green school bali

Entrepreneurship Activities for Students: Amber’s Green SuperCamp Reflection

Enterprise For KidsTeam Amber's Stories, 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.

Our children’s Green SuperCamp experience also connected with the wider philosophy of Green School Bali, where learning is designed to be practical, creative, sustainable and connected to real life.

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.

Inside Green School Bali: The Bamboo School That Changed Our Thinking

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Adventure & Real-World Learning, Mindset, Confidence & Leadership , , , , , , , , , 5 Comments
Green School Bali real-world learning environment for kids

Inside Green School Bali: The Bamboo School That Changed How We Thought About Education

Green School Bali is unlike almost any school we had encountered before.

Built largely from bamboo in the forest of Bali, this remarkable school combines nature, creativity, sustainability and real-world learning in a way that immediately challenges conventional ideas about what school should look like.

But what interested our family most was not simply the extraordinary bamboo architecture.

It was the question behind it: what happens when a school is deliberately designed to make children curious, engaged, creative and connected to the real world?

After hearing Green School Bali’s principal speak about its philosophy, and later seeing our own children experience some of those ideas through Green SuperCamp, it became one of those educational experiences we continued talking about for years.

Green School Bali bamboo school building in the forest of Bali

Green School Bali, the remarkable bamboo school set within the forests of Bali.

 

Editor’s note: This article was originally written during our early Enterprise for Kids journey and has been refreshed with updated formatting, links and reflections while retaining our original family experience of Green School Bali.

What Would You Like to Explore?

Green School Bali caught our attention for several reasons. Start with the part that interests you most, or keep scrolling for our full family story.

 


Why Is It Called Bali’s Bamboo School?


Explore the extraordinary bamboo architecture, natural campus and sustainable learning environment.


See the Bamboo Campus →

 

 


What Makes the Learning Different?


See how themes, creativity, real-world experiences and student engagement shaped the approach to learning.


Explore the Learning Approach →

 

 


What Did Our Kids Experience?


Follow our family connection with Green School Bali and the experience our children later had through Green SuperCamp.


Read Our Family Experience →

 

Green School Bali: A Different Vision for Education

Imagine a school with a natural, holistic, student-centred learning environment that encourages young people to be creative, innovative, environmentally aware and connected to the real world.

Many schools aspire to this kind of vision, but few capture the imagination quite like Green School Bali.

Located in the forests of Bali, Indonesia, the school is famous around the world for its remarkable bamboo buildings. This is why people searching for the bamboo school in Bali are often looking for Green School Bali.

But the buildings are only one part of the story.

The school also stood out to us because of its philosophy, curriculum, connection with nature and its willingness to question conventional ideas about how children learn.

You can learn more about the school today through the official Green School Bali website.

Why Green School Bali Is Known as the Bamboo School

Green School Bali bamboo school architecture and natural campus
Green School Bali is famous for its extraordinary bamboo architecture.

One of the first things that makes Green School Bali unforgettable is the campus itself.

The school was constructed largely from bamboo and natural materials, creating buildings that seem to belong to the tropical landscape rather than sit apart from it.

For anyone searching for “bamboo school Bali” or “Bali bamboo school”, this extraordinary campus is usually what first captures their attention.

But the bamboo architecture also reflects something deeper about the school’s philosophy. Sustainability and connection to the natural environment were not simply topics children studied from a textbook. They were visible in the place where the children learned every day.

Students were involved in practical learning connected with sustainability, food, animals and environmental responsibility.

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

When this article was originally written, bamboo homes also surrounded the school. Local and international families had chosen to live in Bali so their children could experience this different approach to education.

There were also studios being developed with the idea that entrepreneurs could work nearby and students could gain exposure to real businesses.

That particularly interested us because it connected education with something we have always valued at Enterprise for Kids: letting children encounter the real world rather than keeping learning completely separate from it.

A Presentation That Challenged Our Thinking

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

Cathy, myself and our kids had the opportunity to attend an excellent presentation in Perth about Green School Bali.

The principal at the time, Mr Alan Wagstaff, showcased the school and spoke passionately about its philosophy on education.

