COA 2026 – A Journey of Culture, Growth, and Self-Discovery
On 17 June 2026, our Grade 8 students, together with students from SNA Surabaya, successfully completed their 25-day COA – China Cultural Exploration and Roots Journey.
This year, I was honoured to be appointed as one of the three teacher mentors leading the entire programme. Although our school’s COA programme has been running for over ten years, this was my very first opportunity to accompany the students throughout the entire journey. Looking back, I now understand why so many teachers speak so highly of this experience.
More than a month before departure, both teachers and students had already begun preparing physically. COA is never intended to be just another educational tour. Instead, it is designed to challenge students beyond the classroom—to step outside their comfort zones, build resilience, and discover strengths they never knew they possessed.
Our first stop was Ronghuai International School in Zhuji, Zhejiang Province. Here, students immersed themselves in the wisdom of The Analects of Confucius and the values of Di Zi Gui. They also experienced the beauty of traditional Chinese culture through tea appreciation, Chinese calligraphy, ink painting, and Tai Chi, learning not only new skills but also the importance of balance, patience, and inner peace.
Before leaving Zhuji, students faced their first major challenge—a 6-kilometre mountain hike at Wuxie Scenic Area. For many of them, this was the first time being away from home for such a long period, managing their own daily routines without their parents’ support. Unsurprisingly, many felt nervous and uncertain at first. Yet when they reached the finish line, the pride and confidence on their faces reminded us that true growth often begins when we dare to take the first difficult step.
Our second destination was Oriental Land, the comprehensive outdoor education centre under the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission. Here, students experienced a completely different style of learning. They ventured into bamboo forests to gather materials and worked together to build the tables and benches they would use throughout the camp.
The challenges continued as they camped in tents, prepared their own meals, and carried groceries back to the campsite after a 10-kilometre walk. What impressed me most was not how difficult the activities were, but how much the students had already grown since the first stage of the trip. Their teamwork became stronger, their communication more effective, and their willingness to support one another became increasingly natural.
During their stay at Oriental Land, students also learned valuable outdoor survival skills, including abseiling, sailing, dragon boating, canoeing, and outdoor cooking. They visited the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower before completing yet another remarkable achievement—a 21-kilometre ancient trail hike, demonstrating perseverance that many of them had never imagined they possessed.
Our third stop brought us to Qufu, the hometown of Confucius in Shandong Province. Surrounded by the rich heritage of Confucian culture, students once again reflected on the core virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and integrity. They visited the Confucius Temple and the Confucius Mansion, experienced Hanfu culture, learned the traditional art of stone rubbing, and finally climbed Mount Tai, one of China’s Five Great Mountains.
The final chapter of our journey took us to Beijing, the capital of China. Together we visited Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and, of course, the Great Wall.
There is a well-known Chinese saying: “Travelling brings about far greater benefit than mere book learning.” After spending twenty-five unforgettable days with these students, I truly understand the meaning behind those words. COA is far more than a cultural exchange programme. It is an education of character, resilience, independence, gratitude, and teamwork—lessons that cannot simply be learned from textbooks.
As a mentor, the greatest reward was not watching students complete each challenge, but witnessing how they gradually transformed into more confident, responsible, and caring young people. Every obstacle they overcame became another stepping stone in their personal growth.
On our final day, several students came to the three mentors and asked with genuine smiles, “Lao Shi, can we stay a few more days?” At that moment, I knew this journey had become far more than just a school trip. It had become a memory they would carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Shared by
Mr Eddie Yu
COA Mentor