Family Adventure & Real-World Learning

Family adventures, travel experiences, camps, projects, and real-world learning moments that helped shape our children’s growth and independence.

Entrepreneurship Activities for Students: Amber’s Green SuperCamp Reflection

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Adventure & Real-World Learning, Mindset, Confidence & Leadership , , , , , , , , , 4 Comments
entrepreneurship activities for students Amber leading run at Green SuperCamp

Entrepreneurship activities for students do not always look like business plans and market stalls. Sometimes they look like leadership camps, team challenges, goal setting, confidence building and learning how to step out of your comfort zone.

Amber’s Green SuperCamp reflection shows how real-world learning experiences can help children grow in confidence, courage, communication and initiative.

entrepreneurship activities for students Amber at Green SuperCamp with new friends
Amber and new friends.

Entrepreneurship Activities for Students at Green SuperCamp

For our readers who were expecting Part 3 to our “Teaching Your Kids To Achieve Success” series of articles, I’d like to let you know that will be up very soon and it will be well worth the read.

Flynn and Amber Howitt have just returned from a Young Leaders Camp in Bali. As it is so fresh and exciting, I thought we would interrupt our five-part series and share some snippets of Amber’s experience whilst on camp.

Before I hand you over to Amber, I would like to give our readers a little background about Green SuperCamp, which was held at Green School Bali.

In 2012, three of our children — Kaitlin, Jai and Flynn — attended the camp and returned full of experience and wisdom. The camp is designed to create young leaders who care for our future world.

It does this by building their confidence, encouraging them to think big, and giving them the skills to learn, interact and step out of their comfort zones. In this way, it becomes one of those powerful entrepreneurship activities for students that teaches far more than a normal classroom lesson.

Leadership and learning activities:

student leadership activity Amber participating in a team performance
Amber participating in a team performance.
entrepreneurship activities for students Flynn learning trust through teamwork
Flynn learning to trust.

This year Amber was old enough to go along too. She was very excited because she had heard all the awesome stories and learning from her siblings’ camp experiences the year before.

Also, a bunch of friends from Western Australia were coming along as well — Maddi Barrett, Macy Hobson, Georgia Dewar and Lachlan McRoberts.

To learn more about the philosophy of Green School Bali, you can read our earlier article.

Amber Howitt’s Green SuperCamp Reflection

So enough from me… here is Amber Howitt’s Green SuperCamp reflection.

Green SuperCamp, for me, was an amazing experience! Everyone there is treated evenly and kindly. No one is excluded or mistreated, so everyone is happy.

Your phones and valuables are given in, but you can reunite with your valuables almost every night to contact your parents.

Learning through real activities:

student learning activity grinding grain at Green SuperCamp
Grinding grain.
entrepreneurship activities for students teamwork at Green SuperCamp
Flynn and his SuperCamp team.

The Green SuperCamp itself is built mainly out of bamboo. It is nurtured and cared for by the people within it.

They use water from their lake and purify it. People from the world outside Green School can come and collect the water for free and use it in their homes.

Green School is meant so people around the community can be involved with the school. They make their own power using solar energy and grow their own food in food gardens.

Goal Setting as Entrepreneurship Activities for Students

The camp has inspired me to do more with my life, rather than just sit around and be… normal.

It has inspired me to take challenges, adventures and think of the things I could be doing. Writing books and travelling around the world are two of my crazy ideas. Those things might be a little hard for someone at the age of eleven though, but I can try to work up to that goal.

The steps for goal making are:

  • Design it
  • Outline it
  • In your face — tackle barriers
  • Take action!

Because of this, goal setting is one of the most practical entrepreneurship activities for students. It helps children imagine a future, break it into steps and take responsibility for moving forward.

Facing challenges and building trust:

entrepreneurship activities for students high ropes course facing fears
High ropes course. Facing fears!
team trust activity for students Flynn floating on hands
Flynn floating on hands.

Learning Strategies and Student Confidence

We were taught Quantum Reading and Writing. I improved my reading speed with the same comprehension by over 100%.

I concentrated by using the Alpha State. Alpha State is a technique to relax and concentrate better.

The steps to Alpha State are:

  • Sit up
  • Breathe in and out
  • Close eyes
  • Think of a peaceful place
  • Roll eyes up and down
  • Open eyes
  • Concentrate

These strategies are useful because they help students understand how they learn. For entrepreneurial kids, focus, confidence and self-awareness are just as important as having a business idea.

Camp life and friendships:

student life skills activity preparing home grown food at camp
Maddi preparing the home grown food.
students building friendships at Green SuperCamp
Macy and Georgia

Communication as Entrepreneurship Activities for Students

The friendships you can make at Green SuperCamp are really special. I made friends with both team leaders and kids from all over the world.

It is really easy to do so because everyone wants to make friends. Sometimes your relationships can last forever.

Green SuperCamp teaches you how to have the courage to become friends. No one is alone at Green School or Green SuperCamp.

I also learnt techniques to help me learn. These help me improve my relationship with my teachers. We call this “SLANT”.

