Little ones, big impacts
March 16, 2023 - Ants accomplish big things despite their size, little by little. Much like our young ones, whose Grow With Six Senses adventures provide meaningful skill sets. What they learn through play, happy and hands-on; they will carry on through life.
Well-being starts young at Six Senses. And who says it can’t be fun! Vacations are great opportunities for youngsters to cultivate an understanding of what’s going on inside and around them. Grow With Six Senses incorporates the six dimensions of wellness – social, environmental, physical, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual – to build skills and knowledge they can carry on through life.
Grow With Six Senses, gift the world
Corporate Sustainability Manager Jennifer Klar recognizes that younger generations play a vital role in shaping what the future will look like, “We’re raising awareness among children to inspire and empower our future leaders, parents, policymakers, and travelers. Once they understand the importance of conservation, they will grow their voice and become advocates for positive change.”
Around the world, adventures with Six Senses await to unfold, appealing to our younger guests’ innate sense of curiosity. They may awaken a sense of discovery in young-at-heart parents too. Caution: the kids may riot rather than leave, so be prepared!
The world is our playground
Six Senses is calling out for Climate Warriors; built on simple, tangible things children can do to combat climate change, first trialed at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam. We want kids to see and understand the positive role they can already play in their environments and communities. There are three parts to the program, broadly split across two days. In part one, children learn about climate change and the connection between people and the environment through games, arts, and experiments. Part two delves into the solutions at our Six Senses properties, demonstrating what we’re doing in terms of renewables, compost, upcycling and more. Part three is all about “being the solution”, showing children the ways in which they can mold the future. The resort offers more adventures under Grow With Six Senses with no less than 58 arts, crafts, discovery, sports, ecology, and outdoor activities at the Vooc Village club.
Six Senses Yao Noi, Thailand, showcases the iconic limestones karsts of Pang Nga Bay made known to the world through one of James Bond’s escapades. Not a secret agent fan? Try out the Junior Eco Warrior, a dedicated kids’ program designed around the brand’s sustainability ethos for budding conservationists. Set out on an eco-mission through mazes of mangroves and stress-free (and parent-free) zones where chickens and ducks dance to jazz. The Junior Eco Warrior Program features various activities over a three-day rotational itinerary – Farm Fun-Day, Nature Play-Day and Re-Creation Day – suitable for children aged four to 12 and complimentary for all guests staying at the resort.
Its sister resort in Thailand, Six Senses Samui, has joined in, inviting families to go Eco-Unleashed, through Farm Fun, going Beach Bonkers and enjoying Splash N’ Craft. Having an organic garden on-site not only serves as a considerate and local food source and learning hub, but it is also home to happy hens and goats, eating plants and leftovers within the resort’s grounds and, in turn, providing nutrient-rich manure, which becomes a natural fertilizer; all of which and more can be experienced with Farm Fun. Beach Bonkers entices all to learn about caring for our oceans, preserving the delicate ecosystem for future generations to enjoy. Roll up your sleeves, get up close and creative with the art of upcycling with Splash N’ Craft.
In the lush greenery of Cambodia, Six Senses Krabey Island also aspires to grow the conscious mind of the next generation. Children can enjoy the Forest Bath to help improve their focus while we share the importance of trees. They can then turn used towels into a souvenir while learning the impact of single-use items on the environment, and how reusing materials can help to reduce waste with the Recycled Towel Bear. The Leaves Arrangement Young Artist shows children the importance of protecting natural habitats and biodiversity, showing them how to use fallen leaves that are already on the ground instead of picking them from the tree. Along the way, the team explains the role of leaves in the forest as food and shelter for wildlife. Back at the resort, it’s time to set the imagination free to create art that honors the beauty of nature.
Even home can be a playground. In 2020, Six Senses Laamu launched the online Junior Marine Biology program amid global travel restrictions, covering topics as broad as turtles, manta rays, seagrass, and mangroves. Although the program is slightly different from what children might enjoy on vacation in the Maldives, the objective remains the same: to help foster an understanding of marine biology and the importance of marine conservation. With worksheets, pictures, ideas and discoveries, this 10-module expedition has been so successful it is still online and available for all to enjoy.
The Sustainability Camp at Six Senses Laamu marked World Tourism Day on September 27 the same year, complementing the brand-wide Climate Warriors initiative and the resort’s Junior Marine Biology program. Covering the topics of Zero Waste, Home Grown, and Nature Conservation, it aims to give teenage guests and their families insights into sustainability initiatives and provide a skillset for the daily improvements they can make at home, striving towards a more sustainable way of life. The resort recently celebrated the unveiling of the Sea Hub for Environmental Learning in Laamu (SHELL) on March 1, 2023, which houses the Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI), a marine conservation collaborative between Six Senses Laamu’s marine biologists and partner NGOs; The Manta Trust, Blue Marine Foundation, and the Olive Ridley Project.
Little ones, big impacts
Programs for families vary from resort to resort but introduce specifically designed physical activities, yoga and mindfulness, local culture, sustainability, and social experiences. Watch as your little ones meet with a like-minded colony across the globe, and build a brighter future with joy, grace, and knowledge.