Green School Bali was turning heads, but what stayed with us was not simply the novelty of a beautiful school made from bamboo.

Alan spoke about student engagement, relevance, creativity and preparing children for life beyond the classroom.

It raised a question that fitted closely with many of our own ideas about raising children:

Is education mainly about compliance, testing and delivering content, or should it also help children develop confidence, initiative, creativity, problem-solving and a sense of purpose?

That question stayed with us.

Why Green School Bali Mattered to Our Family

At Enterprise for Kids, we have always been interested in experiences that help children become capable, confident and enterprising.

Literacy and numeracy are important, but children also need opportunities to create things, lead, solve problems, manage money, communicate, work with others and discover what they are capable of.

That is why Green School Bali stood out to us.

The philosophy connected closely with the way we were already thinking about raising entrepreneurial kids.

Children need space to think, question, experiment, make mistakes, solve real problems and connect what they are learning with the world around them.

They also need practical life skills such as financial education for kids, communication, responsibility and initiative.

What Makes Green School Bali So Different?

Green School Bali bamboo classroom and natural learning environment
A Green School Bali classroom.

One of the most powerful ideas behind Green School Bali was that children should not simply be treated as numbers sitting at desks waiting to be told what to do next.

Ideas were encouraged to be noticed, explored and developed.

Creativity was not treated as something extra to squeeze in after the “important” subjects had been completed. It formed part of the learning environment itself.

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

Student Engagement and Real-World Learning

Alan Wagstaff was very direct about one of the problems he saw in conventional education: older students can become disengaged from their learning.

Many children reach a point where they question how much of what they are learning will matter once they leave school.

We heard similar comments from our own teenage children. I can also think back to parts of my own schooling and teacher training where the content seemed disconnected from the skills I later needed in work and everyday life.

Cartoon reflecting on standardised testing and education

Alan challenged the way school timetables are traditionally structured.

Rather than allowing the entire day to revolve around disconnected subjects, Green School Bali explored more student-centred and integrated learning.

Literacy and numeracy matter enormously, but they are not the whole picture of a child’s development.

Children also need creativity, enterprise, emotional intelligence, communication, physical development, curiosity and meaningful connections between learning and life.

What Creates Life Success?

What is it about schooling that actually helps create success in life?

One powerful starting point is surprisingly simple:

Children need to turn up engaged.

Quote reflecting on traditional education systems

When children are curious, interested and engaged, learning becomes more meaningful.

Their education needs to feel realistic and relevant to them as individuals.

Every day, children are developing academically, socially, emotionally and practically. Their progress cannot always be understood simply by comparing them with somebody else.

Parents can ask not only, “How does my child compare?” but also:

What is my child learning? What are they becoming? What strengths are beginning to emerge?

How Green School Bali Teaches Children

Alan explained how children were being educated at Green School Bali at the time of our original article.

Programs were structured around themes and collaboratively planned by teacher team leaders. Teachers then incorporated proficiency lessons within those broader themes.

Students could see the continuum of what they needed to learn in different areas of the curriculum and work towards those skills at an appropriate level.

Over time, this approach helped children take more responsibility for their own learning.

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

Within the broader themes, students followed interests, developed ideas, identified what they needed to learn and took part in investigations and study groups.

Every day, children were challenged across what Alan described as the Big Four: physical, emotional, intellectual and interpersonal learning.

For example, if the broad theme was “Waves”, learning might include:

  • Physical: experiencing waves by surfing.
  • Emotional: painting a wave or creating a wave melody.
  • Intellectual: investigating how waves form.
  • Interpersonal: sitting beside the waves and reflecting or meditating.

Instead of treating knowledge as a series of completely separate compartments, children could explore one theme through several different kinds of learning.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Another part of Green School Bali that appealed strongly to us was its connection with authentic experience.

Alan explained that opportunities were used to provide practical real-life learning in areas such as:

  • environmental education
  • health and wellbeing
  • performing arts
  • enterprise education
  • visual arts
  • connection with the wider world

Learning did not have to stop at the edge of the school grounds.

