Life.Culture.Discovery.

How A-Team Edventures is helping Hong Kong children connect with nature

The organisation is dedicated to helping kids disconnect from their digital devices and get them in touch with the natural environment through outdoor activities include kayaking, camping and coasteering

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Children enjoying one of A-Team Edventures’ outdoor programmes. Photo: A-Team Edventures

Published: 1:45pm, 6 Mar 2020Updated: 1:45pm, 6 Mar 2020

The coronavirus poses a challenge for parents as they try to help kids battle boredom while limiting their exposure to digital devices. And the parents’ screen-time concerns are valid. In 2017, the University of Hong Kong released a five-year study that found children who spent more than two hours on digital devices a day were more likely to be overweight and at a higher risk of developing behavioural issues.

Living in a highly urbanised city such as Hong Kong creates another problem for youngsters: a disconnection from nature. Last year, a study of Hong Kong families by HKU found preschool children who spend time in nature are less distressed or hyperactive than those who do not.

One organisation that can help strengthen that bond is A-Team Edventures. After all, its motto is “connecting you to the natural world”.

“Kids in Hong Kong are good at book learning but not as comfortable with outdoor learning,” says head of operations John Terenzini. “It’s important to remove them from their daily air-conditioned cocoons and to wean them off their reliance on domestic helpers with hands-on experiences in nature.”

Coasteering is among the activities offered. Photo: A-Team Edventures

A-Team Edventures does just that with programmes such as a day trip exploring the island of Cheung Chau, where students learn kayaking and coasteering, and a three-day camping adventure in Tai Long Wan, in Sai Kung. It also hosts a family camping programme at its facilities in Sai Kung East Country Park, where kids and parents can connect while paddling, cooking, exploring villages and star gazing.