August 5 to 7, 2018, Alxa Desert UNESCO Global Geopark organized nearly 200 primary and secondary school teachers and students to Badain Jaran Desert for a 3-day desert field survival training camp.

On August 5, all the teachers and students first visited ADUGGp Museum, the kids were observing the specimens, taking notes from geo-science knowledge panels, watching geopark documentaries and publicity films etc., gained geo-science knowledge including desert animals and plants, ethnic costumes, ethnic goods, ore specimens, traditional local culture, etc., enhanced their pride of being living in ADUGGp.  More than 1000 copies of ADUGGp publicity leaflets and popular science books were distributed to students.  

At desert meteorological monitoring station, the students learnt the functions of meteorological monitoring station, how to collecting data and meteorological disaster prevention knowledge.  At the hydrologic dynamic monitoring site, the students learnt the function of hydrological monitoring equipment, the source of lake water in Badain Jaran desert, and the magical formation progress of Badain Jaran Desert.  Students also learnt how to use GPS to locate sites, measuring elevation, collecting data and other practical skills on the field.  Moreover, the causes and principles of “singing sand” and desert ecological knowledge were also taught to the students by experts and professor on the specified field.

The staff and tutors also taught the kids of tent building and sorting skills of camping equipment.  When the camp closed, the students spontaneously collect the garbage at the sites before they are leaving.  The kids took their own action to protect the environment.

This educational programme extended the school education from classroom to outdoor survival skills, improving the human relationship close to nature especially for younger generation, benefiting the students to love their hometown as well as increasing their responsibilities for protecting natural environment and geological heritages.