Outdoor Learning

Taking learning outside the classroom and into nature, WAB Wild has a strong environmental focus incorporated into all its programs.

In the wild, we challenge students to challenge themselves, and think and reflect on how they interact with the environment, heightening awareness of the global issues facing our planet. Our team structures programs unique to each grade level, gradually increasing in difficulty and steadily building independence. The goal is to meaningfully engage students, and to foster a love of nature and respect for our interconnectedness.

WAB Wild in Videos
WAB Wild in Photos

WAB Wild in Videos

WAB Wild in Photos

Students have opportunities to learn and experience:

Multi-day expeditions into the wild over land and water
Interdisciplinary experiential classrooms, including Science and Geography
Navigation
Radio communication
Survival skills
Abseiling
Rock climbing
Kayaking and canoeing
Rescue training
And much more

The WAB Podcast: A Journey into WAB Wild

Using WAB’s Miao Liang camp set within the beautiful mountains north of Beijing as our classroom, small groups of students move skillfully through what is, to most students, an unfamiliar environment.

They have the chance to make their own decisions about how to progress, to consider risk, and to act responsibly. In small teams, they explore how to lead without being overbearing, how to listen when they want to be heard, and how to reach a consensus as a group. Students can safely push themselves towards the limits of what they think they can do and often surprise themselves by being more capable than they at first thought.

Hear a complete conversation in this student-takeover episode, where Middle School students helped us learn more about WAB Wild, WAB's very own outdoor education program in Student Take Over Episode of The WAB Podcast.

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Nestled among the majestic Mi Yun Mountains on the banks of the beautiful Bai He River, WAB’s Miao Liang Environmental Education Center is the perfect base of operations for a variety of activities and programs for a diverse range of user groups.

WAB students from Grade 6-12 make use of Miao Liang for curricular and extracurricular programs including environmental science, geography and also for study and team building retreats.

Living at Miao Liang, students embrace the environmentally sustainable lifestyle that this center offers, and reflect on the current and future technologies as we address the global issues faced by our planet. The Center features environmental technologies including solar PV system for electricity, solar hot water, dry composting toilets, as well as biodigestor and ecological grey water systems.

Elementary School

The Grade 5 Transition Camp at WAB provides students with an exciting opportunity to develop new skills as they prepare for middle school.

Through a series of team-building challenge initiatives, students work together to solve problems, communicate effectively, and build trust within their peer group. These activities not only foster personal growth but also help students gain confidence and resilience as they navigate the transition to middle school.

Middle School

At WAB, our Middle School Outdoor Education program immerses students in nature while building essential life skills. Students are introduced to outdoor safety and Leave No Trace camping principles, fostering a deep appreciation and respect for the natural world.

Through hands-on experiences, they develop core camping, navigational, hiking, rock climbing, canoeing, and kayaking skills, setting the foundation for a lifelong love of outdoor adventure.

High School

At the high school level, WAB’s Outdoor Education program challenges students to put their skills to the test through the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Adventurous Journey. Students combine their knowledge of outdoor safety, navigation, hiking, and water-based activities to plan and execute self-sufficient expeditions.

With a focus on leadership, teamwork, and resilience, these journeys provide students with a unique opportunity to apply their outdoor skills in real-world settings, fostering confidence and personal growth.