Here are the “Tips for Learning” or “SLANT”:

  • Sit up
  • Lean forward
  • Ask questions
  • Nod your head
  • Talk to your teacher

Communication skills are an important part of entrepreneurship activities for students. Students need to ask questions, listen well, speak clearly and build trust with people around them.

Thanking and Apologising

students saying goodbye to leaders after Green SuperCamp
Flynn saying goodbye to new friends!

We also learnt the importance of thanking people and apologising. We were taught how to do this properly.

We call the steps to thanking “OTFD” or “Open The Front Door”.

Observation, Think, Feel, Desire

We call the steps to apologise “AAMR”, pronounced “A Mr!”

Acknowledge, Apologise, Make it Right, Recommit

Eight Keys of Success

Lastly, we were taught the “Eight Keys of Success”. These are the keys that keep you on course for success.

For each of these keys, we learn a different hand movement. This helps us remember them.

Here they are:

  1. Integrity
  2. Failure Leads to Success
  3. Speak With Good Purpose
  4. This Is It
  5. Commitment
  6. Ownership
  7. Flexibility
  8. Balance

Altogether, these keys are another example of entrepreneurship activities for students because they build the habits children need for leadership, responsibility and future enterprise.

Why These Experiences Matter

If you read this and think, “Nah… my child wouldn’t want to go to that camp!” think again.

Any child, from any place, no matter what, will want to go to GreenSuperCamp.

Thank you to my parents and camp sponsors for making it possible for me to attend Green SuperCamp. Thank you to my friends and new friends that supported me on camp.

Also, thank you to all the team leaders and facilitators who taught me all the tools I need for life. Lastly, thank you my team. GO TEAM H!

Thanks Amber for your reflection.

Jai, Kaitlin and Lachlan are currently on the Senior Green SuperCamp. You can also read Jai’s Green SuperCamp experience and Flynn’s Green SuperCamp reflection.

Kaitlin also shared why she wanted to attend the Green SuperCamp in Why Our Kids Wanted to Attend the Green SuperCamp.

Our “Teaching Your Kids To Achieve Success” series will continue with Part 3. You can also read Part 1 and Part 2.

Key takeaway: Entrepreneurship activities for students can include leadership camps, goal setting, teamwork, confidence building, communication skills and real-world challenges. Amber’s Green SuperCamp reflection shows how these experiences help children grow.

Where to Next?

If you enjoyed Amber’s Green SuperCamp reflection, you may also like:

Amber would love to hear your comments. Be sure to ask her some questions below.

Green School Bali Leading The Way!

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Adventure & Real-World Learning, Mindset, Confidence & Leadership , , , , , , , , , 6 Comments
Green School Bali real-world learning environment for kids

Green School Bali is an inspiring example of what education can look like when children are surrounded by nature, creativity, real-world learning and a strong sense of purpose.

Built from bamboo in the forest of Bali, this remarkable school challenges traditional thinking about education and invites us to ask an important question: are our schools truly preparing children for the modern world?

Green School Bali bamboo school building
Green School Bali is built from bamboo in a natural learning environment.

Green School Bali: A Different Vision for Education

Imagine a school with a natural, holistic, student-centred learning environment that empowers and inspires young people to be creative, innovative, green leaders.

There are many schools that aspire to a vision such as this, but very few achieve it. In all my years as a teacher, I know of only one school that has gained the genuine attention of educators and parents from around the world in quite this way.

This unique school is located in a forest on the island of Bali in Indonesia, and it is constructed largely from bamboo. You can learn more through the official Green School Bali website.

Green School Bali is an innovative school that is different in just about every aspect from regular Australian schools. It is different in its construction, the way it is run, its philosophy on raising and teaching children, and the way its curriculum is brought to life.

A Presentation That Challenged Our Thinking

Alan Wagstaff speaking about Green School Bali
Alan Wagstaff shared the Green School Bali philosophy.

Cathy, myself and our kids had the opportunity to attend an excellent presentation in Perth on Green School Bali. The principal, Mr Alan Wagstaff, showcased his school and shared their philosophy on education. He spoke with passion and with tremendous pride.

Rightly so. Green School Bali was turning many heads.

The founders of the school think way outside the box and have created a harmonious learning environment that children can excel in. They, and a growing group of others, believe this school offers a glimpse of what education could become in the future.

Perhaps the policy makers, politicians and leaders of our outdated education system should take a serious look at Green School Bali.

Why Green School Bali Matters for Entrepreneurial Kids

In previous articles, we have challenged the pedagogical practices of our current schooling system here in Australia. We have the view that it provides a good literacy education. However, the design of the system often conditions young people to be obedient, hard-working and compliant.

Now, that does not sound entirely bad. The world does need workers who can fill jobs and contribute well. However, what happens if a child wants to become an entrepreneur, innovator, creator or change-maker?

Many schools do not strongly foster true leadership, innovation or enterprise. Many schools also do not provide a strong financial education for kids, nor do they intentionally teach children to develop the habits and thinking of an entrepreneur.

This is why we care so deeply about raising entrepreneurial kids. Children need opportunities to think, question, create, solve problems and connect their learning to real life.

