Education begins with experience.

At the end of May, right after the school year ended, the "Go to Understand" group of the Green Club in Hanoi embarked on a "Lighting the Flame of Gratitude" journey in Quang Tri province. The group comprised 105 members, mostly elementary and middle school students. Many parents and grandparents also participated, including eight veterans and youth volunteers from the resistance war against the US.

From Hanoi, the delegation traveled by train to Quang Tri , then to Con Co Island. There, they participated in a flag-raising ceremony, visited and presented gifts to students at Hoa Phong Ba Kindergarten and Primary School; and listened to stories from naval soldiers about fighting to defend the island and about young volunteers who came to the island to build a new life…

Returning to the mainland, the delegation offered incense to the heroic martyrs at Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, Truong Son Martyrs' Memorial Temple, and Truong Son Martyrs' Cemetery; visited Vinh Moc Tunnels, Hien Luong Bridge, Ben Hai River, the bomb house, and the agarwood plantation…

Many members of the delegation wept with emotion as they sang the national anthem for the first time at the foot of the national flag pole on Con Co Island, lit incense at the graves of martyrs in Truong Son Martyrs' Cemetery; touched the casings of bombs with the destructive power of war, and visited the underground village in the Vinh Moc tunnels…

“I wanted to bring my children here to understand the pain of war, the sacrifices, the indomitable spirit, the unwavering will, and the aspiration for national reunification of our ancestors, so that they can understand the value of peace and life today,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Quyet, mother of Le Duy Kien, a student at Trung Vuong Secondary School.

Educational experiential activities are becoming a popular choice for many parents during the summer holidays. Ms. Nguyen Quynh Trang, an experienced coordinator and content developer for summer courses, shared: "In previous years, summer holidays were primarily for parents to enroll their children in extra classes to reinforce and enhance their academic knowledge. However, their perceptions have changed significantly. Along with academic studies, parents now want to guide their children towards activities that promote physical fitness, develop talents, nurture their souls, and provide them with practical experiences. Summer camp models that balance learning, physical activity, and practical experiences; between play and work, household chores; and courses that foster self-confidence and gratitude are attracting much attention from parents, helping their children have a fun, stress-free, and enriching summer."

Mr. Vu Thanh Ha, a retired police officer, founded the "Travel to Understand" group out of love for children. He said: "Through practical experiences, learning about history and nature, and participating in charitable activities, the children not only gain knowledge, develop life skills, but also learn to share and spread love to the community. I always believe that children who are nurtured with a sense of their roots, connected to their homeland, country, and people, and grow up with pride and gratitude for their national history, will surely become more mature and resilient..."

At the end of March, nearly 100 students and parents from the "Travel to Understand" group embarked on an experiential trip from Hanoi to Dien Bien Phu. Ms. Thanh Ha shared: "Although the flight from Hanoi to Dien Bien Phu is less than an hour, we chose to travel by land so that the children could see firsthand the path where their ancestors once dragged artillery, transported goods, and traversed countless steep mountains and deep ravines, full of treacherous obstacles, with bare hands scraped by wounds, shoulders bleeding, and feet blistered and bruised under the rain of bombs and bullets from the enemy. This experiential trip helped the children understand, to some extent, the sacrifices and hardships of their ancestors during the nine-year resistance war that created the glorious Dien Bien Phu that shook the world."

A true summer vacation means students aren't wasting time playing around or attending extra classes; it's a time for rest after a hard school year, while also acquiring new skills and knowledge through fun activities and experiences. Each field trip helps them discover the beauty of nature, people, and the country, allowing them to learn, practice, and ultimately change their perceptions, attitudes, behaviors, and positive emotions.

Dr. Nguyen Thuy Anh, an education expert, shared: “I always hope that, no matter where the summer camp experience takes place, children and their stories remain at the center of all activities. The effectiveness of a summer camp is reflected in the growth we see, even if only for a short period of time.”

Source: https://nhandan.vn/giao-duc-bat-dau-tu-trai-nghiem-post813903.html