Experiential Learning
Our programs engage students in critical thinking, problem solving and decision making in contexts difficult to simulate in school.
Our approach to program creation is very personalized. It usually starts by identifying the group’s academic and extracurricular objectives so that GROUND can match the team with a community whose needs are aligned. Students and educators will typically select the country they wish to visit or GROUND can suggest a destination with a particular project that best fits the team’s objectives. Our aim is to build well-balanced programs that include the elements students have identified as essential including educational workshops, adventurous activities and hands-on community work. When all these variables are combined together, we can be sure the team is in the right place. Once the “core” community element is decided, we can add the secondary components such as meals, suitable certified accommodations, transport links, outdoor adventure elements, educationally themed excursions, and more.
OUR MEASURE OF SUCCESS IS TO CREATE AN ITINERARY THAT MATCHES THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS WITH THE NEEDS OF OUR PARTNER COMMUNITIES.
As an educator accompanying students on one of our programs, you’ll see that playing the role of a ‘tour leader’ dealing with cross-cultural immersion involves way more than classroom teaching. You will be challenged with issues relating to the health and safety of the students, logistics and planning and daily briefings and debriefings. This can be a very challenging, but ultimately it is very rewarding to help guide the students through their own set of challenges that go well beyond the demands of a classroom. The GROUND team has extensive experience of developing programs with schools and is on hand to support you in this journey.
3,591
total number of students and counting
134,087
hours spent on projects
6
countries
205
programs completed
WHAT TEACHERS AND STUDENTS SAY ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS
Our project in Chiang Mai was well executed by the local staff Nat and Wan. They were always on top of things. They did a remarkable job to assist our students at the site and the welcome from the community, in particular, was simply wonderful!
We had a wonderful time in Thailand and it was such a great experience all around. We learned so much about Thai culture, people and their food, I now realise what it is like to get out from your comfort zone and appreciate and value new experiences.
Taksim ensured safety at all times and was professional and sensitive to the needs of each team member. He displayed genuine care and a desire to make sure that everyone enjoyed the trek. His knowledge of local flora and cultural diversity along the trek route was informative and gave experience authenticity. I would highly recommend Taksim and his team. They were all dedicated, enthusiastic and supportive to everyone.
Trekking in Knuckles Range was fantastic. The students really liked their accommodation and they had a really wonderful time interacting with the local staff and exchanging knowledge.
Thank you Van and team Vietnam for taking such good care of us. Everything we experienced throughout our trip in Northern Vietnam was fantastic! My favorite part was the service learning project. All of us were totally smitten by the beauty of Mai Chau (and the food in the homestay, of course)!
WHY TAKE STUDENTS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM?
Resilience, self-awareness and personal growth
Travelling in the developing world is challenging. Our students are eased out of their comfort zones and encouraged to think for themselves. They adapt, learn how to collaborate and above all, how to bounce back from adversity.
Global awareness and social responsibility
Exposing students to global issues helps their development into becoming socially-aware citizens. Through rewarding community service projects, local immersion and outdoor adventure, we expand their perspective on other cultures and the environment, bringing to light their own positive impact on this earth.
Learning Outcomes
The pure essence of travelling overseas is experiencing the unique beauty and character of each destination. Our teams travel backpacker style to explore the sights, soak up the atmosphere and above all, have fun!
GROUND PROGRAMS AND THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB)
GROUND can respond to the needs of any student, educator, or school interested in a service learning project but we have particular expertise in supporting high schools using the International Baccalaureate (IB) curricula. Specifically, we support IB students and their educators as they work through the Five Stages of Service Learning in their respective Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) projects as follows:
Investigation
During the early stages of the process, we provide students and educators with information about the different geographical areas in which we operate, different types of community needs, and different types of service activities. This information will help students inquire and gather information about community projects that can be matched with
their own personal inventory of skills, talents and personal interests. The key outcome of this stage is the proposal and selection of a service learning experience based on group size, timelines, student interests, and budget parameters.
Preparation and Learning
Once the students and educators identify specific areas of interest, we provide them with information about the community they will visit so as to conduct background research about the local socioeconomic, cultural and historical dimensions of the area. This information will help students develop their service learning proposals.
Action
Drawing on our many years of experience throughout Asia, we provide students and educators with a safe and highly experiential service learning program in and around the communities selected. Based on the needs of each student and group, these programs typically involve community action projects, historical and cultural tours, and fun team building exercises.
Reflection
Throughout the service learning experience and prior to departure, we support facilitated reflection sessions that provide students an opportunity to reflect upon their activities and their own personal growth, impact and development. For some students, this could also mean a second visit to the community towards the end of the 18-month service learning process in order to assess and reflect upon the impact of their activities on the communities.
Demonstration
GROUND will survey the beneficiaries of the students’ community action projects— village families, for example— to obtain their feedback on the impact that the student projects had on their own livelihood. We then translate and provide this to students in order to help them understand and reflect on the impact that the projects actually had on the communities.
READY TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR STUDENTS TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY?
Partner Panel
