Physics, geography, mathematics, and environmental science — not from a textbook, but from real sailing, kayaking, and orienteering, with the lake as the laboratory.
| Session 1 | Monday 6 July – Friday 10 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Session 2 | Tuesday 28 July – Saturday 1 August 2026 |
| Location | Suzhou (near Shanghai) — lakeside outdoor education centre |
| Age range | 11–16 years old (minimum height 1.35 m) |
| Price | ¥5,080 per student — full sailing course, kayaking & orienteering included |
| Led by | Certified water-sports instructors + MoreFunAsia education facilitators |
| Bring | Swimwear, sun protection, water shoes, field booklet, pen, curiosity |
Explain the physics of sailing — how wind, lift, and drag combine to propel a boat against the wind.
Apply map-reading and compass bearings to navigate an orienteering course independently.
Calculate speed, distance, and bearing using real data collected on the water.
Describe the ecology of a freshwater lake system and the human pressures acting on it.
Demonstrate effective teamwork under pressure through the final regatta challenge.
Analyse weather patterns and predict how wind direction and strength will affect their sailing route.
Reflect on how managing fear and discomfort in physical challenge builds real-world resilience.
Every activity is deliberately connected to a school subject. Students don't just sail — they understand why the sail works, measure what they're doing, and record it like scientists.
| Activity | Subject | What students actually learn |
|---|---|---|
| Sailing | Physics | Bernoulli's principle (lift), drag forces, tacking angles, centre of gravity & buoyancy, Newton's third law applied to water |
| Wind Reading | Meteorology | High/low pressure systems, Beaufort scale, thermal winds, reading clouds and water surface for wind shifts |
| Orienteering | Geography & Maths | Topographic maps, magnetic vs. true north, grid references, bearing calculation, distance estimation, decision-making under time pressure |
| Kayaking | Physics & Biology | Paddle mechanics (levers and torque), hydrodynamics, stroke efficiency, aquatic ecosystems and how paddlers affect them |
| Lake Ecology Study | Environmental Science | Freshwater food chains, eutrophication, invasive species, water quality indicators, the impact of tourism on lake ecosystems |
| Speed & Distance | Mathematics | Speed = distance ÷ time, vector addition (wind + boat speed), plotting course on a chart, calculating tacking efficiency |
| Mini Regatta | Engineering & Strategy | Race tactics, start-line strategy, wind-shift reading, iterative decision-making — applying all 5 days of learning under real competitive pressure |
| Field Journaling | Science & Literacy | Hypothesis formation, controlled observation, data recording, reflective writing, evidence-based conclusions |
Every day pairs on-water activity with the science and maths that explain it.
Camp safety briefing, lake ecology introduction walk, kayak familiarisation, first time on the water, capsize drill, field journal setup.
Why does a boat float? Students apply Archimedes' principle by predicting whether objects will float or sink before testing them, then identify and sketch 3 aquatic habitat zones.
The capsize drill meets maths: students time 3 attempts at righting a kayak, calculate the mean, and identify which variable affected their time most.
Rigging a dinghy on land, points of sail explained, first sail (beating, reaching, running), tacking and gybing drills, wind direction observation exercise.
How can a sail push a boat into the wind? Students explore Bernoulli's principle and the four forces on a boat, drawing force diagrams before going on the water.
Students record wind direction every 30 minutes, plot it on a circular diagram, and calculate the mean — did it shift, and by how many degrees?
Map-reading workshop (contour lines, grid references, scale), compass bearing practice, cross-country orienteering course in teams, route-analysis debrief.
Orienteering is applied geography — students read contour lines to predict terrain, calculate distances using map scale, and navigate between checkpoints by magnetic bearing.
Students measure 5 routes with string, convert to real-world distance using scale, and calculate walking speed — which route was most efficient?
Weather briefing (reading sky and water), advanced manoeuvres, team sail with crew roles (helm, crew, tactician), practice regatta lap, wind-shift reading exercise.
Students learn to read the sky — cumulus clouds signal thermals, rippled water shows gusts — and apply the Beaufort scale to estimate wind strength from visual clues alone.
Students record cloud type, water texture, and Beaufort estimate hourly, then compare predictions to reality — whose forecast was most accurate?
Race preparation (boat check, course briefing, start-line strategy), mini regatta of 3 races, certificate ceremony, final field journal entry, depart.
The regatta is a performance task — to race well, students apply physics, meteorology, mathematics, and teamwork together. It's 5 days of STEM in action.
After each race, students record finishing position, start quality, and best tacking angle, then analyse what changed most between Race 1 and Race 3.
The lake at our Suzhou centre isn't just a sports venue — it's a living ecosystem under constant pressure from human activity. Over 5 days, students collect real ecological data as a structured field study.
Using a Secchi disk, students measure light penetration depth on Days 1 and 5 — has visibility changed, and what might that tell us about algae growth?
Students map emergent, floating, and submerged plant zones around the lake edge and explain why each zone exists where it does.
A 10-minute timed bird count from the shore on two mornings, comparing results and discussing what variables affect bird presence.
Students record litter type and location along 50m of shoreline, classify by material, and map where it concentrates — and why.
Facilitators sign off each skill when students can demonstrate it independently.
| Session | Dates | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | Mon 6 July – Fri 10 July 2026 | ¥5,080 / student |
| Session 2 | Tue 28 July – Sat 1 August 2026 | ¥5,080 / student |
Fill in the form and our team will confirm your session and next steps.
All water-based activities carry inherent risk. Our certified instructors maintain a maximum student-to-instructor ratio of 6:1 on the water at all times. All participants must complete a medical and consent form before the first session. Life jackets are mandatory throughout all water activities. By enrolling, participants and guardians accept personal responsibility for following all safety instructions. MoreFunAsia, its organisers and instructors are not liable for any loss or injury sustained during activities.