants. At the green camp, every action is sustainable. I have so many takeaways from this camp. From now on, I will always be "mindful" when I do everything.

—— Cecilia, Y5 from Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi

When I arrived at the camp, I didn't feel as rough as I had imagined before. After checking in, I was surprised to find that although the house was built with bamboo, the facilities inside were complete. I lived on the second floor and found that the stability of bamboo was surprisingly strong, which gave me a sense of security. I rediscovered the role of bamboo. I also saw many animals that I didn't see in the city, and I observed small animals up close. I even saw tadpoles with two legs! The river nurtures many small creatures, and I have truly learnt so much about the food chain. After digging a river channel, I gained a new understanding of rivers. It needs both dams and flood discharge outlets.

—— Hamber, Y5 from Xi’An Dehong

Intercultural understanding lies in respect and appreciation. 

We were immediately captivated by the ancient and fascinating Balinese Katcha Dance on the first night of our arrival at the green camp. Its rhythms and monkey mimics made us feel the unique charm of Balinese culture. As our students and the students of the Green School held hands and danced this native dance, the distance between them was shorted. In the mud wrestling activity, students tied clothes around their waists and began to understand the strong connection to competitive sports in Indonesia. Such activities enhanced the students' physical fitness and taught them the importance of teamwork and respect for opponents.

The culture of Bali is distinct from many others. During the culture exchange, Balinese students from Green School, the girls wore traditional clothes with a fabric wrapped around their waist. We have learned three types of dances: the Katcha dance, Legong dance, and Kecak dance. Green school is very different at teaching. The students learn math and science by constructing things with bamboo. When we visited their school, we saw pigs and cows! Their classrooms are all walless I have never seen a school like this before. In Bali, we have also learnt that it is rude to point to someone using your index finger in Bali, if you want to indicate someone, you must use your entire right hand or both hands. The traditional language of Bali is similar to that of Malaysia. For example, in Bali, “good morning” is “selamat pagi,” good afternoon is “selamat siang,” and “good evening” is “ selamat malam.”  We have truly learned so much from the Green Camp!

—— Lily, Y5 from Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi

Diversity enriched Green Camp's daily life. 

Students embraced local customs, fostering empathy and a deep respect for multiculturalism. They learned to celebrate individuality, recognising imperfections as part of human nature, and actively sought out others' strengths. This environment fostered a sense of community grounded in RESPECT values—Responsibility, Empathy, Sustainability, Peace, Equity, Community, and Trust—that transcended daily practice. The students integrated these ‘RESPECT values’ into every activity they participated in, and I believe they truly felt the importance of these values in practice.

During my trip to Green School Bali, I joined in many challenging activities, in which I have found the unique personalities of my peers. During the abseiling challenge, my roommate was brave to volunteer to go down first. At the end of the trip, everyone showed fantastic talents during the farewell party. The boys who performed reciting the poem made me surprised because he used a short amount of time to recite lots of long, beautiful poems. Everyone has unique personalities and shiny points; maybe no one is perfect, but we can always learn something from them!

—— Danny, Y8 from Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi

Our learners are both global citizens and agents of influence shaping the world. 

We are very grateful to EIM for providing our students with this opportunity to explore nature. This natural discovery trip seeded sustainable living in students' hearts. With the successful conclusion of the Green Camp, these young learners have become ambassadors of change. They will bring the sustainable lifestyle they learned at the camp home and pass it on to every family around them and the broader community. As global citizens, their actions underscore the urgency of immediate change, turning every day into Earth Day.