S4.C5. Camping Day with Parents Group in Vietnam
Suoi Mo, Bac Giang on 6 Apr 2025
By Lin91 & Cloudy
in collaboration with Bac Ninh Children's English Club
A. A Comment That Sparked a Movement
I was sitting at my kitchen table, letting my thumb glide through another evening scroll on social media, when something caught my eye.
“We’re organizing a countryside camping day to create an English-speaking environment for our kids!”
It was a simple post by a parent— who speaks zero English, yet travelled 2 hours to bring her children and her children’s friends to join our bootcamps in Hanoi last year—looking to gather families for a unique purpose: letting their children practice English with foreigners. In that rural area, tourists rarely visit, so exposure to English is nearly nonexistent.
Without thinking too much, I typed:
“Can I join you guys?!”
That evening, I got a call from her. It was Ms. Phuong— I remembered her smile, her presence, but also, her quiet strength.
We jumped right in.
Ms. Phuong: “To be very honest with you, I’m not a teacher. I don’t speak English either—you know that. I don’t know how to organize anything ‘educational’... but I’ve been trying. I usually find some foreigners online who want to volunteer with kids. I provide them accommodation and food—they just play, speak, and interact with my children.”
She paused. I could sense something deeper building behind her words.
“But I don’t want just my kids to have this opportunity. I want the kids in my town to have that same chance. So I called up other families. Now I’ve got almost 30 people including kids and parents signed up for this camping day. I’m a bit worried. But I have to try, because i think if i am a pro event organizer or english center, parents will not trust me that much.”
I was stunned.
Here was a mother who didn’t speak the language, didn’t have formal training, and yet—she was mobilizing an entire community. Not for herself, but for the children.
I felt a lump in my throat and replied:
“I’m moved by your effort and your kind heart. I’ll join you and help however I can. We’ll figure out a way to organize this better. And maybe... your two beautiful & talented kids can slowly take the lead and support you in your mission too.”
We ended up talking for nearly an hour.
Through her nervous laughter, through her long silences, I heard one thing clearly: conviction.
She had no blueprint, no funding, no formal education, no plan at all. But she started an initiative. She had courage. And perhaps most importantly—she had built trust with the families around her. And i respect her for that.
B. Two days before the camping day
After our first call, Ms. Phuong and I agreed: I would take the lead in designing and guiding the activities for the camping day. I understood her vision—to create a relaxing day for both kids and parents, where children could practice English in a natural, joyful way. Surrounded by peers, siblings, and a few foreigners, they’d get the chance to speak freely and confidently.
That goal alone was meaningful. But I also felt that this could be more than just “a fun day.”
I told her, “I want the parents to experience the mindset in action, by observing, understanding how their children think, respond, and express themselves. Not just in English—but in how they connect, reflect, and lead.”
I began brainstorming activities—nothing scripted or rigid, because I wanted to leave room for spontaneity. I believe in letting the people present shape the direction. Even if we repeated the same event, in the same place, with different families, the experience would evolve. And that’s exactly how it should be.
But then, two days before the event, I received another phone call.
📞 “I Have to Tell You…”
It was Ms. Phuong again. This time, her voice held a touch of worry.
“I have to tell you… up to today, I’ve received confirmations from around 30 parents and 50 kids. The total crowd will be about 80 people, more or less.”
She continued, explaining that we’d need two 16-seat buses, and the rest of the families would drive their own cars. We’d all meet directly at the campsite.
“I wasn’t sure how we should organize the activities for the kids.”
I paused, took a breath, and smiled to myself. I told her calmly:
“No worries. I’m okay with that. We’ll figure it out.”
Still, she sounded uneasy.
“I have a foreigner who joined the kids several times already, I’ll be looking for one more foreigner who can join—someone to talk to the kids and help create the English speaking environment.”
“Whatever you need, just tell me. Everyone will help. Parents will join hands to prepare food, set up the tents, and help with the kids.”
