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MFA Education – Shanghai Wilderness Survival Program

Shanghai: Wilderness Survival Program — 5-Day Living Science Field Course
Shanghai: Wilderness Survival Program

Nature as the laboratory. Survival as the curriculum.

5 days, 4 nights, ages 9–13, mountain base camp near Shanghai

Not just an adventure — a hands-on science curriculum set in the wild. Students become ecologists, engineers, chemists, and geologists as they master genuine survival skills with nature as their laboratory.

Trip at a glance
DatesTBD (5 days / 4 nights)
Age group9–13 years old
LocationMountain wilderness base camp, outskirts of Shanghai
Price¥5,400 per student — all meals, accommodation, equipment & field materials included
Led byCertified wilderness survival experts + MoreFunAsia education facilitators
BringSturdy boots, warm layers, waterproof jacket, field booklet, pen, curiosity

What students will be able to do by Day 5

  • Apply the engineering design process to plan, build, and test a waterproof shelter.

  • Explain the chemistry of fire — combustion, the fire triangle, and fuel selection.

  • Identify at least 8 native plant species and describe their ecological role.

  • Use map-reading and compass skills to navigate a wilderness route independently.

  • Describe cave formation geology and the organisms that live in cave ecosystems.

  • Demonstrate safe food preparation in a field environment using foraged and packed ingredients.

  • Reflect on how survival skills connect to environmental responsibility and sustainable living.

Our educational framework: STEM in the wild

Every activity is deliberately mapped to a real academic discipline. Students don't just "do" survival skills — they understand the science behind them, record observations like field scientists, and build mental models they can take back into the classroom.

Survival skillSubjectWhat students actually learn
Fire MakingChemistryCombustion reactions, the fire triangle (fuel/heat/oxygen), ignition temperatures, energy transfer
Shelter BuildingEngineeringLoad-bearing structures, weatherproofing, insulation science, material properties, design iteration
ForagingBiologyPlant taxonomy, edible vs. toxic species, ecosystems, food chains, nutrient cycles
Outdoor CookingChemistryHeat transfer, protein denaturation, Maillard reaction, food safety microbiology
NavigationGeographyTopographic maps, magnetic declination, grid references, landmark triangulation
Cave ExplorationGeologySpeleothem formation, karst landscapes, cave ecosystems, adaptation of cave species
Water SourcingScienceWater cycle, filtration, bacteria and contamination, testing for potability
Field JournalingLiteracyScientific observation, descriptive writing, labelled diagrams, data recording

Five days, day by day

Every day pairs a hands-on survival skill with the science and structure behind it.

DAY 1

Arrive & orient

Mon 23 Feb — Arrive at base camp, wilderness orientation
🏕️ Activities

Camp safety briefing, map-reading workshop, compass navigation challenge, identify the 5 zones of our base camp ecosystem, set up personal field journals.

🔬 Science

Geography & Ecology: students read a topographic map, locate themselves using compass bearings, and record first ecological observations — soil type, vegetation zones, bird calls, insect activity.

DAY 2

Fire & fuel science

Tue 24 Feb — The chemistry of fire and wilderness cooking
🏕️ Activities

Fire-triangle lesson, friction fire (bow drill), flint & steel techniques, fuel selection science, outdoor cooking a full camp meal using fire, nutrient analysis of foraged vs. packaged food.

🔬 Science

Chemistry & Biology: why does wood burn? Students explore combustion as a chemical reaction, test tinders and fuels, and measure burn time and heat output — cooking becomes a chemistry experiment.

DAY 3

Shelter engineering

Wed 25 Feb — Build a waterproof shelter from natural materials
🏕️ Activities

Shelter design briefing, team design planning (paper prototype), material sourcing trek, build phase, waterproof stress test (bucket pour), evaluate and iterate design.

🔬 Science

Engineering & Physics: students apply the engineering design cycle — plan, build, test, improve — investigating insulation, load distribution, and weatherproofing angles.

DAY 4

Forest & cave biology

Thu 26 Feb — Foraging, flora identification, and cave geology
🏕️ Activities

Native plant ID walk (8+ species), foraging ethics and sustainability rules, cave exploration and speleothem observation, cave ecosystem study, water sourcing and filtration challenge.

🔬 Science

Biology & Geology: students use dichotomous keys to identify plants, debate foraging ethics, and study how stalactites and stalagmites form over thousands of years.

DAY 5

Solo challenge & debrief

Fri 27 Feb — Apply all skills in a guided solo challenge
🏕️ Activities

Mini survival scenario — navigate to a waypoint, build a fire, purify water, prepare a simple meal, all independently — group debrief circle, skill certificate ceremony, field journal share-out, return to Shanghai.

🔬 Science

Integration & Reflection: the solo challenge is a performance task where students synthesise all five days of learning, guided by structured reflection questions.

Skills & competencies earned

Signed off by program facilitators in each student's field journal.

🌿 Nature & ecology

  • Identify 8+ native plant species
  • Describe a complete food chain
  • Explain cave formation (geology)
  • Source and test safe drinking water

🔥 Survival craft

  • Light a fire with friction or flint
  • Build a waterproof debris shelter
  • Cook a hot meal over an open fire
  • Navigate 500m using map & compass

🧠 Thinking skills

  • Apply the engineering design cycle
  • Record scientific field observations
  • Analyse cause and effect in nature
  • Give and receive constructive feedback

🤝 Character & wellbeing

  • Lead a team decision in the field
  • Manage discomfort with a growth mindset
  • Articulate a personal environmental value
  • Complete the solo challenge with confidence

🚀 Do these before you arrive

  1. Research one native plant or animal you expect to find on the mountain — bring a fact card to share with the group.
  2. Practise tying a bowline knot (look it up!).
  3. Think of ONE question about nature you've always wondered about — you may just find the answer in the wild.

🌍 After the program — the wilderness-to-city challenge

  • Forager — grow one edible plant on your balcony from seed.
  • Fire-maker — cook an entire dinner for your family without using the microwave.
  • Navigator — map your neighbourhood, no phone allowed, and hand it to a friend to follow.
  • Builder — design and build the strongest structure you can from cardboard and tape.

🌲 Field essentials

  • Sturdy hiking boots (broken in!)
  • Warm base layer + fleece
  • Waterproof jacket & trousers
  • Hat and gloves (nights are cold)
  • Reusable water bottle

🔬 Learning tools

  • Field booklet + 2 pens
  • Small magnifying glass
  • Camera or sketchbook
  • Your pre-trip plant/animal fact card
  • Personal first-aid kit (provided list)

Programme fee

ProgrammeDurationPrice
Wilderness Survival Program5 days / 4 nights¥5,400 / student
Registration

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Safety & disclaimer

All outdoor activities carry inherent risk. Our certified survival experts maintain a maximum student-to-leader ratio of 6:1 at all times. Students and guardians are required to complete a medical and consent form before the program begins. By enrolling, participants accept personal responsibility for following safety instructions. MoreFunAsia, its organisers, and field leaders are not liable for any loss or injury sustained during activities.