If you’re looking for an outdoor adventure camp for teens, Camp APA’s Marine Exploration Summer Camp has a bit of everything. Held in Cebu, the popular resort destination in the Philippines, the seven-day program sees campers snorkelling, identifying marine life, helping repopulate coral reefs and working together with local communities. At the same time, they’ll be learning valuable navigation skills and life lessons.
Camp APA’s Marine Exploration Summer Camp
APA stands for Asia Pacific Adventure (APA) group, which has provided experiential learning and outdoor education for students in Asia for two decades. Camp APA is all about having fun, making new friends and trying awesome new activities.
The Camp APA team is thrilled to be offering its first international program this summer, in the prime coastal location of Cebu. “We chose Cebu for its beautiful outdoor environment, warm and inviting culture, and for the opportunity it gave us to help make a difference and give back,“ they say.
What this outdoor adventure camp involves
The seven-day itinerary is packed with activities and adventures, from the minute the team meets campers at Mactan-Cebu International Airport on the first day, where the program begins. At the end of the week, there’s even time for a snorkel on the final morning, before a boat transfer back to Mactan Island and onward transport to the airport for the flight home.
And this isn’t just any snorkelling; Cebu is home to one of the world’s most vibrant coral reefs. Campers will learn all about them, and about the traditional culture and practices of local people living near the reefs.
Importantly, they’ll also learn that there’s another side to a beautiful ecosystem like this. While the coral reef system in the area is magnificent, the sad truth is that marine life here has been negatively impacted by natural disasters and by the ocean’s warming.
“In particular, Super Typhoon Odette created havoc for the coral beds in 2021, splitting and flipping them over and causing a displacement to the ecosystem,” says the Camp APA team. “Our Coral Reef Restoration Project will allow students to build their own artificial reef systems and dive down to place them into the seabeds to help repopulate the devastated areas. So far this year, we’ve already been able to deploy eight artificial reefs. But there’s still more work to be done!”
What campers will gain from the seven-day program in Cebu
SKILLS
- Paddle skills and techniques (including learning on traditional outriggers)
- Navigation, including how to use a compass and a sea chart to plan a journey
- Snorkelling (both day and night snorkelling)
- Learning traditional local crafts and livelihood practices such as bread making and weaving
SERVICE
- Coral Reef Restoration Project
- Coral and fish identification
- Mangrove identification and survey
- Environmental education; the trip touches on aspects of seven of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (2023)
LIFE LESSONS
Through all the aforementioned activities on this adventure camp, students will have to the opportunity to lead a group, build on communication skills and understand how to work effectively as a team.
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
This is major component of the trip, according to Camp APA, and by the end of the seven days, students will have gained a deeper insight into the unsettling reality of the ocean’s health. But they’ll also learn and be part of making a positive impact to combat this reality, and review and take action on their experience.
Marine Exploration Summer Camp Fact File
Ages: 15-17 years
Price: US$1,550 (flights not included)
Duration: 7 days
Location: Cebu, Philippines
Service hours: 12 hours minimum
Accommodation: Guest house in Olango Island
Program focus: Sea Adventure, Culture Immersion, Service, Environmental Awareness
Dates: 1-7 July (a provisional second camp is scheduled for 10-16 July)
Program meeting point and end point: Mactan-Cebu International Airport
Deadline for booking: 22 May 2023
The price for the adventure camp includes all transport in the Philippines, experienced facilitators, program delivery, all activity and safety equipment, food and accommodation, and public liability insurance during activities.
Head here to find out more about the camp.
Here here to sign up!
The program is available for students in Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. If you live in a different country and would like to join, email the Camp APA team at camp@apa.co.
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