Then she said something that really stayed with me:
“I count on you. I can help only with the logistic. You and your team are the only one who can deal with this kind of event. Even if the foreigners come, they don’t know how to organize. But we can ask them to support the kids to speak English all the time.”
Her trust was deep. And her determination even deeper.
After our call, I quickly sent out a short survey to the parents’ group chat. I wanted to hear what they hoped for. And their answers grounded me.
Here’s the top 3:
“We want to have fun, to relax. to recharge. No pressure.
“We want to connect with and learn from other parents to open up the mindset in parenting.”
“We want to observe the kids in new environment to understand what else they are capable of?”
This surprised me—in a beautiful way. It showed a hunger not just for entertainment, but for growth.
Those responses gave me clarity. Because when parents and children explore together, real transformation begins.
It was raining and gloomy those days, i know Ms Phuong will be worried, but I still have a faith that everything would be fine :)
C. Finally, the day came
(to be continued)
1. On the bus
The bus ride started quietly. I was placed with a group of “in-between” kids—you know, that tricky tween-teen age. Not quite little anymore, but not fully grown either. I’ll admit, I was a bit hesitant at first. Kids this age aren’t easy to charm, convince, or influence. They’re sharp, skeptical, and not easily impressed.
But secretly, I was excited. Because this is the age where opinions begin to form, where curiosity becomes intentional, and—they can communicate in english. That was all I needed to start stirring things up.
By that, I mean… stirring their thinking. Challenging them to go deeper, to question more, to get comfortable with discomfort. I wasn’t hoping for them to be quiet or sit nicely—I was hoping they’d “collaborate”.
Before I even had a chance to "challenge" the kids, one of the moms beat me to it.
“I don’t speak English—well, maybe just a little. But please speak English so the kids can practice. Then just explain it again in Vietnamese for the parents, okay?”
Perfect. I smiled and used that moment to introduce a playful little challenge:
“By the end of the day, each mom has to learn at least five new English words.”
Everyone laughed.
“That’s easy!” someone said.
I smiled wider.
“Alright then… let’s add five full English sentences too—but each one must be based on your experience today.”
The kids still said, “Easy!” But I could already see the gears in their minds beginning to turn.
Let the Game Begin
To warm up the group, I invited everyone to introduce themselves using just two sentences: (1) “What’s your name?” and (2) “What’s one thing you want others to know about you?”
Simple enough. But here’s the twist: after each person introduced themselves, someone else had to ask them three follow-up questions.
Everyone needs to participate. Kids. Moms. Everyone.
What happened next surprised me.
The youngest kid on the bus—a tiny 6-year-old—stood up and volunteered to go first. In English. In front of all the older teens. And just like that, the entire bus woke up.
Then… Silence
But then came the moment I’d been waiting for.
After the little one introduced himself, I turned to the next kid:
“Now, your turn. Ask three questions to learn more about him.”
He blinked. Looked around. The energy dipped. Not from shyness—but from genuine mental freeze. That was it. The moment I knew we’d truly begun our journey: WHAT WILL BE 1 THING YOU WANT OTHERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? and WHEN MEETING WITH STRANGERS, WHAT WILL YOU ASK TO KNOW THEM?
Most of the introductions and questions revolved around simple personal preferences—favorite colors, foods, or hobbies—until one little girl turned to her mom and asked, “Why do you love Dad?”
That one question shifted the entire energy in the crowd. Her mom paused, gave a quick answer—but the little girl wasn’t satisfied. She shook her head, clearly unconvinced, silently urging her mom to dig deeper. Only when she finally heard a response she liked did she nod and say: “That’s good”. And only then did she let her mom pass the mic.
It turns out… family conversations might flow a lot easier with a curious little interviewer—and a third party gently facilitating from the sidelines. 😊
I played this game few times with another kids, some asked very interesting questions, like: Ary from Bali asked: What makes you happiest? Tina from Vietnam asked: Do you like traveling around the world? What country do you want to visit? Sri from Bali asked: Who in this group do you want to be friend with? and got the response: “you!” with surprise. Anguma from Bali even asked: “How to improve critical thinking?” - which surprised us so much that some even thought it was from Chat AI :)
That much surprise from the kid’s questions!
2. What do you want others to know about you?
It sounds simple — but in reality, it’s a powerful exercise in thinking.
There’s no right answer. There’s no fixed formula. There are only authentic responses.
At first, most kids shared fairly "safe" things:
I like the color blue.
I love eating pizza.
I enjoy studying math.
I like playing soccer.
About 90% of their introductions started with personal preferences.
The other day, Richard once shared something different: "I want to become more creative."And just hearing that made me want to sit down and open up a whole new world together with him.
Beyond the "default" ways children are often taught—or unconsciously programmed—to introduce themselves, parents can gently encourage them to go deeper:
A unique hobby they have
A subject where they feel strong
A special talent they are proud of
Their personal heroes or role models
Something they really dislike
What they dream of becoming when they grow up
Something special about their school or hometown
Each small answer builds a richer, more colorful picture of how the child sees themselves—and how their worldview is forming.
3. Who are you, btw?
The mothers were still listening intently, even though the kids and I were speaking entirely in English. That's when a mother spoke up... I hadn’t even introduced myself yet! :)))))
So I introduced myself like this: "I'm not a teacher. I'm not a parent. I'm not a tour guide. I'm not an event organizer."
The kids looked at me, wide-eyed and confused. "So... who are you then? And why are you here?" And that was the perfect moment to launch a mini guessing game!
Only then did the kids realize—every time they asked me a question, I would respond with even more questions. :)))
"I'm someone who asks a lot of questions. So, what kind of jobs require you to ask a lot of questions?"
The guesses came quickly:
"A teacher!" – Nope!
"An MC!" – Not quite!
"A police officer!" – (Maybe you meant an investigator? =))
"A doctor!" – Still no!
"An interviewer!" – Getting close! But... why do people conduct interviews?
"A journalist!" – BINGO! That’s the closest answer! But... keep guessing!
From this simple game, the question "What do you want others to know about you?" became the starting point for so many more things the children wanted to share.
Because deep down, everyone—no matter their age—wants to be seen, known, and accepted for their uniquely personal stories.
4. The boy’s stuffs
At the back of the bus, a group of boys were chatting excitedly about video games.
I suddenly threw out a question: "What skills have you learned from playing video games?"
The first reaction was: "Nothing. Nothing at all!"
I frowned and challenged them: "No way. If you weren’t learning anything, you wouldn’t keep playing! Give me at least three skills you’ve developed through gaming."
Slowly, the answers started to come:
"I learned to observe quickly and react fast." ✔️
"I practiced communicating in English." ✔️
"I learned how to detect cheating." ✔️
At that moment, I could tell—the kids had finally begun to think more deeply.
I pushed a little further: "If you apply it to real life, how can you tell if someone is telling the truth or lying?"
Jake answered without hesitation: "Look into their eyes!"
I was genuinely surprised by Jake's response. With his permission, I recorded this little moment—so that not only I, but also parents and friends, could learn something valuable from him.
5. Upon arrival: Hiking challenge – Super Senses
We arrived at the entrance gate and gathered into five teams, waiting for other families to join. As everyone settled in, I introduced our first challenge—designed to awaken and expand the senses.
Since we were kicking off the Watchful Spirit Series at Global Citizen Program, it only made sense to begin with the foundation: enhancing sensory awareness—the first step toward sharpening critical thinking. And so, the five teams were:
🦅 Team Eagle Eyes (Sight) – Leader: Elisa: What do you see? How many? How far? How detailed?
🐺 Team Wolf Ears (Hearing) – Leader: Richard: What do you hear? Volume? Layers of sound?
🐻 Team Bear Nose (Smell) – Leader: Linh: What scents can you identify? Trees, flowers, air freshness, sweat, wet soil…?
🐒 Team Monkey Hands (Touch) – Leader: Wale: What textures can you feel? Rocks, water, leaves, insects…?