Cartoon about national testing and traditional schooling

Disengaged students in a traditional classroom
Disengaged students

Alan Wagstaff was also very direct about his views on the archaic education system currently running in Australia and other western societies. He pointed out many issues that should not be dismissed, and he backed his views with facts, figures and research conducted by qualified experts in education.

He cited the work of respected thinkers and authors such as Alfie Kohn and Stephen Covey.

What Makes Green School Bali So Special?

This quote by Michael Franti begins to paint a picture:

Green School Bali classroom made from bamboo
A Green School Bali classroom

“For anybody that’s considering sending your kid to school here, it’s different than other schools where your kid’s going to be assigned a number and a desk and you show up and you do exactly what you’re told. Here if you have an idea to do something that’s outside of the box, that idea is going to be fostered and nurtured rather than pushed down.”

– Michael Franti, poet, musician and activist

That is the kind of educational philosophy that speaks strongly to families who want children to grow as confident, creative and capable young people.

Student Engagement and Real-World Learning

Alan Wagstaff shared an interesting statistic about students in regular schools. He explained that many students over 11 years old are not fully engaged in their learning and do not really like school.

Many of these students feel they are learning irrelevant things that will not be useful when they leave school. We have heard similar comments from our own teenage children at times. I can also think back to much of the mundane content I had to master and be tested on as a high school student and then again at Teachers College. Much of it was of little use to me in what I do today.

Cartoon about testing and conditioning children

Alan said we need to change the structure of timetabling. We need to move from purely subject-based teaching to student-centred learning.

In many schools, the timetable revolves heavily around literacy and numeracy, with subjects such as the arts being pushed into the afternoon gaps. We push students in literacy and numeracy to uphold the education brand and satisfy national testing. The curriculum can become prescribed, inflexible and overly focused on measurement.

With all that emphasis on literacy and numeracy, why do we still have so many children not meeting the grade?

What Creates Life Success?

What is it about schooling that creates life success? The short answer is simple: have children turn up at school fully engaged, and you will get there.

Quote about outdated education systems

Therefore, we need children to be satisfied and engaged. Schools need to link students into life. Their learning needs to be realistic and relevant to each of them individually.

Every day, we should be academically upskilling children, but not simply comparing them with other children.

Parents should ask not only how their child compares with others, but what their child is actually learning.

How Green School Bali Teaches Children

Alan explained how they educate children at Green School Bali.

The programs are structured around themes. These are collaboratively planned by the teacher team leaders. Teachers then run proficiency lessons within these short-term themes.

Each student is shown the continuum of what they need to learn in different areas of the curriculum. From there, they work towards learning what they need at their own level. Over time, this helps children take responsibility for their own learning.

Green School Bali students learning in class
Green School Bali students learning through themes and real-world inquiry.

Within the broader themes, students follow their own individual interests. They develop ideas, and those ideas are fostered and expanded. They identify what they need to learn and then conduct investigations and study groups to understand and practise skills.

Every day, the children are engaged in practical lessons that challenge the Big Four: physical, emotional, intellectual and interpersonal learning.

For example, if the general theme was “Waves”, the Big Four might look like this:

  • Physical: Go and experience waves by surfing.
  • Emotional: Paint a wave or sing a wave melody.
  • Intellectual: Study wave formations.
  • Interpersonal: Sit by the waves and meditate.

At Green School Bali, there are no rigid timetables in the traditional sense. This allows themes to develop through what Alan described as dynamic chaos. Specialist teachers decide what will be done, teachers research the theme and subject areas, and students engage in proficiency lessons.

Authentic Learning Beyond the Classroom

Alan said that in order for students to learn something deeply, they must “hit it three times in three different ways during the week”. Mini themes develop within the bigger themes, and teachers help children self-manage their way through learning.

This leads to engagement and lifelong learning.

Opportunities are seized as they arise to provide practical real-life lessons in areas such as:

  • connecting to the real world
  • environmental education
  • health and wellbeing
  • performing arts
  • enterprise education
  • visual arts

These lessons are timed, sustainable, flexible and authentic. They happen by venturing beyond the school and accessing adults and resources in the enterprising world.

This connects strongly with the kind of family adventure and real-world learning that we value at Enterprise for Kids.

A School Designed for Engagement

Green School Bali’s aim is for children to want to go to school and to be fully engaged. The emphasis is on relevance to learning and valuing students, not on testing and comparing students as we often do in our current schooling system.

That comparison can put unnecessary pressure on children. A more meaningful goal is to help children discover what they are capable of and how their learning connects to life.

Green School Bali’s Bamboo Campus

Green School Bali bamboo architecture and campus
Green School Bali is known for its bamboo architecture and natural campus.

Green School Bali is an architectural masterpiece. It is a masterwork built of bamboo and mud brick. There are no traditional classroom walls and very little impact on the environment.

The school is designed to be sustainable, with power sourced from solar panels and hydro power from the river. Students also assist with growing food in the large permaculture garden where animals are kept.

Green School Bali gardens and campus fields
Gardens and campus fields at Green School Bali.

