Saturday, May 29, 2010

English Summer Camp 2010



Toucheng Farm International English Summer Camp Camp Notices

“Creativity, Confidence, Friendship”



English Summer Camp Reporting Schedule
□ First Camp – July 4 to 10
□Second Camp – July 11 to 17
□Third Camp – July 18 to 24
□Fourth Camp – July 25 to 31



Camp’s Address
No.125 Keng Hsin Road, Toucheng Township, Yilan County
Tel. No.(039) 772222, 772000


Camp Directors:
Miss Vicky Yang or Mr. Ken Lin

Venue: Toucheng Farm
Time
Contact Person
Telephone No. 039 772000


Arriving by Car
Farm’s Conference Hall
Time 10:00 A.M.
Contact person: Rachel Chen


Bus From Taipei
Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Park Freedom Park’s gate
Time: 09:00 A.M.
Contact person: Patrick Lin
Telephone : 0985-232560



◎Summer Camp’s Reminders:



1. Entering or playing alone around the Fish Pond is STICTLY PROHIBITED !
2. Inform your Teacher immediately if you feel sick.
3. For safety sake, please go with your group all the time. Permission from your Teacher is necessary to leave or separate from the group.
4. During free time, please stay only in the designated areas. No one is allowed to go out of the Farm at night.
5. Please respect the Farm’s properties and care for its preservation. Please keep valuables items like cell phones, cameras or cash along with you always. For safe keeping, ask your assistants or the Front Desk for help. In case of loss, damage or forgetfulness, the Organizing Committee, will not be held responsible.
6. Weather conditions will not affect the planned activities. The Organizing Committee has the power to adjust the schedules accordingly.




◎Introducing Toucheng Farm, English Summer Camp Venue

Toucheng Township is located at the north-east coast of Taiwan overlooking the Pacific Ocean , where “the mountains are bright and the waters are fair” .Within this marvelous area, lies Toucheng Farm, the perfect place for “fun, activities, recreation, and experiencing local cuisine”. Toucheng Farm is not only a place to relax, but also serves as an excellent hands-on-experience school. Toucheng Farm offers various recreational activities for city dwellers who seek a refreshing break or a therapeutic walk after a long week at work. Just an hour travel away from Taipei via the Xueshan Tunnel, it's the perfect choice for a weekend outing! Toucheng Farm offers accommodation with comfortable amenities at reasonable prices, affordable for any visitor. Many students from around Taiwan and abroad have already experienced the ecological, rural, educational and social aspects of life at Toucheng Farm.

If you listen to those who have been here once or many times, you will find out why it is such a charming place. Toucheng Farm not only offers multi-functional services on site but also cooperates closely together with other educational and tourist institutions to provide a comprehensive, recreational and educational experiences.


◎Our Unique Classrooms

★ Rice paddy culture area
Here we experience the village life in its proximity. One can experience the transplanting of rice seedlings in the rice paddies on bended waist and muddy feet; raking and drying rice grains under the sun; operating the blowing machine, threshing machine, or stone grinder; etc. Remembering the Farmer’s four seasons of Spring sowing, Summer weeding, Autumn harvesting and Winter storing. Thus treasuring every grain of rice on the table as a respect for the Farmer’s hardship and labor.

★Tree Houses
Trees uprooted by the typhoons are recycled into decorative artifacts, toys or useful objects like :
tree houses, alligator balance beams, hammocks, deck chairs, etc. The amusement park is equipped with slides, small castle, sand pit area, and other sports equipment so that students and tourists can run or jump around, or sweat willfully, while playing and enjoy oneself to the full.

★Bugs or insect classroom
It has a butterfly and bees living area. In Spring time, many swallowtail or monarch butterflies can be spotted here dancing on the air.. There are also other living specimens in the area. The brook nearby is a haven for many living organisms and an ideal place for river trekking where one can be intimate with nature at the same time cool oneself by dipping into the mountain water during the summer season.


★The mud hut
Here we see a Farmer building his house according to the conventional procedure. He makes use of mud with some chips of twigs and other local materials to form a wall for the mud hut. It is an ideal place for our classroom as we see actually how a traditional Farmer's family lived many years ago. Inside the mud hut:
A traditional Chinese bed called an "eight-foot bed".A table for eight people.A bamboo-made reversible chair for Baby and Mommy. An ancient wardrobe.A clothes rack.A wash basin and mirror stand.A brick kitchen stove. A bathroom.And other ancient furniture and apparatus they used before. To really understand and experience the traditional life of a Farmer intimately, we conduct classes on this very spot.

★The tea house
The tea house is situated near the luffah garden and vegetable garden side. An ideal place to sip a cup of tea while listening to the cicadas singing; smelling the aroma of herbs planted along the sides while feeling the gentle breeze kissing one's face. This also serves as our Summer Camp's natural classroom, comfortable and homey.

★DIY spacious classroom
Here we discover our unlimited creativity. We use dried betel nuts to make a dream-like object, draw or print T-shirt, green bag or cap using the magical dyes, or bamboo and wood creations into imaginary, alive, artistic creatures.

