KAMPOENG KIDZ, MORE THAN JUST A SCHOOL HOLIDAY

Are you kind of undecided where you will take your kids for this coming school holiday? Do you want to make your children experience something that is more than just an ordinary holiday? Take your children for outbound activities at KampoengKidz (Village Kids) in Batu, East Java, Indonesia.

This is a place where a high school, a dorm, an outbound area and a guest house are united.

Good morning, Indonesia

Talking about KampoengKidz, we must begin from a senior high school named SMA SelamatPagi Indonesia (the high school of “Good Morning Indonesia”, also known as SPI school). 

School of Good Morning Indonesia (SPI)

 SMA SelamatPagi Indonesia,built in 2007, is a private boarding school whereits students are multiethnic from all different places across Indonesia. This is the school in Indonesia where you can find the most diverse cultures and religions among its students.

Another thing that contributes to the school’s uniqueness is all of its students are orphans from low-income families. The school fee, together with the dorm and cost living is completely free of charge.

If everything is free for the students, then you might wonder how the school finance its students. It’s not a public school so the fund does not come from the government.Sometimes it comes from some donators, but the donation alone will not support its day-to-day operational costs. Teachers must be compensated, textbooks need to be bought from somewhere, building and assets need maintenance and especially these students must eat nutritious meals three times a day. 

First of all, everything needs to be as self-powered as possible, meaning students need to do things to support themselves. They rely on one another to live. Some students cook and prepare meals, some other do the cleaning, gardening etc.

Students also take advantage of the school’s vast area by plant crops and raise cattle to be consumed and sold. Amazingly these kids are also able to produce their own products of food and souvenirs.

KampoengKidz establishment

Also, in response to this need, in 2010 in its seven-hectare land the school founder opened an outbound field for children named Kampoeng Kids. Basically, it provides outbound services and trainings for children from as young as pre-school age (2 to5 years old) to Junior High teenagers.

Entrepreneurship and adventure 

There are two program categories: entrepreneurship and adventure.  The first is to introduce entrepreneurship to its participants. They are taught how to farm and raise cattle in the school farm.The second program is more fun and adventurous, to raise their bravery and sense of togetherness.

Outbound activity at KampoengKidz

KampoengKidz outbound activities are available only on weekends and public or school long holidays, where students do not go to school.The entrance ticket is IDR 15,000 (around USD 1.1) per person (for adult and children of the age of three and above). Your children may choose what kinds of activity they are interested and for each activity it costs between IDR 10,000 (around USD 0.8) to IDR 25,000 (around USD 2) per child.

KampoengKidz is well-known among Indonesian schools. After the final test season or right before school long holiday,many schoolssend their students here for some outbound programs. Special packages are available for a large group of school students.

Amazingly, KampoengKidz does not seem to hire too many outsiders. Most of its human resources seem to be powered by the high school students themselves. The SPI students are deeply involved in welcoming, organizing, training, teaching and everything else related to the outbound including its management and administration.

Stay in the guest house

There are many kinds of outbound activity and your children may have some activities for a day and some other programs on the following day(s)and interestingly you and your children can choose to stay in KampoengKidz because they actually have their own guest house where visitors can stay. (IDR 650,000/around USD 49 per night for a four-bed room and IDR 1,200,000/around USD 90 per night for an eight-bed room)

There are many hotels around the area and for sure this guest house is not as fancy as a hotel, but in here your children will experience things that they willnot get from a hotel stay. It is unclear if the motel used to be a student dorm, but staying there feels like staying in a dorm. Rooms, hallways, bathrooms and everything else look like those of a dormitory.

Since the guest house is a part of KampoengKidz, everything related to visitor service is also done by its students. You and your children will witness their sincerity and professionalism through their services. You will see how these 15 to 19-year-old high school teenagers greet you and family and do the cooking for your breakfast. Your children will also see how their multiethnic brothers and sisters live and work harmoniously in here and this will at least make them realize if their brothers and sisters can be so professional, they can do it too at home!