Kampoeng Kidz; Kampoeng of Optimism, Kampoeng of Spirit

 (Read this article in Indonesian Version)

 

Thanks God I’ve been to Kampoeng Kidz.

Thanks God I’ve been part of optimism and spirit of Kampoeng Kidz, although only for 22 hours ^-^.

22 Hours in Kampoeng Kidz

It wasn’t my first time of hearing the words “Kampoeng kidz” as a friend told me her visit to that place. I’ve heard that word several times as the founder (Julianto Eka Putra) shared an inspirational story via Suara Surabaya (local radio).

Finally, we decided to bring our kids to Kampoeng Kidz, hoping for a difference vacation experience. Kampoeng Kidz is located in Batu city, precisely in Jalan Pandan Rejo 1, Bumiaji, Batu.

We didn’t find any direction board which guided us toward Kampoeng Kidz. I need to call Mr. Wayan (the executive marketing of Kampoeng Kidz) to show us the direction so we didn’t get lost. But don’t worry; it’s not really complicated because Kampoeng Kidz is located very closed to the main road to Selecta.

When we finally arrived at the entrance gate, my husband was a little bit confused because at the entrance we saw a board with “SMA Selamat Pagi Indonesia” written on it. It’s true that from outside, two 4-5 floor height-yellow building was seen. Lately, I knew that those building are the school and the dormitory of students of Selamat Pagi Indonesia High School. And those students are the ones who managed Kampoeng Kidz.

The building of Selamat Pagi Indonesia High School

As we finally found the customer service, we’ve been explained about the programs in Kampoeng Kidz. Just like its name, Kampoeng in Indonesia is spelled “Kampung” (village), so Kampoeng Kidz is the village for Kids, where kids can play and learn (experiential learning). They have various kind of educational programs, like farming (dove, fowl, rabbit and goat), catching fish, kitchen gardening (tomatoes, chili, corn, eggplant), art gallery (gypsum coloring, sand sticker, kite coloring, origami), construction (puzzle 3D), mining and restaurant (Think there are still some programs I didn’t mention).

Learning about Fowl

Learning in Art Gallery

Catching Fish

For every program, like entering the dove’s cage or catching fish or harvesting tomatoes, we had to pay IDR 10 thousand/kid/program. They also provide a package which can be used for all programs, which cost IDR 150 thousand/kid.

From the customer office, we’ve been accompanied by a guide (who looks very young, because she is still in the first class of this High School). Her task was bringing us go around the complex of Kampoeng Kidz as well as guiding Jasmine (6 years, our daughter) to play and learn ^-^.

That Saturday noon, we decided to spend that night in Kampoeng Kidz. Considering we didn’t make any reservation before, we’re lucky because they still have empty room left in LCA (Learning Centre Accommodation). We got a pretty large room. Actually that room is for 8 adults, while we’re only 2 adults and 2 kids :D

LCA (Learning Centre Accomodation)

Again, we’re lucky to have a room facing the mountains, vegetables garden and a field where several horses were playing and “grassing”. We passed a wonderful night, with the voice of rain and the orchestra of frogs and night insects as our lullaby.

The night passed and the dawn came. Sunday morning, it’s usually an opportunity to wake up late. But, I didn’t want to miss the beauty of morning panorama as well as the fresh air of Batu city. Finally, I left our room to walk around.

Complex of Kampoeng Kidz

The Dormitory and Open Stage

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Gazebos

The students of Selamat Pagi Indonesia High School had already looked very busy that morning. I met some students who prepared to go to Church. While others, seemed enjoying working in the complex of Kampoeng Kidz; preparing breakfast for the guests, cleaning the gazebos, sweeping the garden and going to the market.

That morning, while I climbed the tower of flying fox, I realized that the pool where Jasmine did catch the fish yesterday has the shaped of Islands in Indonesia ^-^.

As the kids woke up, we directly left our room and walked along the path of the vegetables garden, which located precisely besides the complex of Kampoeng Kidz. We saw a cleared water river, and lately we found out that the river is used as a rafting track.

We spent the whole morning and day in Kampoeng Kidz, watching the students of Selamat Pagi Indonesia High School playing football and basketball. We watched them preparing welcoming events for the guest from Astra Credit Company, who were having Family Gathering that day. Five dancers performed an India dance on an open stage followed by a mini operet. This operet was actually an opening for a kid’s outbound adventure. This was probably hardly found in other place, Kampoeng Kids has creatively designed an outbound event for kids as an adventure to save The White Princess who is kidnapped by the dragon. The kids were equipped with warrior costume complete with a wood sword and shield. If I were still a kid, it would be delight to join that adventure.

Kampoeng Kidz, Kampoeng Smile

This vacation was truly an outstanding one. From many places I’ve been visited, Kampoeng Kidz is one of holiday destinations who gave a strong impression. We got everything we need for a holiday purpose in this place. While parents can enjoy the fresh air and beautiful panorama (which can help refreshing mind), children can play, learn and being acquainted with nature ^-^

There’s one thing that make Kampoeng Kidz felt like home. Jasmine has forgotten her desire to go to swimming pool (she was actually whimpered and whimpered to swim during our trip to Batu). Even we canceled our plan to go to other place in Batu and spent the whole weekend only in Kampoeng Kidz. That one thing is; HOSPITALITY.

Every crews of Kampoeng Kidz we met are cheerful and friendly. All students of Selamat Pagi Indonesia (SPI) High School always hospitably greet and smile to every guest they met. They’re also very easily chummy with kids.

Oops, I forgot to tell you who are actually the students of SPI High School?

They’re young amazing boys and girls who came from many islands of Indonesia. This school is a boarding school, so the students live in a dormitory that is much closed with the school building. SPI High School itself is the reality of a Julianto Eka Putra’s dream to build a free school for Indonesian young generation. He’s a successful entrepreneur from Surabaya who had been a billionaire at the age of below 40.

In SPI High School, besides learning the subjects as mentioned in ordinary curriculum, the students also learn about life skill, so they can some day become an independent and good entrepreneur. The tutors are many practitioners who support the founding of this school.

By the time I wrote this, 102 students are studying in SPI High School. They came from Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua, Riau, Nusa Tenggara and Bali. SPI High School is a multi cultural school. Around 28 of 78 graduated students are now still staying in Bumiaji to manage Kampoeng Kidz.

The purpose of founding Kampoeng Kidz itself is to give chances for these students to learn how to be an entrepreneur. They called this place “A giant entrepreneur laboratory”. In this place, they can learn many things such as how to organize an event, how to be a customer service, how to manage a restaurant, sales and marketing as well as leadership.

Being part of Kampoeng Kidz and Selamat Pagi Indonesia High School (even only for a while) had made me become young again. Maybe their enthusiasm and spirit had been spreaded out and affected me. Seeing these boys and girls, somehow, made me more optimist to face the future ^-^

There are still many things I haven’t written about Kampoeng Kidz. Again, just like when I wrote about Kaliandra, I prefer not to write everything. I hope it can give you chance to proof how Kampoeng Kidz offers a different vacation to spend the weekend with your family.

If you need more information about the program and accommodation facilities in Kampoeng Kidz, please visit their website; www.kampoengkidz.com.

Thank you Kampoeng Kidz, Thank you “Mas” dan “Mbak” of Selamat Pagi Indonesia High School, for a memorable experience. J

My other note:

Kaliandra,the Hidden Beauty of East Java

NegeriDongeng Sungai Pekalen (Indonesian version, a note about Rafting Adventure in Pekalen River, Probolinggo).