★Domesticated animals area
Chicken, ducks, goose, turkeys, pigs and goats are domesticated animals ever since. Here we observe them closely, their habits, their young ones, their ecology, and personally feed the kids and goats with fresh leaves of the trees from the Farm.



◎Simple Courtesy reminders
This Summer Camp is an opportunity for a child to practice speaking, listening, understanding and living in an English surrounding. Besides utilizing English as language, etiquette is also integrated in the curriculum. Participants of Toucheng Farm’s English summer camp are taught simple courtesies during the regular period sessions.
1. During the classes:
Students will have the chance to practice at the start and end of classes, or show respect to the Teachers like saying: Good morning Miss XXX or Mr. XXX. Giving her/him a good impression of well-mannered students!
2. Dining Time
Dining is a good opportunity to practice important table courtesies. Besides eating silently or gradually, one can always say: Thank you; excuse me; you are welcome; May I; Could I? Politeness can win you numerous friends.




◎Activities Schedule


Sunday:

10:00 Orientation , Campus site tour

12:00 -14:00 Lunch time and break

14:00 - 14:50 Placement test
15:00 - 15:50 Ice breaking

16:00 -16:50 Let's make name badge

17:00-18:00 Dinner Time

Evening Cap painting

Monday:

8:00-9:00 Breakfast

9:00-12:00 English Lessons

12:00 - 14:00 Lunch time & break

14:00-16:50 Farmer's experience
17:00-18:00 Dinner time

Evening Traditional Folk night


Tuesday:

08:00-09:00 Breakfast

9:00-12:00 English Lessons
12:00-14:00 Lunch & break

14:00-15:50 Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

16:00-18:00 BBQ

Evening Traditional Folk Art


Wednesday:

08:00-09:00 Breakfast

09:00-12:00 English Lessons

12:00-14:00 Lunch and break

14:00- 16:50 An afternoon at the beach

17:00-18:00 Dinner time

Evening Art and craft class


Thursday:

08:00-09:00 Breakfast

09:00-12:00 English lessons

12:00-14:00 Lunch time & break

14:00-14:50 Fun of Kilning

15:00-16:50 A date with insects

17:00-18:00 Dinner time

Evening Pajama party


Friday:


08:00-09:00 Breakfast

09:00-12:00 English Lessons

12:00-14:00 Lunch time & break

14:00-15:50 Fun of river trekking

16:00-16:50 Let's go fishing

17:00-18:00 Dinner time

Evening Heavenly lantern


Saturday:

08:00-09:00 Breakfast

09:00-12:00 Gratefully yours Certifications

12;00-14:00 Lunch time


See you next time !


◎Necessary items
For your comfort and convenience, please bring the following items to the Camp.
Clothes
□ Casual dresses pants or T-shirts for

□ Back pack



□ Hat or cap, handkerchief



□ summer “coat”



□ Party Costume



□ Raincoat
Accommodation
□ Toothpaste, tooth brush, plastic cup



□ Face and bath towels



□ Comb or brush
Others




□ National Health Insurance Card



□ Medicine ( for colds or motion sickness)



□ Insect repellant



□ Petty cash



□ Luggage for 7 days clothes



□ Telephone IC cards



□ Slippers



□ Water bottle



□ Sneakers or tennis shoes



□ Small flashlight



□ Sun screen





◎ Important Notice
1. During the regular sessions, if a student is found to disturb the teacher or the group’s normal activities, he/she can be expelled or disqualified from the Camp’s activities. The guardian can bring him back home. Fees are not refundable.





2. A student’s behavior or character must be reported honesty during the registration. If a student is found unfit for the group, he/she will be cancelled or disqualified from the Camp, fees are not refundable.





3. After the registration, due to an individual reason, a student will cancel his/her registration.
Fees will be refunded on the following condition:




a) Seven days before the opening - 50% of the total sum.
b) Three days before – 30% of the total sum.
c) No refund is given when one cancels the registration after the Camp started.






Saturday, May 22, 2010

National Taiwan Normal University Students

Some International students from National Taiwan Normal University visited Toucheng Farm last Saturday.

Here are some photos I took, do you think they had fun? Ask them!



He printed his T-shirt with our magical dye - and proud to wear it! He loves India!


They are our Taiwan beauties after printing the green bags using leaves from the Farm.




This group came from France.




He is from Honduras and she, from Japan.



A lovely young lady from Germany.



And a group from India.







Students from near and far come to Toucheng Farm. You, too, are welcome to visit us!



Toucheng Farm is a happy Farm, a perfect getaway from the busy life of Taipei. Here you can breathe fresh air; eat fresh, organic vegetables; feed the Farm animals; walk around to get closest to nature etc... stay overnight for a day or days.



Visit our website at www.tcfarm.com.tw / click English for more information.




















Sunday, May 16, 2010

Ming Chuan Exchange Students


Around eighty students of different nationalities spent a few hours at Toucheng Farm last May 15. All are exchange students of Ming Chuan University in Taipei.


