Doi Tung Nature Adventure with Mae Fah Luang Foundation
Our Grade 6 & 7 Middle Schoolers returned from an unforgettable 3-day, 2-night Doi Tung adventure in Chiang Rai, hosted by the Mae Fah Luang Foundation at the end of February. Nestled high in the mountains, this experiential trip immersed students in nature, ethnic cultures, and social enterprises through three themed days: Nature Day, Inclusive Day, and Enterprise Day.
Trip Highlights
Nature Day kicked off with sensory icebreakers—smelling leaves, touching mystery objects blindfolded, and identifying animal sounds. Students tackled insect lessons and pinning specimens, played global warming simulation games, and ventured on a thrilling night walk spotting scorpions under blue light.
Inclusive Day brought forest “supermarket” ethnic hikes, collecting plants and rocks, plus farm visits for egg gathering and market runs where students learned bargaining skills. Highlights included making egg custard (‘khai pam’) and black pig pizza for staff, plus a Thailand-Myanmar border visit.
Enterprise Day featured hands-on creativity: natural T-shirt dyeing, yarn/resin keychains, bookbinding, waste sorting challenges, and earthworm collecting. Morning flower garden walks revealed daytime colors after dark-night contrasts.
Student Voices
Students returned inspired, sharing profound reflections:
“At the first activity, smelling some leaves and guessing what leaf the smell was from was really good… I realized that I’m good at identifying smells without seeing what it is. I realized that I usually focus too much on what I see in my eyes but I can use the other senses… So I learned that working and discussing with my group helped me think more deeply… On the second day, I love hiking the mountain most. It was really good for my mental health… I experienced the tradition of Chiang Rai.”
Tsubasa, Grade 6
“On this field trip it was fun and unique as we never had any experience like this before because we lived in a city… We get to learn more about nature and it is a lesson that money can’t buy… At first I was afraid of it [earthworms] but I realized that they do nothing so I decided to pick it up… That is basically all that we did during our trip. I learned a lot from this trip and it was something that I never experienced before.”
Denson, Grade 7
“I felt connected to earth and nature. It was peaceful and filled me with a sense of calmness I have felt once or twice.. We played a game about global warming. The economy was thriving, but the environment suffered greatly… On the third day I felt kinda sad, I would miss looking at the view.. When we departed Chiang Rai I knew I would miss this place but I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to come here.”
Prince, Grade 6
“During the cooking mission, we learned how to cooperate… On the first day… sense activities… Being used to the city I rarely smell a lot of the vegetables… During the night walk we couldn’t see the colors… but instead we got to see many animals… During the day though it was completely different with many vibrant and colorful flowers and the scenery was amazing… This trip has really given me a thrilling experience… discover new things about nature.”
Kris, Grade 6
“On the first day, we arrived at the Doi Tung place… For touch, I think it was a bit scary… but I got used to it, and even enjoyed it! … We had to find springtails… On the second day… we hiked down, saw spring water… My team got 1030 earthworms! CHIANGRAI WAS SO FUN.”
Alice, Grade 6
Impact Beyond the Classroom
From overcoming insect fears to cooking ethnic dishes, students built resilience, teamwork, and cultural awareness. City kids marveled at mountain cold, borders, and senses awakened—proving experiential learning creates memories and mindsets textbooks can’t match.
Heartfelt thanks to Mae Fah Luang Foundation for their incredible hospitality, and to our dedicated chaperones: Dr. Prerna, Ms. Chawisa, Mr. Richie & Ms. Bew. We are very proud of our young explorers! 🌿🏞️
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