Over the summer, a group of students from HSDC embarked on a truly unforgettable residential trip of community engagement, conservation and adventure in Borneo!
Overall, 22 students from a variety of disciplines and subject areas across all three campuses at Alton, Havant and South Downs went on the trip, spending four weeks exploring the jungle and immersing themselves in Borneo’s rich and beautiful culture. Each and every student fundraised for the trip themselves, showcasing their personal dedication to the trip’s various community and conservation goals.
Thanks to the students’ efforts, local conservation initiatives in Borneo were able to plant new trees and mangroves.
A particular highlight of the trip was a day spent in the outskirts of the city, Kota Kinabalu, allowing the students to visit the Sabah Art Museum. Whilst at the museum, the students saw an exhibition composed entirely of local artwork, providing them with a fascinating insight into life in the city. They were also able to participate in a hands-on upcycling workshop, transforming discarded materials into beautiful pieces of artwork.
Whilst in Kota Kinabalu, the students took a trip to the mangroves, where they lent their hands to the important conservation projects that help to preserve these fragile and tropical ecosystems. Joining a local initiative to plant mangrove saplings showed the students just how significant these conservation efforts are, as they witnessed first-hand the sheer amount of animals and plants that rely on mangroves to survive.
At the heart of the trip was a focus on the natural world, leading the HSDC students deep into the Borneo rainforest. There, they were able to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime camping adventure at Camp Batu Puteh. This saw the students sleeping in hammocks amongst the dense foliage, planting over 200 young trees to aid conservation and taking cruises down the river.
The Borneo Trip was culturally, environmentally and personally enriching.
One of the highlights of their time in the rainforest was the students’ mission to spot Borneo’s “Big Five” – the orangutan, pygmy elephant, proboscis monkey, rhinoceros hornbill and estuarine crocodile. Whilst they were only able to hear the pygmy elephant, and didn’t spot the rhinoceros hornbill, the group were fortunate enough to bear witness to wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys and the ancient estuarine crocodiles in their natural habitat. These rare sightings all served as powerful reminders of Borneo’s incredible biodiversity, and the crucial role that humanity can play in preserving this.
The trip also took the students to Mamutik Island, just off the coast of Borneo. Here, the students learnt to scuba dive, a truly surreal experience as they plunged into the ocean, witnessing a kaleidoscope of marine life. From schools of vibrant fish to intricate coral formations, as well as a turtle or two, these four days spent scuba diving were some of the most magical of the trip.
This trip was an invaluable opportunity for the students to learn more about Borneo, biodiversity, community collaboration and themselves. Martyn Bell, Course Lead of Public and Defence Services, accompanied the students on the trip, saying:
“One month in Borneo was a journey that rewrote our understanding of adventure. Among the lush primary forest, untamed wildlife, and vibrant cultures, 22 students discovered not just the beauty of the world, but also the depth of their own resilience. It was an experience that changed our lives, one breathtaking encounter at a time. My personal highlight was seeing a wild orangutan, scuba diving and playing sports with the locals!”
Find out more about our fantastic residential trips at HSDC here: https://www.hsdc.ac.uk/life-at-hsdc/be-extraordinary/trips/