On a cold and snowy 12th of December, team Insight On Ice slowly pulled up in front of their new home for the next month. The excitement on our eager faces was obvious, particularly those who had never experienced the chilly tingle of freshly fallen snow. The Genting Secret Garden Hotel towered before us, impressive, intimidating and yet oddly comforting, the promise of warmth radiating from within.This was to be the first step on a new journey for Insight Adventures, our first snow school winter camp. And what better location than at the home of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, a small town in the mountains roughly 5 hours north west of Beijing, where fresh snow falls 4 months of the year and the threat of pollution is a distant memory.On Day 1 of camp, the students arrived into Beijing from all over China. Our previous information suggested that their English was going to be limited but we were pleasantly surprised to find most students were competent, and in some cases excellent, English speakers.The first day was all about integration, helping the kids settle down and get to know each other, "break the ice", as it were. Many of them did not know anyone else when they arrived so it was crucial that the group leaders helped them settle and get comfortable as quickly as possible.After a successful first day, the second day mainly consisted of traveling by bus to the programme location. Time passed by faster than expected with Insight staff breaking out a variety of different games along the way.Once we arrived at the hotel and after all the exciting checking in had taken place, there was a very special and important activity that needed to occur: A SNOWBALL FIGHT!!! Chaos reigned for the next hour as kids and instructors alike delighted in pelting each other with expertly made snowballs. It was...Read More
