A summer camp, an unforgettable bond between teachers and students

      The Humanities and Scientific Expedition Team of the Peak Cloud Society from China Agricultural University arrived in Qekang Village, Longzi County, Shannan City on August 8, and began a six-day teaching support program on August 9.

      The teaching support program was divided into three grade groups. Children from Qekang Village and surrounding areas were gathered at the village kindergarten. Through a summer camp format, the focus was on interest-based courses supplemented by hands-on activities, allowing the children to experience the joy of learning and develop an interest in education over the six days. At the same time, specific courses such as “My Life Line” helped the children understand themselves and encouraged them to pursue their dreams. In addition, through interactions both in and out of class, teachers introduced perspectives from beyond Tibet, broadening the children’s horizons and offering them more choices for their future.

The opening ceremony on the morning of August 9 was held separately by each grade group. Each of the three groups sent one to two teachers to greet their students at the kindergarten entrance, busily shuttling between the classroom and the gate.

      The interactions during the opening ceremony helped the teachers and students get to know each other, making subsequent classes go more smoothly. Considering that some topics, such as safety and hygiene, were essential for all grades but could be dull in a traditional classroom setting—especially for younger children who struggle to focus—the teachers organized a fun fair on August 12 to enhance learning outcomes. The fair included entertaining games (like “Twister”), experiential activities (such as using fluorescent powder to simulate handwashing and teach about bacteria), and educational segments (like the “Tunnel Adventure” activity explaining bacteria). The children had fun and learned attentively. The fair ended in the afternoon with the children saying goodbye.

      After five days of learning and bonding, the teachers had become well integrated with the children, but the teaching program was also nearing its end. On August 14, the final day, the closing ceremony of the summer camp was held as scheduled. The ceremony mainly consisted of two parts: performances by the children and showcases of their work. The kids had a great time, and some of the older ones were visibly moved seeing the results of their efforts over the past days. The ceremony concluded with a final lucky draw, marking the successful end of the teaching support program.

      Throughout the program, the team brought the children fun games, diverse activities, cultural knowledge beyond textbooks, and new ideas. Meanwhile, the team witnessed the children’s pure innocence and dreams, untainted by any sense of utility, and gained a unique teacher-student bond—different from anything they had experienced before. Once students themselves, this time they were the teachers. The shift in roles quietly came to a close along with the end of the summer camp.