Surrounding the school are bamboo homes built by local and international families who choose to live in Bali so their children can attend the school.

At the time of this original article, there were also studios under construction to be leased cheaply to entrepreneurs, with the idea that students could be involved with these businesses. This would allow students to develop enterprise skills and ultimately learn how entrepreneurship works in the real world.

Green School Bali as an Example for the Future

Green School Bali is a real-life example of an exemplary school. Students attending the school were reported to be achieving outstanding results in many aspects of their development, including academics.

Although the school had only been running for a relatively short time when this original post was written, its first graduates were already graduating, and those choosing to do so were being accepted into universities around the world.

Green School Bali students learning in a natural environment
Green School Bali students learning in a natural environment.

Alan Wagstaff and the founders of the school had a vision to create change in how schools educate. They knew they would be challenged if they targeted the top of the education hierarchy in Australia, so they were working to make change from the bottom up.

One way they were doing this was by being an exemplary school and by being noticed. At the same time, Green School Bali was also training teachers on mainland Australia with Green School ideologies, with the hope that those teachers would make gradual changes in their own schools.

Green SuperCamp and Our Family’s Experience

Green SuperCamp Bali experience for kids
Green SuperCamp Bali gave our children a powerful learning experience.

Another way to have your children experience the Green School Bali philosophy is through Green SuperCamp.

Kaitlin, Jai and Flynn attended Green SuperCamp, and they came back transformed. At the time of this original post, we were working towards them attending again, along with our eleven-year-old daughter Amber.

You may like to read our earlier post about Green SuperCamp and our kids’ experiences there.

Flynn’s Green SuperCamp Reflection

Check out what Flynn had to say about Green SuperCamp:

John Hardy, Founder of Green School Bali

John Hardy, founder of Green School Bali, also spoke about the school at TED:

Key takeaway: Green School Bali shows what can happen when education becomes connected to nature, creativity, enterprise, sustainability and real-world learning. It challenges us to think more deeply about what children truly need in order to thrive.

Where to Next?

If you enjoyed this article about Green School Bali and real-world learning, you may also like:

Vision Board Ideas for Students: What The Secret Left Out

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Adventure & Real-World Learning, Mindset, Confidence & Leadership , , , , , , , , , , , , 8 Comments
Family motorhome trip through the USA manifested from a 2005 vision board

Vision board ideas for students are not just about cutting out pictures and hoping dreams come true. A vision board can help children see what they want, but the real power comes when that dream is connected to focus, intention and action.

“`

This story begins with one of Trevor’s childhood dreams — a farm on a grassy hill — and leads into what we learnt about vision boards, subconscious limits, family goals and what The Secret may have left out.

“`

Vision board ideas for students shown through a family farm dream that became real through focus and intention
Our farm became a real-life reminder that the pictures children hold in their minds can shape their dreams.

Vision Board Ideas for Students: What The Secret Left Out

As a kid, I always wanted to be a farmer.

When I was growing up, I had a framed picture of a farm on my bedroom wall. I would look at it and think about it every day for years.

The picture showed a big wooden barn sitting on a grassy hill with duck ponds, sheep, a dog, a tractor and children running around.

The funny thing was that twenty years later, Cathy and I found and bought a little farm that was just about identical to the picture from my bedroom wall.

The little farmhouse sat on a green grassy hill, which is rare in Western Australia with its semi-arid countryside. It had a big wooden barn, sheep, ducks, a dog and a tractor. To top it off, we raised most of our children there during their early years.

I had no idea until later that the very farm we owned was so close to what I used to dream about as a child.

Why Vision Board Ideas for Students Work Best With Focus

When the movie The Secret came out, I was fascinated by the stories of people visualising in their minds what they wanted and then, over time, seeing those same things arrive in their physical world.

I guess that is exactly what happened to me, although it did take about twenty years.

Over the years, this idea seemed to show up many times in our lives. That is one reason we believe vision board ideas for students can be so powerful when they are used properly.

Vision board ideas for students connected to Kit camping on the Cocos Islands as a family dream come true
Kit camping on the Cocos Islands — a dream come true.
Howitt family on the Cocos Islands after using visualisation focus and vision board ideas for students
Our Cocos experience.

Our experience living on the Cocos Islands was a visual thought many years before it became a reality.

Travelling through Canada and the USA in a motorhome with our family was another example of a visualisation becoming real. You can see more of that adventure on our family travel blog, Driving Us Crazy.

These experiences made us think deeply about vision, focus and how the pictures we hold in our minds can shape the direction of our lives.

Family Vision Board Ideas for Students and Kids

Making a vision board is one way to build a visual picture of what you want.

Cath and I have created dream boards and stowed them away, only to pull them out years later and see that several of the dream pictures could be ticked off as having been achieved.

Kite surfing, a large aquarium, more children, a fishing boat and family adventure were just a few examples.

Kite surfing goal achieved after appearing on a family vision board
Kite surfing.
Trevor's 2005 vision board showing vision board ideas for students and dream images that later became real
Trevor’s 2005 vision board. Almost all of these images became reality over time.