Students from Belize, Gambia, Holland, Russia, Korea, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Nauru, Latvia, St. Kits, St. Vincents, South Africa, Haiti, Vietnam, Indonesia and other countries.



They spent an hour at the kilning area and actually build the traditional oven our forefathers used to cook their food while working at the Farm, hundreds of years ago.



These are the beauties from different countries:




Printing leaves or drawing on T-shirts or green bags was another activity they participated. Everyone was proud of their creation.




Toucheng Farm is a friendly and happy Farm, people from different countries have come and visited this famous and vast (110 hectares) land. You are welcome to spend a day or two with us.

What are you waiting for? call or visit our website at www.tcfarm.com.tw./ click English

Fu-Jen University Exchange Students

Toucheng Farm this weekend was full of students from different countries.





They are all exchange students of Fu-Jen Catholic University in Taipei. The 2 days and 1 night package was a lot of fun, busy and exciting for all of these young, graceful and promising students.




They came from Indonesia, Japan, Sweden, Thailand, El Salvador, Spain, Taiwan, China, USA and other countries.


We all went up the Winery to have a taste of the fermented wine and healthy vinegar made of fruits from Toucheng Farm.


I took these photos to share with everyone their many activities during their stay at the Farm.



To end the day, they made some heavenly lanterns, DIY. After pasting, writing prayers and wishes on it, we lighted them and watched with awe as it fly up to the sky.




One of them wrote" It's like paradise here, I don't want to go home"!
We walked up to the mountains at about 7:00 p.m. and saw hundreds of fireflies dancing in the dark.
For more photos, please click Photo Album of our website. Thanks
Come to Toucheng Farm and enjoy the green, clean and refreshing environment.
Visit our website: www.tcfarm.com.tw/ click English for more information.
































Thursday, May 13, 2010

Taipei European School, French Section Kindergarten Pupils

Fourteen pupils of the Taipei European School, French Section, Kindergarten Department, stayed at Toucheng Farm for 3 days and 2 nights. These five year-old children mostly Taiwanese and some Canadians, came with their four Teachers.



Do you want to know what they did? Take a look at the pictures I took during their stay, You'll be surprised what they can accomplish at such a young age!





They participated all the planned activities even walking in the dark at 7:00 pm, to catch a glimpse of the fairies of the night: F i r e f l i e s! in hundreds flashing along the mountainside! How lucky they were! sometimes fireflies are hard to find. They were so cooperative, keeping their eyes open but kept their mouths closed to enjoy the beauty of the moment!


Decorating, drawing and pasting the heavenly lantern was fun, but watching it soaring up to the dark sky was more fascinating. I was watching their blue, brown and black eyes, filled with awe as they follow the sky lantern ascending, at the same time waving their hands to say Adieu! Au revoir! Dzai Djen, Goodbye !





One little boy told me, he doesn't want to go home, just stay here longer! Don't you want to see your Dad? another asked him. He changed his mind, and get up the bus quick!.



Last year, the French Section, Kindergarten Department was here too, and for sure they will come again next year. See you then!

How about you? Come and visit our Happy and Healthy Toucheng Farm!



Welcome!

For further information, please visit our website at www.tcfarm.com.tw/ click English




































































































































Saturday, May 1, 2010

Spring Blossoms

Fruits and vegetables at Toucheng Farm are in abundance. Simple as they, are they decorate and give meaning to the Farmers' life and guests, as well.



Look at this pumpkin flowers, they are so attractive in yellow and green leaves as they crawl along the grasses...

These flowers not only feed my eyes, but my hungry stomach as well! Add a little flour and egg, fry it and you can taste them, fresh and soft.


Have you ever seen a passion fruit flower? Here is a sample. It is not a passion (feeling). but represent the Passion of Christ they say.



Each part of it has a significant meaning.



What does this bunch of banana tells me? Once they're ripen, I will compete with the monkeys to reach them!




Guess what's this? Citronelle or lemongrass. It can serve as an insect repellant. If you come to Toucheng Farm, you can take a cup of hot or warm lemongrass tea!




Toucheng Farm is blessed with these simple but useful unassuming living creatures. They decorate our surrounding, feed us and live with us side by side.


See you at Toucheng Farm and let us enjoy life together.


Visit our website : www.tcfarm.com.tw


2010 English Summer Camp

July of last year (2009), we had the English Summer Camp at Toucheng Farm. Almost 250 children from around Taiwan participated the activities for a month. Below, are some photos taken. You will find more at the photo album of our website.

Five American Teachers from California were present, joined and taught English in a Farm setting. First-hand experiences were all fun-filled, unforgettable to those who participated.

Here is the weekly schedule for this year's Camp.


Each participant is awarded a certificate of attendance.
Children from 7 - 12 years of age are welcome to join.
Let's all speak, sing, and learn English in a Farm setting!
Welcome to Toucheng Farm, a happy and friendly Farm in Taiwan!

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