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When parents approach our educational institution seeking admission for their child, they are introduced to the school’s policies, curriculum, and activities. Among these, one activity is particularly important—and compulsory: the educational field trip. 

The field trip involves a two- or three-night stay at a camp. While students may see it simply as an exciting break from classrooms, books, homework, and studie; group travel offers valuable opportunities for learning beyond the conventional school routine. It teaches children to share space, communicate, collaborate, and adapt. It also develops planning and organisational skills while nurturing independence and responsibility. 

The school works closely with outdoor adventure and camping organisations to identify suitable programmes that offer meaningful learning experiences. The activities are carefully considered for their ability to develop coordination, agility, problem-solving, teamwork, and resilience. Students are encouraged to build friendships, take responsibility for their living spaces, develop a sense of ownership, and respect shared environments. 

This Year’s Expedition to Yercaud

This year, the school partnered with INME, with the camp located in Yercaud. The students eagerly looked forward to the trip. For them, it meant stepping away from classrooms and routine—but little did they realise that the experiences awaiting them would give them an opportunity to apply classroom learning to the real world. 

On Sunday, August 16, we boarded the 11 p.m. train to Salem. Even the journey itself offered a lesson in independence. Students carried duffel bags without wheels, lugging them around like tiny soldiers. The NO Phone, policy was adhered partly because of poor network connectivity. At the campsite, they would share tents—four students to a tent—and sleep on bedrolls. 

Learning to Respect the Wilderness

At the campsite, the students were first introduced to an important principle: we were visitors in the natural environment, and therefore, we had to respect its space. 

In the middle of the instructions, a sudden buzzing sound filled the air. The instructors immediately asked everyone to remain quiet. A swarm of bees was searching for a suitable place to build its hive. 

It was fascinating to watch the students understand the situation almost instinctively and follow the instructors’ instructions. In that moment, respect for nature was no longer a concept discussed in a classroom—it was a lesson being experienced firsthand. 

The students were also introduced to the difference between rock climbing and bouldering. They learned about the footwork required for rock climbing and the different handholds used to grip the rock while ascending. For bouldering, they were taught how harnesses are used and, importantly, how to position their feet while descending safely. 

From Pitching Tents to Cooking Under the Stars

The following day, the students were taken to an open, flat area where they learned how to pitch a tent. They were introduced to the essentials of spending a night outdoors, including how to pack their camping bags and what is necessary when staying overnight in the wilderness. 

Later that afternoon, they went hiking in search of suitable flat ground. Once they found their location, each group had to pitch their own tent and learn how to prepare dinner using minimal equipment. 

But the real learning began along the trail. 

The students encountered glow worms, learned about the terrain, listened carefully to different bird calls, and became more aware of their surroundings. They observed how the rings of a tree stump can indicate the age of a tree and learned that trees shed their bark. They were even taught how to identify signs that a tunnel spider might be nearby. 

And I could go on. 

What struck me most was the students’ curiosity. The camp guides were constantly questioned. Whenever something caught the students’ attention, they asked questions, and the guides would stop at different points along the trail to explain, clarify, or shed light on what they were observing. 

That was the difference I experienced this time. 

There was another detail that stayed with me: the students repeatedly referred to their teachers and what they had said in class. They were connecting what they were seeing in the outdoors with what they had already learned. 

That made me realise how the curriculum and pedagogy can transform a field trip from merely an enjoyable outing into a truly educational experience. 

Cambridge Learning in the Real World 

The Cambridge curriculum places strong emphasis on cross-curricular learning. Field surveys and nature treks provide a natural setting where multiple disciplines come together. 

Students studying . Global Perspectives integrate many outdoor challenges and expeditions to global issues like sustainability, waste management, and community impact, echoing the syllabus goals.  

This is where experiential learning becomes powerful. At our Cambridge international school, lessons come alive, curiosity leads the way, and students discover that learning does not stop when they close their books. Sometimes, the most meaningful lessons begin when they step outside them. 

Is the field trip is much more than a break from school or a classroom without walls.

Expedition Highlights: Moments from Yercaud