ABIS students undertake canyoning trip to Al Hajar

SOHAR: Each year, Al Batinah International School (ABIS), Sohar, sends its students to explore the rich cultural, natural, and historical opportunities it provides. The goal is to celebrate and learn about the country, and open students’ eyes to its magnificence. This year trips were the best ones yet, with trips ranging from diving and sailing in the ocean, visiting forts and villages, to climbing up Oman’s highest peak.

For the third year running, Grade 9 headed out on the most challenging of the Oman Week trips: tackling Jebel Shams. The trip involved many activities: scrambling up Wadi Damm to get to the hidden pool at the end, abseiling down a 30-metre sheer rock face at the end of the Grand Canyon of Oman, climbing back up the via ferrata with views of the bottom of the Grand Canyon, hiking on the Balcony Walk to the end of Wadi Ghul, and canyoning in Snake Canyon. With that much adventure, it’s only fair to say that the trip is action-packed!

For many of the students, this was their first experience with these types of activities, which can be rather intimidating, but our students beat all of our expectations by tackling each adventure with grit and determination. They exhibited amazing team-working skills by helping and encouraging each other during the different experiences, truly bonding as a class. Our evening reflection sessions were filled with students claiming pride in their accomplishments, which was rightfully earned. There is truly nothing more satisfying that attempting a difficult task and completing it, something our Grade 9 students did every day of Oman Week. Way to go, Grade 9 Team!