The upcoming Experience Week at Canadian International School of Hong Kong (CDNIS) will see students setting off on some amazing school trips near and far, while honing a wide range of skills and embracing the power of experiential learning in the process.
According to the CDNIS team, some of the most powerful learning happens when students go beyond the classroom and engage with the world around them. While academic achievement remains central at the school, equally important are the experiences that challenge students to think differently, collaborate with others, solve real-world problems and develop a deeper understanding of themselves and the communities they are part of.
School trips with a difference
Perhaps the most visible example of this focus is Experience Week. This is an annual off-campus programme during which CDNIS students gain valuable insights and rewarding hands-on experiences in a variety of settings. It has run successfully since 2000 and forms an integral part of the Upper School Programme.
“Experience Week provides Upper School students with the opportunity to step away from their regular timetable and participate in a range of local and international experiences designed to promote personal growth, innovation, cultural understanding, service, outdoor education and global citizenship,” says the school. “Far more than a traditional school trip, Experience Week is carefully designed to complement classroom learning. Students are encouraged to stretch beyond their comfort zones as they navigate unfamiliar environments and take on new challenges. This allows them to develop skills that cannot be fully taught from a textbook.”
These challenges might include anything from outdoor expeditions to cultural-immersion experiences. The upshot? Students gain valuable perspectives while also building their confidence, resilience, independence and leadership skills.
About Experience Week 2026
When it is: 16-20 November
Who it’s for: Grades 9-12
Where they’ll go: This year, CDNIS is offering 23 trips across 12 nations and territories. They include four Hong Kong adventure excursions, five trips to Mainland China including a Three Gorges Dam Cruise, and 14 international experiences, including Fiji, Phuket and Spain.
Students are asked to pick their top five trips and CDNIS staff then work to allocate each student to one of their top choices. The team also tries their best to ensure every student is placed with one or two buddies of their choosing for travel and daily activities.
Themes of the week: The Experience Week programme is based on five different themes, each designed to help students and families identify the type of trip they might prefer. They are:
- Research, Stem & Innovation
- Service & Tangible Change
- Qualification & Practical Trips
- Language, Art & Cultural Immersion
- Action & Adventure
The school says there is something for every student: “For example, within every trip there are opportunities around Service As Action, an MYP component of Grades 9 and 10, and Creativity, Action and Service, an IB component of Grades 11 and 12.”
A word from students on previous Experience Week trips:
“During our trip to Shanghai, we were given the exclusive opportunity to visit several prominent companies to learn about their technology, societal impact and how we can apply this newfound knowledge to our own future ventures.”
“Our trip not only gave us the opportunity to learn about new technology in China, but also the chance to have fun with friends and stay in a comfortable environment.”
Other opportunities
The emphasis on learning through experience at CDNIS extends beyond a single week in the calendar. Throughout the year, students have the chance to travel across Asia and around the world, representing the school in a wide range of academic, artistic and athletic pursuits.
“Through the Southeast Asia Student Activities Conference (SEASAC), students participate in international competitions and events including athletics, music, the arts, Model United Nations and more,” says the school. “These experiences allow students to test their skills against peers from leading international schools, while also building friendships, learning from different perspectives and developing a strong sense of teamwork and sportsmanship.”
Here are a couple of recent examples of such trips.
Texas, USA
Earlier this year, a team of CDNIS students travelled to Houston to compete in the Conrad Challenge, one of the world’s leading innovation and entrepreneurship competitions for secondary school students. Presenting their ideas on an international stage, they had the opportunity to engage with industry experts, receive valuable feedback and collaborate with other young innovators who are working to solve complex global challenges. The school says that they walked away with practical experience, a broadened worldview and some prestigious recognition, which has inspired them to share their passions with the broader community.
Mainland China
Closer to home, CDNIS students have travelled to Mainland China to deepen their understanding of the country’s history, culture, innovation and economic development as part of a Summer Mandarin Immersion Programme. According to the school, these experiences provide important context for classroom learning while helping students gain a more nuanced appreciation of China’s role in an increasingly interconnected world.
A final word from the school
At CDNIS, experiential learning is not an add-on to the curriculum. It is an integral part of how students learn, grow and prepare for life beyond school. Through these various programmes, students are encouraged to engage with the world directly, both locally and globally, while developing the curiosity, confidence and compassion that define globally minded learners and future leaders.
They also strengthen relationships within the school community. Students build lasting connections with classmates and teachers while sharing challenges, successes and discoveries. In many cases, the lessons learned through these experiences become just as valuable as the destinations themselves.
CDNIS is at 36 Nam Long Shan Road, Aberdeen.
2525 7088 | cdnis.edu.hk
This article first featured in the Autumn 2026 issue of Expat Living magazine. You can buy the latest mag or an annual subscription, or read the digital version for free now.
