What is Experiential Learning?

Experiential learning is the process of learning through doing, reflecting and applying yourself to the situation at hand. Rather than simply absorbing information, students actively engage in real-world situations that require them to think critically, collaborate, problem-solve and adapt to the world around them.

In real terms, experiential learning may involve fieldwork, service-learning projects, expeditions, internships or immersive cultural experiences. What defines it is not the location, but the method – students are placed in authentic contexts where they must make decisions, take responsibility and reflect on their growth.

When students step beyond the classroom and into unfamiliar environments, such as trekking through mountain ranges, working on community infrastructure projects, or contributing to conservation initiatives, it teaches them strength and global context that are hard to replicate within the classroom.

The cognitive development through overseas experiential learning is  mainly reflected in the perception of oneself (self-awareness and self-understanding), other people (social communication), and other things (international perspectives, cultural and global diversity, racial, ethnic diversity, and complexities of global issues) (Tian and Lu, 2018).

Mary, a student traveller who visited Cambodia, mentioned she now feels “more confident”, and that “this trip has reassured me in my journey of becoming an adult. As I now feel like I have – or am developing – the essential qualities which makes a successful person”.

The Rise of Global Citizenship and Growth Mindset

Today’s students are growing up in an interconnected world. Everything is chronically online and available instantly at their fingertips, which is both exciting and dangerous in equal parts. Exposure to global challenges, whether environmental sustainability, inequality, or conservation, creates a deeper understanding of responsibility and impact and takes them out of the digital world that they find themselves ever immersed in.

Experiential learning, especially on expedition, allows students to gain a wider understanding of different cultures and traditions, and exposes them to different global issues that are faced around the world. When students work alongside communities in different cultural contexts, contribute to sustainability initiatives, or witness global challenges firsthand, they begin to see themselves not only as learners, but as contributors and true global citizens

At the same time, these experiences naturally foster a growth mindset. In educational settings, developing a growth mindset helps students build resilience and self-belief. It encourages them to take ownership of their development, seek feedback and reflect on how they can improve. This not only improves their confidence, but teaches them how to keep trying when the going gets tough, which is a skill that sets them up for future careers and life paths.

Ronnie Masters, one of our Regional Expedition Coordinators and Dean Bates, the Regional Manager for the North, were interviewed on HMC’s podcast mini series in which they spoke about the need for extra-curricular skill building and how an expedition can be the catalyst for developing a growth mindset;

“It’s about getting young people comfortable with being uncomfortable. That really helps them to develop confidence, self-belief, resilience, self-awareness, all these really hard to come by skills. They’ll get an abundance, you know, certainly after a four-week expedition overseas. That’s when you go into something called your stretch zone, that’s really where the magic happens. That’s where your brain is engaged, that’s where you go into this growth mindset, and that’s where these skills are really developed.”

“[Expeditions help] to get young people out of that comfort zone and into the stretch zone where they can develop these skills that will just help them, you know, beyond school, and deal with the ups and downs of life.”

In this way, global awareness and personal growth develop hand in hand. Students return not only with a deeper understanding of the world around them, but with the confidence and resilience to shape their own futures within it.

Student Traveller Lauren, who took part in one of our Borneo expeditions in 2023, told us that “The highlight of my journey was experiencing the cultures and taking part in the local community, with either project work or having the opportunity to engage with the children and locals. The setting and environment were beautiful in the Borneo jungle, with the river boat ride in the sunset. The journey had a significant impact on me and kick-started my career based on the passion I’ve always had for wildlife, conservation and preserving the environment. The experience of travelling across the globe has changed my life.”

Balancing Experience with Evidence

Schools today are increasingly tasked with preparing students for an unpredictable future. The value/cost perception is under continuing scrutiny and parents want to make sure that their students are getting the most out of every experience, whether inside or outside the classroom. Data plays an important role in helping teachers understand what’s working, where students need more support, and how to keep improving.

The most effective schools are those that balance experiential learning with high academic standards. Actionable data helps leadership teams refine strategy and support staff development, while experiential learning environments, such as expeditions, help build confidence, resilience and independence – qualities that aren’t always easy to measure.

In this sense, personal development and academic performance are not opposing priorities, they are complementary. Character builds confidence, confidence enhances performance, and reflection strengthens both.

Check out our video that dives deeper into experiential learning on a Camps Expedition and the benefit of taking students abroad in your educational toolkit.

Education for the Future

Preparing students for an unpredictable future requires more than curriculum learning. It requires opportunities to test themselves, to lead, to think of things other than themselves, and to understand the wider world.

The most powerful approach utilises both rigorous academic standards and impact driven real-world experiences. When schools combine meaningful challenge with reflective practice and evidence-based improvement, they create learning environments that are both ambitious and grounded. Students leave not only with qualifications, but with resilience, cultural awareness and the confidence to thrive. In a rapidly changing world, where adaptability and global awareness are increasingly valued, experiential learning provides students with the confidence and capability to thrive beyond school.

If we are serious about preparing students for the world ahead, we must give them opportunities to experience it beyond the classroom.

Life at Camp Donbiki in the Amazon Rainforest

The next day we set off from Quito and drove for nine hours deep into the province of Pastaza; our destination – Camp Donbiki in the Shiwakucha community. As the towns grew sparser, the air grew thicker and soon we were entirely enveloped by lush rainforest, the horns of cars replaced with the ululations of tropical birds. We stopped at a beautiful mirador (viewpoint), eating empanadas from our boxed lunch and taking in the majesty of the jungle. I had four!

