About Real World Studies and Virtual Expeditions

 

 

Real World Studies is an educational program linking your classroom to Camps projects in the real world. Using the Design Thinking methodology, Camps engages students to explore and link their educational material and activities to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. From self-guided lesson plans, to half day programs or full week seminars, Camps provides free online resources to teachers and opportunities for classrooms around the world to connect with local communities. Camps will work with you to customize a program based on your classroom needs and areas of interest. To learn how educators around the world are incorporating Real World Studies resources into their daily lessons click here

 

 

General topic clusters include:  

Camp Costa Rica Toucan copy
Wildlife Conservation
South-America-Ecuador-Logo
Environmental Protection
Camp-Kenya-Logo
Sustainable Livelihoods
South-America-Peru-Logo
Health and Sanitation
Asia-Borneo-Logo
Education and Training
Tanzania-Logo
House and Welfare
 
 

Who is Camps international?

With over 18 years of experience working with educators at over 900 schools, Camps International has established itself as a leader in service-learning travel. Based in the U.K., Camps is a service organization that lends aid to communities in impoverished areas.

Together, WorldStrides and Camps share one mission: to foster ethical learning journeys that deliver real and lasting impact to the global community. Our partnership empowers young Canadian student explorers to participate in extraordinary experiences with their peers as they broaden their perspectives and mature their collective social conscience.

 

 

Sustainability and Impact

Ethical travel without compromise

 

Since its inception, Camps has taken an uncompromising approach to responsible travel and to maximizing the positive impact of each journey. Camps partners with local community leaders in every location, building long-term relationships within the community prior to constructing a camp. Through strengthening these communities and employing local residents, Camps International upholds the highest ethical standards and supports the United Nations in their Sustainable Development goals. To learn more about Camps' commitment to ethics and sustainability, click here, or to gain access to Real World Studies, which includes lesson plans, key questions, worksheets, and more, click the link below.

 

ACCESS RESOURCES

 

 

The Benefits of Real World Studies:

Academic subject materials, including customized lesson plans

Free resources to aid in teaching development 

Self-guided lessons as a focus for students
Service work materials appropriate for IB CAS and Duke of Edinburgh Award
Teacher seminars and enrichment programs
Interaction with communities at Camps International Field Study Centres
Camp costa rica with icon

Sample Program Camp Costa Rica


Environmental Conservation Work

Though Costa Rica accounts for only 0.03% of the Earth’s surface, it holds 6% of the world’s biodiversity—however, it’s under threat from human activity. Work here will support conservation efforts such as reforestation, beehive construction, and lime-washing trees, as well as projects to encourage eco-tourism in the area.

Program Schedule:

Day 1: Depart for San José,
Costa Rica


Day 2: San José – Guanacaste Province Camp

  • Transfer north to camp in Guanacaste Province, near the Nicaragua border. This region is famous for its sunny beaches and fascinating mountain landscape that features national parks and volcanoes.
  • Arrive at camp, settle in, and exchange introductions with the camp staff.


Days 3–6: Camp work

  • Over the next four days, you will be working on projects in and around the camp.
  • Working in small teams, you'll contribute to ongoing environmental conservation projects developed with the community, government bodies, and NGOs. Most projects help improve the local quality of life within the environment while minimizing damage to it.
  • Your evenings will be spent relaxing at camp, engaging in group discussions, reflecting on your project work together or in your travel diary, and participating in various games and activities with the locals.


Day 7: Guanacaste Province –
San José

  • Free day to explore the area and marvel at the natural beauty and biodiversity that defines Costa Rica. Birds, monkeys, sloths, frogs, insects, and countless other species are all commonly observed in this region.

Day 8: Depart for Home

Real World Studies: Teaching Sustainable Development with Camps International

Learn more about the free resources provided by Camps International during our Real World Studies Webinar. Hosted by Damian Scott Masson, Vice-President of Camps International; Chris Hoare, Teacher & Camps Expedition Leader; and Katie Newman, Expedition Coordinator, the webinar covered strategies and resources for discussing and teaching sustainable development in the classroom.

The team takes you through Camps International teaching philosophies and how they use design thinking principals to teach sustainable development to students across the world. Then, you'll have a chance to explore the free virtual expeditions that Camps developed for use in your classroom.

 

Camps International won Best Sustainable Organization of 2019!

Camps_International_best_sustainable_organisation_logo-1


Click the link below to gain access to Real World Studies, which includes lesson plans, key questions, worksheets, and more!

ACCESS RESOURCES