🐯 Team Tiger Heart (Emotion) – Leader: Cloudy: How do you feel? inside and outside? The heart beat, the excitement, the hesitance…? What’s the energy around you?
Their mission is to observe and record everything within their focus area. Later, they must present their findings. If any item is missed or named by another team, they lose points.
Funny enough… we never got to present :)))) In such a vast open camping area—with lakes, hills, uneven terrain, scattered tree branches, and parents busy prepping lunch—the kids were everywhere. And there I was, naively thinking I could gather them all into one central spot away from where they already were. Haha. I should’ve known better—go where they are, not try getting them to come to me - It was actually my early takeaway :)
However, once we started hiking, some kids came up to me and said things like: “I smell the cool air.” “I smell the humidity.” “I smell my sister, haha.” “I tried so hard, I sniffed, sniffed, sniffed… but can’t smell anything.”
Surprisingly, that was the moment they actually began to think about their challenge—and slowly, started to embody it. One even asked, “Why did you pick such a hard challenge—smelling? The hearing and seeing teams have it so easy. Can I change the team?”
“Of course not!” I laughed. “You were born for big missions, not easy options. Anyone can do what's easy—but you’re here to show your uniqueness.”
Then another little boy chimed in, “I smell the soil… and the shit!” The whole group burst into laughter. I could tell he was trying to break the hesitance from his older sister—and in his own way, silently, encourage her: ‘Come on, it’s not that hard!’
6. Then, we walked, walked, walked
We crossed a beautiful stream and a small waterfall, stopping to let the kids splash and play in the water.
At one point, someone’s slipper was swept away by the current—but a dad quickly caught it just in time.
I made a quick video call to a colleague, giving them a glimpse of the energy—and of course, the wild, joyful chaos of the crowd.
It was wet, dirty, noisy.
It was slippery, messy, sweaty—and absolutely full of life.
We started the climb.
The steps were huge—wide, tall, and endless.
Some of the teens confessed, "Just looking at it made me feel tired!" But when we finally reached the top, they laughed and said,"It’s actually a (big) piece of cake!"
7. Kids are everywhere!! What to do?!
(to be continued)
D. Some Fun Learnings & Observations
I have to say—the day didn’t exactly go according to plan 😄. But “That’s normal.” - according to Dav79, one of my colleagues :D Despite the spontaneity and a few curveballs, I was genuinely happy that we managed to guide most of the kids through their project work before heading home.
Each child had the freedom to choose their own format: A DIY project using natural materials to create an artwork, A written reflection about their day, A video diary, Or a drawing. What mattered most was that it captured their experience, in their voice.
And through their work, through deep conversation to trigger their deep thought, I picked up a few beautiful, unexpected insights worth sharing:
Louis - How to catch small crabs from the lake: Find the lake side with lots of mud (Tìm chỗ nhiều bùn) => Lift up/ Remove the stones because the crabs are hiding underneath (Nhấc sỏi đá ra vì cua hay nấp phía dưới) => Hold the back so they will not bite you (Cầm vào mai cua để không bị cua cắp)
G&M confessed with a grin: “We played ‘The Crocodile Comes Ashore’ with the little kids… and we kept losing! It was so embarrassing!! But please—don’t tell anyone! :))))”
But by the end of the day, they had figured it out—learning to be more strategic, more alert, and much quicker on their feet 😄.
And as I was talking to them, I realized that: Traditional games still hold a special place in us. They teach us, they connect us, and—no matter how old we are—they bring out our laughter and learning in the most unexpected ways. We just might have to bring them back next time. 🙂
Suri drew a bright rainbow with a face. She’s always gentle in her ways, but her voice carries a quiet strength and determination. She looked up and explained with calm certainty: “There’s no rainbow today—because there is only the sun, but no rain.” A simple observation, yet so thoughtful. She is a 5-year-old that helped braid my pony hairs in a winkle :)
Thinh, after listening to a talk from Dale about the environment, started thinking seriously about the issue of deforestation. Being challenged to go deeper, he was going closer to more practical initiatives like the authority to install cameras with sensors to detect illegal logging activities, or a system to certify eco-travelers—where people could only go on nature trips or picnics if they’ve collected enough “green points” through responsible behavior during previous outings.