We arrived at Donbiki mid-afternoon, equal parts knackered and excited. It is difficult to put into words how astonishing this camp is. Situated right on the banks of the raging Arajuno river, a tributary of the Amazon, the camp is enveloped on three sides by lush vegetation but is a short walk across the main road to the Shiwakucha community proper, where the project work takes place. Throughout the night, the hum of insects blends with the birdsong in a natural crescendo that is utterly disorientating yet incredibly inspiring.

The facilities were wonderful: the main building contains bunk beds with decent sized mattresses and mosquito nets; there were fully functioning toilets and showers drawing water directly from the Arajuno via a water filtration system. I half expected to have to clean myself in the river, so to be greeted with working showers and working toilets felt like a luxury. (Just make sure not to swallow the water!)

Despite the encroaching flora and fauna, the camp possesses more than adequate social space, with a huge main hut and then some beautifully scenic areas next to the river for unwinding after a hard day’s project work. I admit having been slightly nervous about the possibility of unexpected visitors in our rooms, but my fears were allayed by the introduction of the dedicated ‘snake-man’ to ward off any inquisitive anacondas. (Disappointingly I saw no snakes, but at least that means the snake-man is worth his weight in gold.)

After settling into our rooms, a staff of locals cooked us incredibly hearty food; and, with the signature six bowl system in place, hygiene was top priority and not a single one of us felt the slightest bit poorly despite the unfamiliarity of the food. For a camp that is so remote, it is fair to say we all felt remarkably at home in a short space of time; we spent the night there, drifting off to sleep on our extremely comfortable mattresses, protected from bugs by robust mosquito nets.

Into the Jungle: Trekking to Camp Ceibo

However, as off the beaten track we thought ourselves in Donbiki, nothing prepared us for our sojourn to Camp Ceiba, the satellite camp named after the towering trees that stand sentinel on its borders. We began our trek early, the rain relentlessly hammering the road, me kitted out in a spare rain poncho courtesy of Claire (naturally I had forgotten to bring my rain jacket to a rainforest). Led by Theo, our guide and Pastaza native, we left the road and headed into the thick jungle. Theo’s intimate knowledge of the jungle was astonishing to witness; he drew our attention to the Toquilla plant, whose strong fibres can be woven into Panama hats; without missing a beat, he then opened a blister on a plant to reveal a line of bright yellow ants marching steadily along the branch of the tree. Remarkably, Theo then swiped a few hapless ants and ate them there and then. Turns out, the ants, scientifically known as Myrmelachista schumanni, release a citrus scent when crushed or bitten. It was genuinely humbling to be led by someone so attuned to the rhythms of the natural world.

We eventually arrived at the camp and put up our hammocks, which did their best to repel the driving rain that did not relent once for ten hours. (Well, they don’t call it a dry forest do they?) _ Although remote, this camp is extremely well staffed, and we ate an extraordinarily good meal despite the paucity of cooking equipment. I was initially worried that the satellite camp might be a bridge too far for the pupils, but after having experienced its slick management, I am now incredibly excited for them to experience it. Simply put, nothing else compares to falling asleep in a hammock to the surreal sounds of the jungle.

Exploring the Andes

Although less intrepid than Donbiki and Ceibo, the rest of the recce was no less enjoyable as we careened around the Andes courtesy of our tireless driver, Guille, visiting Camp Los Andes and Camp Kuri Kucho to scope out the project work our pupils will be completing in the summer. Nestled in the Andes, which casts its peaks over SEVEN countries, these camps lie in beautiful, fertile valleys, where farming forms the basis of the communities. Like Donbiki, these camps are based around making improvements to the facilities of the primary schools. The children did a traditional dance for us, whilst the headteachers provided a delicious lunch consisting of local produce.

Ecuador Beyond the Camps – Cotopaxi, Otavalo and Quito

As we dotted around central Ecuador (including a taste of the breathtaking Cotopaxi national park) we were put up at lovely boutique hotels in Otavalo and the outskirts of Quito. (Shout out to Hostal Colibri, so called after the kaleidoscopic range of hummingbirds who settle in its garden). Despite the constant travelling, we all felt positively pampered; it was lovely to indulge in the treasures of the country as tourist before the work begins in earnest in the summer.

After a visit to the Ciudad Mitad Del Mundo and garbed in psychedelic ponchos, we were off to the airport. Our flight home was smooth, and before you could say ‘dios del muerto’ we were back on terra firma. We said our goodbyes and I headed off, feeling immensely sorry for those making the trip to the far-flung provinces of England whilst I sloped off back to North London.

Final Thoughts: Why Every Teacher Should Join a Camps International Recce

For any teacher considering the inspection visit- just do it. You are so well-looked after; you gain an unparallelled insight into each camp as well as an entirely FREE week in a country you may never visit again after the expedition. Camps International run an incredibly slick operation, and the recce did nothing but fuel my excitement for the full expedition in the summer. Gracias Camps International;  Ecuador ama la vida!

Hear more from Peter, along with additional takeaways from a number of teachers who have joined us on a Teacher Inspection Visit across multiple destinations in the video below: