Winter Leadership Odyssey (Residential Camp)

1. Student-Led Navigation to Chek Keng

The odyssey begins with a real expedition mission: students work together to navigate their way to Chek Keng, a hidden coastal area in Sai Kung known for its peaceful scenery and remote outdoor atmosphere.

Instead of simply following instructors, students are encouraged to take active roles in the journey. With guidance from the camp team, they learn to read maps, observe trail signs, make route decisions, communicate with teammates, and manage the pace of the group.

This transforms the hike into much more than a walk. It becomes a leadership challenge where students practise decision-making, teamwork, responsibility, and confidence in a real outdoor environment.

2. Student-Led Route Planning to Pak Sha O

On the next stage of the odyssey, students take on a deeper leadership challenge by helping to plan and navigate the route towards Pak Sha O, a historic village area in Sai Kung surrounded by beautiful country park landscapes.

With guidance from the camp team, students learn to think like an expedition group. They consider route options, distance, terrain, weather, group energy, safety, timing, and teamwork before making decisions together. This gives students a real opportunity to practise planning, communication, responsibility, and problem-solving in an outdoor setting.

Depending on weather, trail conditions, and group readiness, the day may also include an optional Sharp Peak hike and waterfall adventure as a special challenge route. This is not a compulsory part of the programme, but a weather-permitting courage challenge for students who are ready to stretch themselves further.

3. Outdoor Cooking Challenge

Students will take part in outdoor cooking experiences where they learn how to prepare simple meals in a camp setting, organise ingredients, manage basic cooking tasks, and work together as a team.

Outdoor cooking is fun, practical, and highly educational. Students learn responsibility, patience, communication, hygiene awareness, and problem-solving through a real-life task that matters to the whole group.

It also gives students a strong sense of achievement. Food always tastes better when they have helped prepare it themselves.

4. Wilderness Tent Camping

Students will spend the night outdoors in tents, surrounded by nature and away from the usual comfort of home. They will help set up their sleeping area, manage their belongings, follow camp routines, and experience what it feels like to live simply as part of an expedition team.

This is often the moment when students feel they are truly on an adventure. Sleeping outdoors helps build independence, resilience, confidence, and a deeper connection with nature.

With staff supervision and structured routines, students are supported while still being given space to grow.

5. Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics

Students will be introduced to Leave No Trace principles through practical daily actions, such as managing waste, respecting trails, caring for campsites, reducing environmental impact, and being considerate of wildlife and other visitors.

Rather than learning environmental responsibility as theory, students practise it throughout the journey. They see directly how their actions affect the places they explore.

This helps students understand that being an outdoor adventurer also means being a responsible guardian of nature.

6. Hoi Ha Marine Ecology Exploration

The odyssey concludes with a marine ecology experience at Hoi Ha, one of Hong Kong’s most valuable coastal environments.

After exploring mountains, trails, campsites, and villages, students shift their focus to the sea. They discover coastal habitats, learn about marine life, and explore why Hong Kong’s marine ecosystems are important and worth protecting.

This final experience gives the camp a richer educational dimension. Students come away with a broader understanding of Hong Kong’s natural environment — from mountain landscapes to marine habitats.