A child’s mind, when given the right spark, can come up with ideas that reach far beyond expectations.
Mai, Kitty, Happy, and Mary formed a mini music band and performed a trending Vpop hit, “Bắc Bling” — a lively tribute to their beloved hometown, Bắc Ninh. I was genuinely surprised by how well they remembered such a long song, especially with its shifting tones and rhythms.
Jake and Rock are twin brothers - very collaborative with group activity. While they look almost identical, their personalities make them easy to tell apart—Jake excels academically, while Rock has a strong passion for sports.
Sam, one of the big boys, came up with the idea to play “Simon Says” just as we were struggling to find a way to gather all the kids. He took the lead in running the game, and his energy later inspired a younger boy, Son, to step up and take on a leadership role as well.
“Where’s my wife?” — the cheeky question came from behind me, from a little boy around 9 or 10 years old. I can’t quite remember his name anymore, because I was too fascinated by his boldness and fluency. He was playfully referring to a girl who had been his classmate since first grade. Though they now attend different schools, their families still stay connected through extracurricular activities. I was just about to guide the girl on how to guess someone’s name by reading their face—but before I could, they were already swept away by another playful distraction. :))) A sweet pair!
Linh - a gentle little girl—quick, sharp, and remarkably determined in her thinking. She has a natural ability to choose just the right words. It’s clear she doesn’t just memorize vocabulary; she truly understands the concepts behind the words and how to apply them. Linh shows great potential for turning knowledge into real-world action.
(to be continued)
E. Some Challenges and Concerns from parents
Con bị sao nhãng và khó tập trung do mải chơi/ The child gets distracted and struggles to focus because they are easily drawn into play.
"Bây giờ các con rất là mải chơi, đặc biệt là các bạn con trai, có những trò chơi mà nó cứ cuốn con vào, con dễ bị sao nhãng, con không tập trung hay bị cuốn đi, không tập trung."
Phụ huynh không biết cách dạy vì chương trình học khó/ Parents struggle to teach their children because the school curriculum is too difficult.
"Bây giờ các con học rất khó mà mình lại không biết nên mình không biết dạy các con như thế nào."
Con không hợp tác, thích làm theo ý mình, không nghe định hướng của cha mẹ/ The child resists cooperation, prefers to act on their own ideas, and does not follow parental guidance.
"Nhiều khi các con không hợp tác, mình thì cứ bắt con học nhưng con không chịu nghe, định hướng con như thế này nhưng con lại không nghe, các con lại cứ muốn theo ý của các con cơ và chưa tìm được điểm chung của nhau."
Con chỉ tập trung khi có cha mẹ ngồi cạnh, khó duy trì sự tập trung độc lập/ The child can only stay focused when a parent is sitting nearby, making it difficult to maintain independent concentration.
"Nhiều khi mẹ cố gắng bấm giờ xem sự tập trung tối đa của con là bao nhiêu và cố gắng lần sau tăng lên cái thời gian đó một chút, nhưng chỉ khi mẹ ngồi đấy thì con tập trung hơn 15 phút, còn nếu như mẹ không ngồi đó thì chỉ 15 phút là con lại bắt đầu nghĩ đến những thứ khác."
Khó khăn khi hướng dẫn con thực hành thiền định hay kiểm soát suy nghĩ/ It is challenging to guide the child in practicing meditation or managing their monkey minds.
"Có lúc mẹ thử bảo con là hãy thử ngồi thiền không nghĩ gì cả hoặc chỉ nghĩ về một vấn đề thôi, nhưng trong 5 phút đấy con lại nghĩ ra rất nhiều thứ."
Thiếu môi trường để con luyện tập tiếng Anh, phụ huynh không thể hỗ trợ vì không biết tiếng/ There is a lack of environment for the child to practice English, and parents are unable to support because they do not speak the English either.
