The ISJ Residential was a trip to remember. Year 6 and Year 7 students set off for Cibalung Happyland Camp in Bogor, a fun-filled resort set in the mountainous wilderness outside the city, where two days of challenges, discoveries, and laughter awaited.
At 7:00 am on Wednesday 23rd April, students bundled into minivans with their teachers and snacks in hand. The noise level rose immediately, with excited chatter, laughter, and singing filling the journey. Around 90 minutes later, they arrived full of energy and ready for whatever the camp had in store.
Into the Fields
The first activities took the students straight into the farm. They rode buffalo-pulled carts through the fields, planted rice crops in pre-ploughed land, fed cows, and planted their own strawberry seedlings to take home at the end of the trip. Hands, feet, and arms were covered in mud, but faces were covered in smiles.
Water Park, Kitchen, and Activities
After a quick change, the students made their way to the water park: a warm shallow pool, a deeper splash area, four water slides, a lazy river, and an enormous water bucket that poured vast amounts of water from above. It was, by all accounts, a lot of fun.
The afternoon brought a cooking session, with each student adorned in a personalised apron and chef's hat. They tried their hand at local desserts, and the consensus favourite was the homemade potato crisps. A wide range of outdoor activities followed: archery, a zip line, target shooting, a slingshot, mini ATVs, a giant trampoline, and time in the rabbit park. Students tried new things, overcame fears, and supported one another throughout.
An Evening to Remember
Dinner brought a BBQ spread, and two Korean students treated everyone to a demonstration of Korean BBQ cooking. The evening closed with a group game of Werewolf outside under the stars, where some students revealed unexpected talents for trickery and others channelled their inner detective.
"As teachers, we could not be prouder of how the students embraced every challenge with courage, curiosity, and kindness. From muddy rice fields to zip lines, cooking classes to campfire games, every moment was a memory in the making."
After a well-earned sleep, students woke for breakfast, one final round of activities, and then the journey home. Many were already asking when the next residential would be, and whether it could be longer.
A huge thank you to the Cibalung Happyland team, the ISJ staff who made the trip possible, and the students themselves for making it so special.