We believe vision boards help with visualising what you want. Because of that, we encourage our kids to make and display dream boards too.

They think it is all great fun, but there is also a powerful lesson underneath it.

When used well, vision board ideas for students can help children begin asking important questions:

  • What do I really want?
  • What kind of life do I imagine?
  • What experiences matter to me?
  • What goals feel exciting enough to work towards?
  • What small step could I take first?

The Problem with The Secret

The Secret shared a message that many people found inspiring: see it, believe it and allow it to come into your life.

There is certainly something powerful about visualising what you want and building emotional connection to your dreams.

However, when we read discussions about the law of attraction and visualisation, we also see many people feeling frustrated. They meditate, focus, make vision boards and think about what they want, yet they do not always see those things appear in their lives.

That raises an important question for parents, teachers and students.

If vision boards are powerful, why do some dreams still stay stuck on the board?

Vision Board Ideas for Students Need Focus and Intention

Vision board ideas for students need focus intention and action to move goals forward
Visualisation is powerful, but focus and intention help move the dream forward.

Our Money Mastery mentor explained that there was an important ingredient that The Secret did not emphasise enough.

He explained that while you need to visualise what you want and feel it emotionally, you also need persistent focus, clear intention and aligned action.

Without that focus, it is much harder for a dream to become reality.

He said, “The problem is that people have their focus elsewhere.”

That made sense to us.

In our situation, we were often busy all week at work. When we were home, our attention was taken up with sorting the kids, doing household chores and keeping up with our social life.

Our focus was being drawn away from the things we wanted to achieve, even though we were visualising them.

Often, when people hit a rock-bottom point in life, their focus becomes very sharp. This may happen through a near-death experience, serious illness, a breakup, financial stress or another major life change.

In those moments, the conscious and subconscious mind can suddenly align around a deep inner drive for change.

But we do not need to wait for rock bottom to teach children about focus.

That is where vision board ideas for students can become practical. A vision board should not simply be a collage of wishes. It should become a reminder of what deserves attention, planning and action.

Subconscious Limits, Comfort Zones and Student Goals

The other concept Paul, our Money Mastery mentor, explained was the idea of a “belt” or comfort zone.

Our subconscious mind seems to have an upper and lower limit for many areas of life, including wealth, happiness, relationships, health and success.

Using money as an example, let us say someone’s subconscious is only comfortable earning a certain amount each year. If they suddenly exceed that amount, they may unconsciously self-sabotage and bring themselves back to what feels familiar.

That self-sabotage could show up as overspending, poor decisions, risky behaviour, giving money away too quickly or simply failing to follow through.

Consciously, a person may say they want a much bigger goal. But if their subconscious is not comfortable with that goal, they may keep pulling themselves back into the old familiar zone.

The same principle can apply to relationships, health, weight loss, confidence, happiness, money and many other areas of life.

This is why small steps matter.

One way to work with these limits is to gradually build towards bigger dreams by visualising and intending smaller dreams that lead towards the larger one.

In other words, take smaller steps and celebrate them once they become real. Over time, your subconscious mind can begin to raise its upper limit to meet what your conscious mind is asking for.

Practical Vision Board Ideas for Students

So how can we make this useful for children and students?

A vision board should help students dream, but it should also help them focus. It can become a bridge between imagination and action.

Here are some practical vision board ideas for students:

  • Adventure goals: places they would love to visit or experiences they want to have.
  • Learning goals: skills they want to build, such as art, coding, sport, writing, music or public speaking.
  • Enterprise goals: business ideas, products, markets or money goals they would like to explore.
  • Character goals: qualities they want to develop, such as courage, kindness, persistence, confidence or generosity.
  • Family goals: shared experiences, trips, projects or adventures the family can work towards together.
  • Contribution goals: ways they would like to help others, give, serve or make a difference.

These vision board ideas for students work best when children also identify one action they can take. The image gives the goal a shape, but the action gives the goal movement.

Vision Board Ideas for Students at Home

Amber's vision board showing vision board ideas for students and goal setting for kids
Amber’s vision board.

It took up to twenty years for some of my dreams to come about, so do not allow another moment to pass you or your children by.

Encourage your kids to make vision boards. Teach them how to visualise and feel what they want. Help them establish a simple plan and then, most importantly, help them make it their focus.

A student vision board works best when it includes:

  • a clear picture of the goal,
  • a reason why the goal matters,
  • one small action they can take now,
  • a reminder to keep going,
  • and a way to celebrate progress.

The dream matters. The picture matters. The feeling matters.

But the focus and action matter too.

Key Takeaway: Vision Board Ideas for Students Need Action

Key takeaway: vision board ideas for students are most powerful when they move beyond dreaming. A vision board can help children see what they want, but students also need focus, intention, small steps and action to bring their goals closer to reality.

Where to Next?

What would your child put on a vision board today, and what is one small action they could take towards it this week?

Leadership Activities for Teens: Jai’s Green SuperCamp Bali Experience

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Adventure & Real-World Learning, Mindset, Confidence & Leadership , , , , , , , , , , , , 4 Comments
Leadership activities for teens during team games at Green SuperCamp Bali

Leadership activities for teens do not always look like formal lessons. Sometimes they look like dance, drama, team games, high ropes, trust-building, public speaking, friendships and learning how to step outside your comfort zone.

