Global Citizen Day is a traditional event for Grade 11 students in SHSID, where students have the opportunity to get out into the countryside and nature over three days and two nights, strengthening group cohesion and developing their awareness and sense of responsibility as a global citizen in a wide range of activities. On the morning of Wednesday, November 13th, juniors at Shanghai High School International Division embarked on their Global Citizen Day journey. As they boarded the buses that would take them to Shanghai Haiwan National Forest Park, away from the bustling center of Shanghai, the students chattered excitedly in anticipation of the fun-packed three days ahead. Through the activities that had been planned for them, they would be able to collaborate with classmates, gain useful skills from hands-on experience, and reconnect with the natural world.

After an energy-replenishing lunch, students embarked on a hiking trip to interact closely with nature. Some students formed riddle-solving teams and set off towards various checkpoints. Despite the winding trails and the complicated terrain, they slowly gained better senses of direction. Through exploring the different “hidden tasks”, students acquired both valuable photos and a better understanding of this expansive forest.

Then, they participated in other tasks like the rainbow slide, forest exploration, nine-grid frisbee, archery, etc. Throughout the process, students supported each other, collaborated, and challenged themselves. After hiking for several hours, everyone converged at the final destination, sharing the joy they had experienced. Some of them were busy sharing what they saw on the hike with their friends, some were quietly enjoying the sunset, while others played volleyball and Frisbee. Afterwards, the students enjoyed a sumptuous barbecue on the lawn. The chefs from each class showed off their skills and the aroma of the barbecue made the hungry students salivate, and every time the skewers came out of the oven, they were always snapped up by the students. Not only did this hiking trip give them an opportunity appreciate scenic views, it also increased their teamwork skills, willingness to explore the unknown, and appreciation of the natural environment.

At nightfall, the students gathered in the middle of the grass field and stood by each other, anticipating the start of the bonfire party. In the happy atmosphere, some students took to the stage and showcased their talents. Some played instruments, others danced, and still others sang, with the audience cheering and swaying to the performances. Then, it was time to light the actual bonfire. Under the starlight, their worries dissipated along the flecks of spark leaping out the flames. In this lively event, students relaxed from the stress; amidst laughter and lingering voices, the first day drew to a successful close.

On Global Citizen Day, students experienced the rhythms of rural life—many for the first time—by working in the fields. One group formed a wheat harvest team and set off into the dense grove. Navigating the slippery, sloped floor, they quickly learned that patience and technique were key to harvesting wheat from the muddy soil. Meanwhile, a second group tied the wheat together. They bundled wheat into massive stacked piles. The third group focused on obtaining the rice, slamming the wheat bundles against the corner of the crate repeatedly to shake the grains off. The stalks of the crop were then made into scarecrows--each class made their own unique design with just some metal rods, rope, and lots of stalk.

This hands-on experience not only connected students to the land but also gave them a deeper appreciation for the values of a Global Citizen—nurturing the earth, respecting diverse ecosystems, and fostering community through shared effort. Stepping into the field, the air thick with the scent of grass and earth, they left behind the confines of the classroom and entered a space alive with sunlight and possibility. There, surrounded by endless rows of golden stalks swaying in the breeze, the real work began—not just the act of cutting wheat, but the learning that came with it. For a moment, learning had stretched beyond textbooks, rooting itself in the dirt and growing with the students.

In the Ceramics Art Museum, students gathered for a race in building wooden huts. Every class got a different blueprint as inspiration, some having triangular designs and others having ordinary rectangular bottoms and triangular roofs. In the process of construction, students faced numerous unexpected challenges, such as uneven wood pieces and missing nails, testing their versatility and wisdom. As the sound of tools echoed around, each group progressed at its own pace—some raced to put up walls, while others meticulously aligned each wooden piece to perfect their structure.

In addition to stability, students also creatively incorporated various different elements to decorate their huts. There were chemistry equations painted on, demonstrating the unique beauty of science; curtains draped across the roof, adding warmth and elegance; and flowers in styles varying from ink wash paintings to sketches, reflecting the intermingling of Chinese and Western art. As the huts took shape, students learned about structural stability and design aesthetics, all while connecting with nature through hands-on work with wood.

On the evening of the second day, the students sat in the activity center to watch the micro-movies each class had carefully produced during the previous weeks. Each micro-movie had its own characteristics, highlighting the unique interests and hobbies of each class, some portraying academic improvement, some flaunting artistic talent, some cracking hilarious jokes. Through acting out and cross-cutting different scenes, the micro-movies reflected each class’s uniqueness. While watching, every student was enraptured, getting quiet and nervous sometimes, bursting into laughter at others, fostering the strong sense of unity among each other. In the end, this activity helped students practice teamwork and expression skills. The micro-movie night was not only a visual treat, it also allowed the students to feel the power of a community and the endless possibilities of youth.

On the last day, shuttle buses arrived to carry them to the venue to participate in the last activity of the program: Chinese Drums. Chattering with excitement, everybody walked in the spacious room to see rows of Chinese drums, bronze rings gleaming a mute golden sheen under the lights. Each student took their place behind one drum, and after the instructor’s impassioned instructions, raised their own drum sticks in eager anticipation of the experience. Under the instructor’s guidance, students beat out their own rhythms, arms straining against the drum surface, faces determined as they became a collective group, laughing with each other as a sense of accomplishment washed over each and every person. And in the process, the rhythm roared and erupted against the walls, uniting the students under one group as they were able to bond with each other further in this activity.

As the GCD trip ended, the students said their goodbyes to the staff and packed their belongings in preparation for departure. It had truly been a wonderful and enriching three days, during which they overcame numerous challenges and learned valuable lessons that could never be taught in a classroom. Although they would soon be returning to school and their lives in the city, they would not be leaving empty handed: the vibrant memories they had created and the experiences they had shared throughout this trip would stay with them. The joy that lingered in their minds softened sorrow of departure.

(Written by Gabrielle 11(2), Nick 11(6), Sophia  11(1), Joanna 11(2), Letitia 11(1), Alex 11(3)   Pictures by teachers and students of 11th Grade     Edited by Kong Yuting      Reviewed by Gu Ying, Shen Chenli, Yu Zhen     Proofread by Cody Allen Turner)