Adults, businesses, the environment and the surrounding community could all become resources for learning.

This connects strongly with the kind of family adventure and real-world learning we have tried to create with our own children.

A School Designed for Engagement

Green School Bali’s aim was for children to want to go to school and to become genuinely engaged in what they were learning.

The emphasis was on relevance, purpose and valuing individual students rather than relying only on testing and comparison.

Comparison can place unnecessary pressure on children.

A more meaningful question may be whether a child is discovering what they are capable of and beginning to understand how their learning connects with their life.

Green School Bali as an Example of What Education Could Become

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

When our original article was written, Green School Bali was still relatively young, yet it had already attracted considerable attention from families and educators interested in sustainability and alternative approaches to education.

Alan Wagstaff and the school’s founders had a vision to create change by demonstrating another way of educating children.

Instead of simply waiting for education systems to change from the top down, Green School Bali was attempting to model something different from the ground up.

For us, that was one of the most powerful aspects of the story.

It showed us that education could be creative, practical, sustainable and genuinely connected with real life.

Our Kids’ Green School Bali Experience Through Green SuperCamp

Our children experiencing Green SuperCamp Bali and Green School philosophy
Green SuperCamp Bali gave our children a powerful real-world learning experience.

Our family’s connection with these ideas did not end with listening to a presentation.

Another way our children experienced the broader Green School Bali philosophy was through Green SuperCamp.

Kaitlin, Jai and Flynn attended Green SuperCamp and came back full of stories, experiences and new ideas.

At the time of this original article, we were planning for them to attend again along with our eleven-year-old daughter Amber.

The experience reinforced many of the same ideas that had first attracted us to Green School Bali: confidence, leadership, teamwork, reflection, challenge and learning by doing.

You can read more about why our kids wanted to attend Green SuperCamp.

Flynn’s Green SuperCamp Reflection

Rather than only hearing our interpretation, you can also hear directly from Flynn about his experience:

John Hardy, Founder of Green School Bali

Green School Bali founder John Hardy has also spoken publicly about the thinking behind the school and its remarkable bamboo campus.

What Parents Can Take from Green School Bali

Most families are not going to move to Bali simply so their children can attend Green School Bali.

But that does not mean the ideas have nothing to offer us.

The strongest lesson we took from the experience was that children need much more than academic content alone.

They also need connection, creativity, challenge, responsibility, practical skills and opportunities to discover who they are becoming.

At home, this might mean:

  • giving children genuine responsibilities
  • encouraging them to start small projects or ventures
  • allowing them to solve real problems
  • helping them manage money and resources
  • valuing creativity, nature, movement and reflection
  • introducing them to interesting adults and mentors
  • connecting learning with everyday life rather than only school results

We do not have to recreate Green School Bali to borrow some of the thinking behind it.

The Question Green School Bali Left Us With

Years after first hearing about Green School Bali, perhaps the most valuable part of the experience is still the question it encouraged us to ask.

What are we actually preparing our children for?

If the answer is life, then children need opportunities to become more than good students.

They need opportunities to become thinkers, creators, communicators, problem-solvers, leaders and people capable of navigating a changing world.

Green School Bali did not give us one perfect model to copy.

It gave us something more useful: a reason to question what education could look like.

Those ideas continue through many of our family enterprise stories and in the very different paths taken by our enterprising kids today.

Where to Next?

If the Green School Bali story has made you think differently about how children learn, these are good places to continue.

 


Raise Entrepreneurial Kids


Practical ways to develop confidence, creativity, money awareness, responsibility and initiative through real life.

 

 


Family Enterprise Stories


See how small businesses, projects, money lessons and experiments became part of our children’s education.

 

 


Our Enterprising Kids Today


See where those childhood experiences eventually led and the very different paths our seven children followed.

 

Entrepreneurship Games for Students: Flynn’s Green SuperCamp Reflection

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Adventure & Real-World Learning, Flynn's Stories, Mindset, Confidence & Leadership , , , , , , , , ,
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.

The Green SuperCamp experience aligned with the wider philosophy of Green School Bali, where “project based” learning is designed to be practical, creative, sustainable and connected to real life.