“`

That is exactly what Jai experienced at Green SuperCamp Bali. He returned to Australia with stories to share, new confidence and a stronger sense of what it means to be motivated, balanced and willing to have a go.

“`

Leadership activities for teens through dance and drama at Green SuperCamp Bali
Dance, drama and group challenges helped Jai step outside his comfort zone at Green SuperCamp Bali.

Leadership Activities for Teens: Jai’s Green SuperCamp Bali Experience

Jai and Kaitlin also attended Green SuperCamp Bali, although their experiences were a little different to Flynn’s Green SuperCamp experience.

Jai and Kaitlin were with teenagers from around 14 to 17 years old, so their learning and activities were different from the younger group. They still had life-changing experiences and returned to Australia with plenty of stories to share and noticeable positive changes.

You can also read Amber’s Green SuperCamp reflection and the earlier post about why our kids wanted to attend Green SuperCamp.

For readers interested in current Bali-based camp experiences, you can also explore the official Green Camp Bali kids and youth camps, which continue the spirit of outdoor, hands-on learning and personal growth.

Here is Jai’s account in his own words.

Jai’s First Impressions of Green SuperCamp Bali

Jai being prepared by his team to present a talk during leadership activities for teens at Green SuperCamp Bali
Jai being prepared by his team to present a talk to the group.

The Green Super Camp was a once in a lifetime opportunity! I reckon I learnt more in the one week I was there than I have all of high school!

It’s hard to explain what we learnt, but it involved quantum strategies, learning how to trust, have integrity, be balanced, and be self motivated. We also learnt some easy ways to increase our grades!

The way we were taught these things was also very unique. There were so many skits and stories and we were involved in any way possible. Learning became fun and we found it easier to remember things.

Everybody there was so friendly and strong friendships were formed quickly.

What stands out in Jai’s reflection is that the camp did not separate learning from experience. The teenagers were not simply sitting and listening. They were involved, moving, speaking, presenting, laughing, trying, trusting and remembering through action.

That is why leadership activities for teens can be so powerful. They help young people learn by doing.

Leadership Activities for Teens Through Trust and Challenge

Green SuperCamp Bali gave Jai the chance to learn alongside teenagers from around the world. The activities were designed to build confidence, trust, teamwork and self-motivation.

Jai at Green SuperCamp Bali learning confidence trust and self motivation
Green SuperCamp Bali.
High ropes course as a leadership activity for teens at Green SuperCamp Bali
High ropes course.
Bamboo construction project at Green SuperCamp Bali teaching teamwork and problem solving
Building project.

Although the kids on the camp were from all around the world, we all got on really well and learnt a lot about each other!

The Green Super Camp Bali was very different to any other camp I have been on.

The high ropes course, building projects, drama, games and group challenges were not just activities to keep the teenagers busy. They were leadership activities for teens designed to develop trust, courage, communication and perseverance.

These are the same qualities we want our children to develop through real-world learning and enterprise.

Teamwork Activities for Teens at Green SuperCamp

Every morning, before breakfast, Jai and his team had to stand up together and chant:

Leadership activities for teens during team games at Green SuperCamp Bali
Team games at Green SuperCamp Bali.
Jai making friends at Green SuperCamp Bali during teamwork activities for teens
Making friends, with the camp in the background.

“HUNGRY HUNGRY
*clap clap*
VERY VERY
*clap clap*
HUNGRY VERY
*clap clap*
VERY HUNGRY
*clap clap*
TI CALACKA PI A PI A
TI CALACKA PI A PI A
TI CALACKA PI A PI A
MAKAN!”

At first we all thought this was really weird and immature and none of us were really comfortable chanting it, but after a few days, nobody cared about how they looked, which was another thing we learnt, and we all got right into it!

This is one of the great lessons of camp experiences like this. Teenagers often worry about how they look, what others think and whether they will be judged.

But in the right environment, with strong facilitators and a group willing to participate, those barriers can begin to fall away.

Leadership for teens often begins when young people stop worrying so much about looking silly and start participating fully.

Confidence Building and International Friendships

Green SuperCamp Bali 2012 group photo showing international leadership activities for teens
Green SuperCamp Bali 2012.

My favourite part of the camp was interacting with the people there and mucking around with new-found mates!

If I had to say my least favourite part of the camp, it would be the fact that we sat a lot and our bums were sore by the end of the camp, but that was minor compared to how much fun we had.

Overall this camp was an amazing experience and I would happily go back any day!

I would recommend this camp to anyone who is experiencing problems in their life, or would just like to try something new!

By Jai

Jai’s words say so much.

For us as parents, Green SuperCamp Bali was not just about a week away. It was about confidence building, self-motivation, friendship, courage, integrity, trust and learning how to participate in life more fully.

Those are not small lessons.

Why Leadership Activities for Teens Matter

Leadership activities for teens matter because young people often need experiences that help them discover who they are outside their normal routines.

