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Max on Robben Island

Last night at midnight, Max and Simon returned from their school Week Without Walls. The week is designed to give students an opportunity for experiential learning and to see the world through the eyes of an "intentionally-minded learner". Students in grades 6 - 10 participate in local and international trips which focus on the IB mission "to extend learning beyond the classroom". We are thrilled to have our boys back home and we are enjoying listening to their amazing stories, and already marveling at what they have experienced and learned.

Thailand countryside

Next week Max and Simon will each create a blog post highlighting their adventures. For now, we offer each boys' "best moment".

Max went to Cape Town, South Africa for a "multifaceted investigation of the geographical, cultural, historical, and contemporary aspects of the region". He visited Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned), the Cape Point Nature Reserve, Cape of Good Hope, an Ostrich Farm, a Cheetah Centre, and the Eagle Encounter. He participated in sea kayaking, hiking on Table Mountain, and African drumming. His "best moment" was holding a baby crocodile at Le Bonheur Crocodile Farm. The farm has over 1000 crocodiles and breeds them for meat and skin. The gift shop sells belts, purses, shoes made from crocodile leather. Max had opportunity to taste crocodile meat for supper at a local restaurant. The croc farm is also a popular wedding venue....... not sure what that says exactly!

Simon went to the Chiang Mai province of northern Thailand "to study how human interaction has affected the physical and social environment". He visited four villages to examine their livelihood and their dependance on tourism. At the end of the week the students made presentations to one of the village leaders on how to improve the standard of living for his people.

Simon feeding a cucumber to a baby elephant

Simon's "best moment" was spending an afternoon hanging out with elephants. He visited the Elephant Nature Park and listened to sad stories about how the elephants were rescued from cruel situations. They offered the elephants affection, food, and a bath!