IN a three-day two-night stay at Kahang Organic Rice Eco Farm, or Koref, 54 youths from the Calvary Academy Christian Resource Training Centre Johor Baru had an adventurous outdoor experience in their annual Youth Camp.
Koref, the first organic rice farm in Malaysia certified by the Department of Agriculture in 2006, has leisure farm facilities for guests to experience a more rustic lifestyle through agro-eco tourism activities.
While the farm applies an integrated organic farming approach in its operations, its natural attractions are a welcome retreat for farm stay fun.
Accompanied by 11 teachers and facilitators, the youths met in a multi-purpose hall for an orientation and to review their daily schedule.
Divided into groups, the teams, which named themselves Event, Unify, Sepia and Stays, were asked to create their own team cheers to motivate them in the activities.
After the camp rules were highlighted, the youths were reminded that mobile phones were prohibited or they risk getting points deducted.
Academic director Kenson Cheah said they chose Koref for their camp site because it had the facilities for a meaningful and memorable experience.
The school, which offers English medium pre-school, primary and secondary education with the American syllabus, started 14 years ago in Taman Johor and has established three centres in Taman Setia Indah, Johor Baru.
He said an annual youth camp like this fulfilled the school’s goals in providing students with an environment which was conducive for their social and spiritual development.
“The student leaders planned the entire programme,” said Cheah, who was also their adviser during the planning phase.
Their school system from Grades one to 12 benefits students who study according to their ability and pace, and this encourages them to progress efficiently.
Cheah was glad that graduates like Chew Ji Xen, Henry Chek, Shiryn Goh and Heng Xuan Yi, who are studying in universities abroad, came back for their holidays to help in the camp.
Surrounded by the natural greenery of the tropical rainforest, Koref has a wealth of biodiversity, clean air and unpolluted water from the Madek River that flows from the nearby 1,010m high Gunung Belumut.
Applying an integrated organic farming approach, its rice fields lie fallow before being sustainably used in rotation as ponds for rearing red tilapia fish.
The farm also has livestock like ducks, geese and chickens as well as vegetables that are cultivated in abundance.
The camp activities were organised with study sessions and outdoor activities that involved getting wet in the recreational pond that was created from a flooded rice field.
Under the watchful eye of a farm guide, the youths had their first experience in going into a rice field to try their hand at transplanting rice seedlings.
This activity elicited a lot of wailing as the youths picked their way through the mud. Some even found themselves knee-deep in the mud!
This experience gave the youths an idea of what a back-breaking job it was to be a paddy planter and resulted in a better appreciation for the rice we eat.
After this activity in the scorching sun, they were coated with mud that was quickly getting caked on their bodies. Instead of cleaning themselves in the bathrooms, the farm guide took the youths to a stream within a nearby recreational forest where they enjoyed a splashing good time, washing off the mud and grime.
“I enjoyed the obstacle course more than sailing on the bamboo raft,” said Ian Lee, 17, a Grade 10 student who also had a good time of bonding with his group during their study sessions.
Teacher Lock Jia Hui, who was in charge of first aid, joined the youths to net fish using an artisanal technique of seine netting from the shore of the recreational pond. She said that it was a good experience especially as the guide let the youths touch the fish before returning them to the pond.
Another activity that the youths thoroughly enjoyed was their exciting turns on the flying fox that was strung across the pond.
At the close of the camp when all the points were tallied, Cheah presented team Event with a food hamper as the overall best team.
The camp ended on a high note with some of the youths expressing their appreciation to the teachers and leaders for organising such an enjoyable time at the camp.