At home and school, teenagers can become locked into familiar roles. They might be seen as the sporty one, the shy one, the loud one, the academic one, the distracted one, the confident one or the one who never volunteers.

A camp experience can shake that up.

Suddenly they are in a new environment, with new people, new expectations and new challenges. They have to speak, listen, trust, try, fail, laugh, lead, follow and contribute.

That is real-world learning.

These kinds of experiences also connect closely with the broader ideas we explored in our article on Green School Bali and real-world learning.

They also connect with the current Green Camp Bali kids and youth camps, where young people continue to learn through immersive, nature-based experiences.

What Jai’s Green SuperCamp Experience Taught Us

Jai’s Green SuperCamp Bali experience reminded us that teenagers can grow quickly when they are placed in the right environment.

He learnt about quantum strategies, trust, integrity, balance, self-motivation, study habits, friendship and confidence. Just as importantly, he learnt that learning can be fun, active and memorable.

For enterprising kids, these lessons matter.

Entrepreneurship is not only about business. It is about leadership, communication, resilience, initiative and the ability to work with others.

That is why leadership activities for teens can support the same qualities we want in young entrepreneurs.

Key Takeaway: Leadership Activities for Teens Build Confidence

Key takeaway: leadership activities for teens can build confidence, trust, self-motivation and real-world learning. Jai’s Green SuperCamp Bali experience showed us that teenagers can grow powerfully through team games, high ropes, drama, friendships and stepping outside their comfort zone.

Where to Next?

What kind of leadership experience could help your teenager build confidence, trust and self-motivation?

Entrepreneurship Games for Students: Flynn’s Green SuperCamp Reflection

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Adventure & Real-World Learning, Mindset, Confidence & Leadership , , , , , , , , , 10 Comments
entrepreneurship games for students Flynn at Green SuperCamp Bali

Entrepreneurship games for students can help young people develop confidence, leadership, resilience and teamwork through real-world experiences. Twelve-year-old Flynn confidently walked through the international airport departure gate, heading off to Bali for an experience of a lifetime at Green SuperCamp Bali.

Although Flynn was excited, saying goodbye at five in the morning and watching him leave Australia without us for more than a week filled us with both pride and nerves.

Flynn participating in entrepreneurship games for students at Green SuperCamp Bali
Flynn enjoying the activities at Green SuperCamp Bali.

Entrepreneurship Games for Students at Green SuperCamp

Students learning quantum strategies at Green SuperCamp Bali
Learning Quantum learning strategies.
Entrepreneurship games for students including Balinese martial arts activities
Balinese martial arts in the mud pit!

When Cathy and I first learnt about Green SuperCamp, we immediately recognised the tremendous character-building benefits it could provide for our children.

The activities challenged students physically, emotionally and mentally. They also helped the children build confidence, courage and self-belief.

Many activities at camp acted as entrepreneurship games for students. They encouraged teamwork, leadership, perseverance and problem-solving — all important qualities for future entrepreneurs.

Students building focus and discipline at Green SuperCamp Bali
Focus…
Students building confidence through entrepreneurship games for students
… self confidence…
Students learning determination at Green SuperCamp Bali
… determination!

We wanted to share Flynn’s experience on our Enterprise for Kids blog because we strongly believe the values taught at Green SuperCamp help build future leaders and entrepreneurial kids.

Flynn’s Reflection on Green SuperCamp Bali

Below is Flynn’s reflection written in his own words after returning home from camp.

Students participating in cultural activities at Green SuperCamp Bali
The Balinese mud dance!
Fun entrepreneurship games for students at Green SuperCamp Bali
Green SuperCamp was an awesome experience!

“SuperCamp was an absolutely awesome experience!

The biggest challenge that I faced was going to Bali on my own without my parents. I just knew that I wanted to go on the Green SuperCamp, and to do that I had to go on my own.

I loved trying all the fun activities like mud wrestling, the high ropes course, Balinese dancing and seeing all the zoo animals.

Students participating in teamwork activities at Green SuperCamp Bali

I became friends with kids from all over the world. There were kids from America, Australia, Bali, Indonesia, London, India, New Zealand and Japan.

Everyone there was really nice, happy and determined to persevere through challenges. I liked everyone at Green SuperCamp!

One of my favourite activities was the mud fighting because I learnt self-defence and how to throw people over my back. This activity taught me perseverance and the importance of never giving up.

Leadership and Entrepreneurship Games for Students

Students learning leadership and entrepreneurship strategies
Learning…
Key success strategies taught at Green SuperCamp Bali
… the key to success!

We were taught Quantum strategies to think and learn. As a result, my reading became seven times faster.

The Bali Green SuperCamp was a fantastic experience. I think everyone should have a chance to go!”

Watch Flynn sharing his Green SuperCamp experience after returning home.

Positive Changes After Camp

Team-building entrepreneurship games for students
Team building…
Students learning responsibility and teamwork at Green SuperCamp
… responsibility and care!

Since returning home, we have noticed a number of positive changes in Flynn. His teachers commented that he had been making a real effort at school and staying away from mischief.