"Mẹ chưa tạo được môi trường cho con để nói và thực hành tiếng Anh, bởi vì mẹ không nói tiếng Anh nên mẹ cũng không biết làm thế nào. Mẹ muốn con học tiếng Anh, mẹ cần môi trường nhưng mà mẹ đang chưa tìm được môi trường cho con."
Mỗi phụ huynh có một quan điểm riêng về cách dạy con, một thách thức riêng/ Each parent has their own perspective on how to raise their child—and their own unique set of challenges.
"Mỗi mẹ một ý và ý nào cũng quan trọng."
Tuổi dậy thì khiến con thay đổi cảm xúc thất thường, khó giữ cam kết/ Adolescence causes emotional fluctuations in the child, making it difficult for them to stay committed.
"Bạn lớn nhà chị đang đến tuổi ẩm ương... mẹ và con đã đồng ý với nhau, đã thông báo trước với nhau mấy ngày rồi, nhưng đến đúng ngày đấy thì con lại đổi ý kiến, con lại muốn không đi và nó dẫn đến những cái căng thẳng giữa mẹ con, những cái cảm xúc không dễ chịu."
Con thiếu vốn từ và ít động lực khi không có bạn đồng hành, khó trò chuyện với mẹ/ The child has a limited vocabulary and lacks motivation when there is no peer companion, and they find it difficult to have conversations with their mother.
"Hồi cấp 1 chị cho tham gia nhiều chương trình và Câu lạc bộ nhưng lên cấp 2 phải học nhiều... vốn từ của con so với cùng trang lứa cũng chưa phải là nhiều... giữa hai mẹ con nói chuyện rất khó, nhưng có thể nếu có bạn bè con lại có động lực và tự giác hơn."
Khó tạo động lực cho con, con đòi thưởng cho mọi việc/ It is difficult to motivate the child, as they demand a reward for every single thing they do.
"Con em cũng hay mất tập trung, giống những ý trên của các mẹ. Đôi khi em phải trao thưởng để tạo động lực, xong bây giờ làm gì con cũng hỏi: ‘Con làm xong cái này thì có được cái gì không hả mẹ?’ Mẹ bảo: ‘Cứ học đi không phải hỏi.’"
Con không tự giác học vì không có nhu cầu, cha mẹ chưa tạo được nhu cầu đó/ The child is not self-motivated to study because they do not have a need, and parents have not yet been able to create that need.
"Tình trạng chung là con không tự giác, mình cũng suy nghĩ là bây giờ cái gì cũng thế, nó phải có nhu cầu. Nó không có nhu cầu mà mình ép thì đương nhiên nó không tự giác. Mình cũng chưa tìm được cách nào để tạo ra nhu cầu cho con. Mình cũng khơi gợi là tại sao cần làm, cần học, nó có ý nghĩa gì, nhưng mà nếu mình không có ở đấy nữa là mục tiêu nó lại bay xa."
F. What’s Next?
As part of building the Super Parent Community to raise Global Thinkers, parents are invited to join the conversation—ask questions, share stories, and gain insights from our team of psychologists, behavioral researchers, educators, and fellow parents. The goal is to empower you to support your child with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Newsletter - Super Parents: https://theeduwhiz.substack.com/s/super-parents-zone
Facebook Group - Super Parents Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/944250397572189
In the coming weeks, we’ll share more posts addressing key concerns raised by parents during this camp—offering fresh perspectives and practical ideas.
Meanwhile, The Learning Space—an international community for young minds to nurture curiosity and push for the application of knowledge—is open for children to join. It offers a dynamic, peer-to-peer learning environment where they can grow, engage, and sharpen their critical thinking skills on their journey to becoming Global Citizens
The Learning Space: https://team4fd.substack.com/s/the-expo
🌱 Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you can find yourself somewhere in this story—don’t just read it. Be part of it. Let us know What you think and Questions you may have in the Comment section below
One small step—one thoughtful question—can spark a powerful shift. Let's raise a generation of thinkers, doers, and dreamers—together.
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