During your family vacation, we encourage our younger guests to understand more about what’s going on inside them and in the world around them. Our Grow With Six Senses approach is to learn about the six dimensions of wellness through natural play. And now, Grow With Six Senses is extending this to wellness of planet Earth, incorporating fun and free climate activities into the program. Corporate Sustainability Manager Jennifer Klar explains the idea behind Climate Warriors.
“We all know kids are natives in digital technology. But they genuinely have that approach to sustainability. They don’t need to consciously connect to nature because they’re simply playing in it, exploring it, discovering it, they’re part of it,” says Jennifer. “Planting seeds is joyful, from feeling the contrast of the cool soil against the warm to the smell of the earth and the thrill of seeing seedlings pop up a few days later. We try to take an educational approach by inviting our guests to experience everything we do but in a fun way, out and about, not in the classroom. Everything is based on a can-do attitude.”
Climate Warriors is built on simple, tangible things children can do, and enjoy doing, to combat climate change. After all, for Jennifer, 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, being mindful about resources, habitat restoration, and waste reduction – and the importance of healthy and happy communities with access to sanitation and water – they will grow their voice and become advocates for positive change. We want kids to see and understand the positive role they can already play in their environments and communities, effectively becoming ‘Climate Warriors’ … all through simple actions and fun activities.”
There are three parts to the program, broadly split across two days, and children can tick off each activity as they go, achieving their Climate Warrior status in the form of a token or certificate.
In part one, children learn about climate change and the connection between people and the environment, through quizzes, 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 shape the future.
“Our younger guests get to try out renewable energy firsthand, by building a solar oven and cooking a snack. They see how to reduce their food miles by making a meal from the garden. They reduce their own carbon by turning down their air conditioning and cycling or walking instead of taking the hotel buggy,” says Jennifer. “Activities are hands-on, often with a task, a tool, and an outcome, ending with a ‘look what I’ve done today’ moment, all in a new setting or environment that they might not experience in their day-to-day lives.”
Six Senses has been pioneering in the field of climate action for some time, by being the first hotel group to join the Tourism Declares A Climate Emergency community, and setting out our response through our Climate Action Plan. For Jennifer, “Pioneering is not shying away from opening conversations, even if we don’t have all the answers. With Climate Warriors, we get to occupy the space, we can continue the discussions around COP26 and crowdsource some solutions with bright and creative young minds!”
Climate Warriors will trial at our brand new Vooc Village at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam, before extending to other properties. The aim is for children to finish each day feeling fulfilled and proud about what they’ve learned.
“My three watchwords for our little warriors would be awareness, fun, and change,” says Jennifer. “I’d like to think that feeling of being part of something continues long past their vacation.”