On August 3, the 2017 National Youth Outdoor Camp Summer Camp (Gansu Station) successfully concluded in the Badain Jaran Desert.
Forty-two teams from 23 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions across the country, comprising 377 youths, participated in a variety of highly desert-themed outdoor activities over three days such as sandboarding, archery, kayaking, sand sculpting, desert camping, desert off-roading, and desert gold digging. They also visited the Yabrai Salt Lake and the National Geological Museum. Among them, “kayaking and sandboarding” emerged as the most popular outdoor activities. Campers wearing bright orange life vests and fluorescent green uniforms became the most unique sight in the vast desert as they glided down sand slopes and along water surfaces.
Sandboarding in the desert is one of the most common activities—riders sit on a board and slide naturally down a tall sand dune, placing their hands on the board’s sides, feet against the front edge, and leaning their bodies slightly forward. As they descend along the slope, the wind rushes past their ears, and in the blink of an eye, they reach the bottom, experiencing a thrill and rush of excitement in a moment that’s scary but safe. Long Haihan from Guangxi, who was attending an outdoor summer camp for the first time, excitedly said: “Seeing such an amazing desert was thrilling—I couldn’t wait to climb the sand dunes and go sandboarding.”
[Dust flying, sliding down~~~So exciting~~~]
[Kayaking in the desert~~~Hahaha~~~Campers can’t stop smiling]
“Desert gold digging was also a special camp activity. Set in the desert, participants hide their own name cards on the sand dunes, while others search for the specified teammate’s card. In the process of digging for ‘gold,’ the campers let loose, becoming happier the more they dig,” explained the organizer of the desert gold digging activity.
[I found the ‘gold’~~~Hahaha]
[Sand sculpture of the Forbidden City]
[All geared up, the desert off-road race is about to start]
[Camp instructors in a dune meeting]
[The passion of the desert burns like fire~~~]
The National Youth Outdoor Camp Summer Camp series has been held annually since 2010 and has been running for six consecutive years. This year, the camp focused less on competition and more on experiential education, which became a highlight. Campers not only experienced a variety of outdoor activities, but also took part in local cultural events, environmental education, and performed tasks within their capabilities such as tidying up their living quarters and recycling tableware.
This leg of the summer camp is the fourth stop in the 2017 National Youth Outdoor Camp Summer Camp series. The next stop will be a grassland-themed camp in Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia. In addition, the National Youth Outdoor Camp Conference will be held in Beijing from August 21 to 25. Looking forward to seeing more friends join us !