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, Family Enterprise Stories, 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.

Green SuperCamp gave our children a glimpse of the kind of learning philosophy we later reflected on in our article about Green School Bali and future-focused education.

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…

 

Youth Leadership Programs: Green SuperCamp Bali

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Adventure & Real-World Learning, Mindset, Confidence & Leadership , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments
Youth leadership programs at Green SuperCamp Bali helping children build confidence and real-world learning

Youth leadership programs can open children’s eyes to a completely different way of learning. Sometimes one idea, one email, one video or one story can land in your life and make you rethink what is possible for your kids.

“`

That is what happened when we first discovered Green SuperCamp Bali. As teachers, parents and lifelong learners, we were immediately excited by the idea of a camp that combined leadership, confidence, learning skills, sustainability and real-world experiences.

“`

Youth leadership programs at Green SuperCamp Bali helping children leap with confidence and joy
Green SuperCamp Bali showed us how youth leadership programs can help children grow in confidence, courage and joy.

Youth Leadership Programs: Green SuperCamp Bali

It’s amazing how life works sometimes.

As you know, we had been sharing our kids’ experiences and journey as they followed their enterprise ideas through to fruition. Certainly, as our learning and that of our children accelerated over the previous six months, other opportunities landed in our laps.

One such opportunity came in the form of a friend and a simple email.

She had attended one of the workshops we had been doing with our mentor, Paul Counsel. She sent us an email with a link to something, in her words, “pretty special”.

Being school teachers, and always being open to hearing about things that inspire children to think outside the square and follow enterprising ideas, the link our friend sent us truly was special.

Below is a snapshot of a concept that had us super excited and super motivated.

Discovering Green SuperCamp Bali

Green School Bali campus connected to youth leadership programs and sustainable education
The Green School setting immediately captured our imagination.
Bamboo structure at Green School Bali inspiring youth leadership programs
The bamboo architecture helped make the learning environment feel inspiring and completely different.

Green SuperCamp Bali was indeed a very unique and inspiring concept.

At the time, what captured us most was the combination of an extraordinary natural setting, forward-thinking education, leadership activities, learning skills and the clear intention to help children grow in confidence over a short period of time.

We had seen many schools and camps, but this felt different. It seemed to combine personal development, learning, sustainability and real-world experiences in a way that aligned strongly with what we were trying to foster through Enterprise for Kids.

Youth Leadership Programs That Build Confidence

The camp was held in the tropical paradise of Bali and connected with the world-renowned Green School campus.

From the materials we saw at the time, Green SuperCamp used a learning approach that aimed to develop life skills, learning skills, confidence, teamwork and leadership.

It was not just about children sitting and listening. It was about children participating, moving, trying, reflecting, building relationships and stepping outside their comfort zones.

Trust activities at Green SuperCamp Bali as part of youth leadership programs
Trust activities helped children build confidence and connection.
Children working in groups at Green SuperCamp Bali youth leadership programs
Working in groups helped children learn through connection, cooperation and shared experience.

That is why youth leadership programs can be so powerful. Children and teenagers often need experiences that help them discover what they are capable of outside their normal routines.

They need safe environments where they can practise confidence, communication, teamwork, responsibility and self-expression.

Learning Skills, Life Skills and Real-World Learning

One of the things that impressed us was the focus on learning skills as well as life skills.

We were especially interested because, as teachers, we had long believed that learning should feel meaningful, active and engaging. Children learn so much when they are physically involved, emotionally connected and given opportunities to participate.

Children learning at Green SuperCamp Bali as part of youth leadership programs
Green SuperCamp Bali presented learning as active, engaging and memorable.
Children enjoying learning at Green SuperCamp Bali youth leadership programs
The children appeared deeply engaged in the learning experiences.

Listening to some of the videos and stories at the time, we viewed teenagers describing large improvements in confidence, learning and self-belief.

Of course, every child’s experience is different. But what excited us was the possibility that a well-designed camp could help young people have breakthroughs in how they see themselves and what they believe they can do.

