Schools
Video: Minnetonka High School Introduces International Students to Winter Outdoor Activities
Students from China and Holland got a taste of the elements Friday afternoon as part of Minnetonka High School's International Studies Program.
Some people develop cabin fever during the Minnesota winter, while others defy the elements and make the most of their surroundings.
"Yes, that is what we do," said Ann Schinis, recreational specialist with the Three Rivers Park District. "We get outside and we play in the winter."
That's the message students from Minnetonka High School wanted to get across to their foreign friends from China and Holland — in town from Feb. 5-13 as part of an international studies program.
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"The international studies program was set up two years ago," said Chris Pears, a social studies teacher from Minnetonka High School. "The idea is to give students at Minnetonka an opportunity to connect with students from around the world."
On the afternoon of Feb. 11, about 35 students made their way to French Park in Plymouth to learn about outdoor recreation in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes."
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There were common activities such as snowshoeing; and not so common activities such as building quinzhee shelters and kicksledding.
"Being from Minnesota, you don't do this stuff everyday," said Sam Navratil, a Minnetonka Senior. "So it's fun."
Fun, not only for the Minnetonka students, but for the students from halfway around the world.
"I like the snow and I like the people here," said Wang Yi Bing, a student from China. "They are very generous and they're very kind."
Yet on the surface, while these outdoor activities may just seem to be all about fun and winter survival, the students are ultimately gathered together for a greater purpose.
"It's these kind of experiences where you're actually doing an activity together that really helps you bond," Pears said.
These bonding activities are tools they can use in the future when they enter a workforce that Minnetonka teachers expect will be a far more global one than it is today.
"And so this just gives them a start," Pears said. "Sixteen, 17-year-olds, an opportunity to start understanding what it is to really operate and work in a global environment."
A fact not lost on the students, yet on Friday, the immediate focus was on making the most of their experience.
"I really love the American food such as sandwiches and hamburgers," Yi Bing said. "Because of those things, I don't want to go back to China."