He even started reading books willingly — something he usually avoided. In fact, Flynn reached his school reading goal within only three weeks.

In addition, he showed greater responsibility with chores, stronger focus in soccer and more confidence in everyday life.

Experiences like these demonstrate how entrepreneurship games for students and leadership activities can positively influence young people long after camp finishes.

To learn more about Green SuperCamp and its programs, visit SuperCamp International.

Key Takeaway: Entrepreneurship Games for Students Build Confidence

Key takeaway: Entrepreneurship games for students help children build confidence, resilience, leadership and teamwork through real-world learning experiences.

Where to Next?

If you enjoyed this Green SuperCamp story, you may also enjoy:

Next up we share Jai’s experience at Green SuperCamp Bali!

We would love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment below.

Youth Entrepreneurship: Why Our Kids Wanted to Attend Green SuperCamp

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Adventure & Real-World Learning, Mindset, Confidence & Leadership, Raising Entrepreneurial Kids , , , , , , , , , , , 6 Comments
Jai and Kaitlin with students at Green SuperCamp Bali learning leadership and youth entrepreneurship skills

Youth entrepreneurship often begins with confidence, leadership and real-world learning experiences. We were delighted that our three eldest children were able to attend Green SuperCamp Bali, where they had life-changing experiences that gave them new understandings and beliefs about themselves.

These experiences will stay with them forever. For Kaitlin, Jai and Flynn, Green SuperCamp was a chance to step outside their comfort zones, meet new people and begin thinking differently about their future.

youth entrepreneurship at Green SuperCamp Bali with Kaitlin in a crowd
Kaitlin attending Green SuperCamp Bali.

Youth Entrepreneurship and Green SuperCamp Bali

Each of our kids applied for a Green SuperCamp scholarship. The scholarships would help us cover the cost of the camp. Kaitlin, Jai and Flynn each wrote why they wanted to attend.

We were very inspired by the passionate words they wrote in their applications. Their writing showed us how much they wanted to grow, learn and take hold of new opportunities.

Below we have some words from Kaitlin. We are very proud of her passion and talent in getting her message across to the organisers of the SuperCamp.

You may also enjoy reading Amber’s Green SuperCamp reflection, where she shares what she learnt from her own camp experience.

Kaitlin’s Green SuperCamp Scholarship Application

Here’s what Kaitlin wrote:

“I am the eldest of seven children in my family. We have been brought up to strive for excellence and to aim as high as we can. My parents have always been determined to give us kids the best opportunities possible to get the best out of life.

This year I have started year 11, and have found it quite difficult. I have been held up by limitations of my time and motivation. I would love to attend the “Green Super Camp” in order to break these barriers. I want a life where I can be a role model and inspiration for my siblings and others. I want to be able to contribute to the world and show so many people a way to be free, but I’m still trying to work out how to get there.

youth entrepreneurship and confidence building at Green SuperCamp Bali
Kaitlin taking part in confidence-building activities at Green SuperCamp Bali.

I’m so keen to develop a mindset for success. I want to meet new people from around the world, and absorb their confidence and energy. My goal is to become a school prefect or Head Girl and to be accepted into University.

To do this I need to understand and learn about myself. I want to know what it takes to be a leader and to be confident in myself to be one.

If I receive this Scholarship, I would be determined, open and ready, to absorb all the information possible for me to be the best person I can and to motivate others to be the same. This is an experience of a lifetime, and I’m ready for it now.”

Why Youth Entrepreneurship Starts with Confidence

Kaitlin’s words show that youth entrepreneurship is not only about starting a business. It is also about confidence, leadership, courage and the willingness to grow.

Before children can step into real-world opportunities, they often need to believe they are capable. Experiences like Green SuperCamp can help young people see themselves differently.

For Kaitlin, the camp offered a chance to break through barriers, meet inspiring people and learn tools that could help her become a stronger leader.

Real-World Learning for Young Entrepreneurs

Green SuperCamp gave our kids the opportunity to learn outside the normal classroom. They were challenged physically, emotionally and socially.

These kinds of experiences matter because young entrepreneurs need more than ideas. They need confidence, communication skills, resilience and the ability to take action.

For more information about the broader Green School Bali philosophy, you can read our earlier post on Green School Bali Leading the Way.

You can also visit Green School Bali to learn more about their approach to education and sustainability.

Youth Entrepreneurship Through Leadership and Action

When children attend camps, join projects, speak up, set goals and work with others, they are building many of the same skills needed for youth entrepreneurship.

They learn to take responsibility. They practise courage. Most importantly, they begin to see that their actions can make a difference.

Kaitlin wanted to be a role model for her siblings and others. That desire to contribute, lead and grow is a powerful foundation for future enterprise.

Key takeaway: Youth entrepreneurship begins long before a child starts a business. Confidence, leadership, goal setting and real-world learning all help children believe they can create opportunities and contribute to the world around them.

Where to Next?

If you enjoyed this post about youth entrepreneurship and Green SuperCamp Bali, you may also like:

You will have to wait for the next blog to discover what each of them learnt from their camp experience! Until then…

SEO title: