Hands-On Programs

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Hands-on programs offered at rural villages are popular among young children during the summer school break. Here's a look at some of the programs on offer.

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This village in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi-do Province offers hands-on programs for families year-round. A ride in an amphibious vehicle in a refreshing valley helps relieve stress in no time. This time the visitors embark on catching catfish. The first step is putting on a special makeup using paints.

[Soundbite] "You have to look like a catfish in order to catch it. So disguise yourselves as catfish."

The cute kids disguised as catfish begin their hunt in earnest. Catfish like to hide under rocks because they are nocturnal fish. Fishing turns out to be quite a challenge. But just then...

[Soundbite] "Got it!"

Here's the first catch of the day. Everyone cheers with excitement.

[Soundbite] "I'm so happy to have caught a catfish."

At this large aquarium anyone who is over 11 can try scuba diving. The visitors don diving suits and learn safety rules.

[Soundbite] Lee Seung-je(Aquarium staff) : "Move slowly to stay in the right direction and avoid bumping into fish."

Using special body language is vital when scuba diving. Pounding one's chest means difficulty breathing, pointing to one's ear means that the ear hurts, and pointing one's big finger upward means that the diver wants to get out of the water. The divers carefully swim among the fish. It's like flying in the water.

[Soundbite] Ahn Soo-min(Seoul Resident) : "It's my first time scuba diving. It was exciting to see fish in the water with my own eyes."

There are hands-on programs in urban parks as well. This looks like guerrilla training. Children tackle obstacles installed among the trees to learn how to overcome challenges. Wearing safety gear is essential before they start.

This exercise encourages adventurousness and also offers a chance to learn English. At first, the exercise seems to be a snap. But crossing a vertically hanging tree proves to be a challenge. The tree starts shaking violently when you step on it, so maintaining body balance is key. It takes about one and a half hours to overcome all of the 33 obstacles. The final obstacle is sliding down on a zip line.

[Soundbite] "I love you, Mom!"

After finishing the exercise, the children are elated and feel a strong sense of self-accomplishment.

[Soundbite] Kang Moon-soo(Seoul Resident) : "It was scary at first, but later it turned out to be fun."

Thanks to some unique and exciting programs, the school summer break goes by quickly for youngsters in Korea.