After traveling more than 50 kilometers, Tam Dao welcomed the students of class 11Denton with its lush greenery and misty mountain air. Replacing the bustling city sounds were the melodies of chirping birds and murmuring streams. Instead of the familiar whiteboard and classroom desks, today’s IB lesson took place amidst nature — at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre. This outdoor learning activity was designed to help students gain a deeper understanding of wildlife and natural conservation while fostering awareness and responsibility for the environment.
The Tam Dao Bear Rescue Centre is now home to nearly 200 bears — victims of illegal wildlife trade, captivity, and bile extraction. Here, students listened to moving stories about the rescue and rehabilitation journeys of bears once held in confinement. Guided by the center’s staff, they learned how to identify different bears, explored the special diets designed to help them recover both physically and mentally, and observed the bears up close — delighting in their gentle and endearing appearances.
Students also had the opportunity to explore the herbal garden, where various plants are grown as natural alternatives to bear bile. Excitement filled the air as they watched hundreds of butterflies pollinate flowers, inhaled the fragrant scents of medicinal herbs, and tried their hands at propagating red sage cuttings. Rather than learning solely from textbook images, students engaged directly with nature — touching, sensing, and discovering through all five senses.
This meaningful journey offered students a clearer understanding of the importance of protecting and caring for bears in Vietnam. It also encouraged them to say no to bear bile and other wildlife products, as well as to reject activities involving animal exploitation for profit. Hopefully, after this trip, each Dewey student will become a young ambassador — spreading the message of environmental protection and wildlife conservation far and wide.