The current Green Camp Bali kids and youth camps continue to offer nature-based programs for children and teenagers, with a focus on adventure, sustainability and immersive learning.

A Learning Environment That Inspired Us

The SuperCamps were held at the Green School campus, a place that immediately fascinated us.

The founders of Green School, John and Cynthia Hardy, built a school that was intentionally close to nature and strongly connected to environmental education.

The school was never intended to feel like a standard city school. It was designed to be in the heart of nature itself.

Bird's eye view of Green School Bali connected to youth leadership programs
A bird’s eye view of the Green School Bali environment.
Bamboo ceiling at Green School Bali showing a nature-based learning environment
Looking up into the bamboo ceiling.

We were inspired by the bamboo structures, the natural setting and the sense that education could look and feel completely different.

Green School Bali’s current description of its approach includes sustainability, community-integrated learning, entrepreneurial learning and a wall-less natural environment. That philosophy strongly connects with the kinds of real-world learning experiences we value for children.

You can learn more about the school through the official Green School Bali about page.

Sustainability, Nature and Leadership

Another thing that captured our attention was the way sustainability seemed to be built into the physical environment.

The original materials we viewed spoke about bamboo buildings, natural light, compost toilets, solar energy, gardens, animals, rivers and children learning in direct connection with the natural world.

Solar panels in a natural environment at Green School Bali
Solar panels in a natural environment.
Hut accommodation at Green SuperCamp Bali youth leadership camp
Hut accommodation for the camp.

For us, this mattered because leadership is not only about confidence and public speaking.

Leadership is also about taking responsibility for yourself, for others and for the world around you.

A youth leadership program that connects children with nature, sustainability, teamwork and personal growth can help young people see themselves as part of something bigger.

Social Learning and Self-Discovery

As we viewed the short movies of teens sharing their experiences after attending Green SuperCamp, we were struck by their personal insights.

They seemed to go through a journey of self-discovery where they built strong relationships with future leaders from around the world.

Many described Green SuperCamp as a life-changing experience.

Children building social connections at Green SuperCamp Bali youth leadership programs
Social interactions were a big part of the Green SuperCamp experience.
Kite building skills at Green SuperCamp Bali youth leadership programs
Kite building skills.

They learnt to live in the moment and become more fully self-expressed.

They developed responsibility for themselves and each other. They also took part in activities outside their comfort zone.

Activities such as rope climbing, Balinese dancing, mud activities, flying fox, group challenges and practical projects all seemed to contribute to building self-confidence and leadership.

Confidence Building Through Challenge

Children having fun in the mud at Green SuperCamp Bali leadership activities
Fun in the mud.
Children having fun as a group at Green SuperCamp Bali youth leadership programs
Fun as a group.

We were completely amazed that Green SuperCamp seemed to have such a positive impact on kids in only a matter of days.

As teachers and parents, we wondered what schools could learn from this kind of model.

What if more children experienced education that developed confidence, leadership, sustainability, self-expression, practical skills and entrepreneurial thinking?

What if more children saw themselves as capable of leading, creating, contributing and thinking differently?

Why Green SuperCamp Bali Inspired Our Family

We were so inspired by Green SuperCamp that our three oldest kids were booked to attend the camp that year.

For us, the decision connected strongly to Enterprise for Kids.

We wanted our children to grow up with confidence, initiative, creativity, courage, responsibility and an entrepreneurial mindset. Green SuperCamp Bali seemed to offer experiences that supported those qualities.

This article became the beginning of a much bigger family story.

Green SuperCamp Bali Series

This post is part of our Green SuperCamp Bali series.

We will let you know in future blogs how they go… although we think we already know the answer to that one! 🙂

Key Takeaway: Youth Leadership Programs Can Shape Confidence

Key takeaway: youth leadership programs can help children build confidence, self-expression, teamwork, responsibility and real-world learning. Green SuperCamp Bali inspired us because it seemed to offer children a powerful combination of leadership, sustainability, learning skills and personal growth.

Where to Next?

What kind of youth leadership program could help your child build confidence, courage and a bigger view of what is possible?