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The city of Taipei has rapidly changed and developed, becoming a concrete jungle where Taiwanese children face the pressures of finishing high school with top grades and surpassing expectations of university entrance exams local and abroad. These children have been blessed with many privileges, access to modern resources, and a high quality of life. Parents are over protective with their children, limiting their exposure to nature and the elements.
The WEGO Mountain Program is designed to immerse students into an environment and ecosystem with varied terrain and natural resources. Located within the Yangmingshan National Park, the WEGO Mountain Program is surrounded by protected and varied natural plant and wildlife ecosystems providing rich opportunities for nature and outdoor education.
The teachers of the WEGO Mountain Program whole heartedly lead the students to be fully enveloped within the natural environment. By raising animals, planting vegetables, potting plants, and getting their hands dirty, the students can get a deeper understanding of the life cycle in nature. Additionally, this direct hands on connection between students and the natural environment illuminates the impacts that humans can have on the environment both positively and negatively. The programs and activities strive to help the students appreciate and cherish nature with a “humble heart” by living among it to achieve the goals of environmental education.
The WEGO Mountain Program follows the experiential and environmental educational philosophy of Joseph Cornell. The students play games and activities to learn about nature and experience what it feels like to be in it.
The wilderness offers a larger space to hold classes and to combine education with physical activities. Along with the nature side of the program, the spirit of challenging oneself or “Challenge by Choice” methods are used. The mountainous terrain allows students to physically and spiritually challenge themselves in an unfamiliar setting, a wilderness setting. The Physical Program is an important part at the WEGO Mountain Program and includes high rope, rock climbing, rappelling, river tracing, horseback riding, hiking, and much more! These are all done to help grow a healthy spirit of sport, understanding of physical limits, development of endurance, and building of strength. The students are encouraged to try to go beyond their limits. If the students are weak or overweight, they can still build their confidence from participating in the activity by having courage and digging deep. Experiencing these activities gives the students a different perspective on fear and difficulties. Children should have their own point of view on the philosophy of life. This WEGO Mountain Program then will be a priceless experience for the participating students.