Pai Seedlings Foundation · School Programme
Roots & Resilience
A 7-day off-grid farm experience for students from age 12. No screens. Real work. A working permaculture farm in the mountains of northern Thailand.
Students leave their devices behind and spend seven days learning by doing —
building with mud, growing food, weaving with Karen artisans, and visiting a living
Karen community in the hills above Pai.
Physical engagement produces real learning.
When students are tired from meaningful work, the noise of social media fades.
Real conversations happen. Confidence grows through competence, not performance.
“Students close the week with a group coaching session and leave with a self-coaching journal — daily prompts, a morning routine template, and a personal written commitment to keep the practice alive at home.” — Lyse Kong, Co-founder
Why this programme matters
Research consistently shows that experiential learning — physical, social, and cross-cultural — builds the cognitive flexibility, resilience, and self-awareness that academic environments alone cannot. Roots & Resilience is designed as a structured developmental week: students return with measurable skills, a completed coaching journal, and a lived understanding of sustainability that maps directly to school curriculum and university preparation.
Responsibility
Students are part of running the farm, not guests of it. Every crew task is real and necessary.
Humility
The land teaches. Students listen, observe, and learn from people whose knowledge comes from living close to nature.
Community
Shared work, shared meals, shared discomfort. The group matters more than the individual performance.
Rootedness
Knowing where food comes from, how earth feels, what it takes to build something — with your hands, together.
Daily Rhythm
| Time | Block |
|---|---|
| 7:30 am | Wake-up · Morning practice (rotating: yoga / Qi Gong / meditation / outdoor workout) |
| 8:15 am | Farm Crew duties · Breakfast preparation |
| 9:00 am | Main activity block |
| 12:00 pm | Cook and eat lunch together — farm-to-table, from what we grow |
| 2:00 pm | Skill or cultural activity block |
| 5:00 pm | Outdoor games · Free exploration of the farm |
| 7:00 pm | Dinner · Group debrief — reflection and open conversation |
| 8:00 pm | Wind down · No screens · Rest |
Morning practice (rotating): Each day opens with a facilitated practice led by a different facilitator. Not optional — it sets the tone for the day.
Farm Crew Rotation
Students are divided into small crews of 2–3. Each crew rotates through all farm duties so no student repeats the same task twice. A printed rotation schedule is provided on arrival.
Kitchen Crew
- Prepare breakfast and lunch
- Set and clear the table
- Wash up after meals
Animal Crew
- Feed and water the chickens
- Collect eggs
- Check animal welfare morning and evening
Garden Crew
- Morning garden check
- Water seedlings
- Compost kitchen waste
Camp Crew
- Clean and tidy sleeping tents
- Manage rubbish sorting
- Keep shared spaces clean
Weekly Programme
| Day | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 Arrival |
Minivan from Chiang Mai · Arrive at Seedlings Farm · Orientation walk | Permaculture introduction · Set up camp · First farm meal together |
| Day 2 | Mud building — laying foundations, mixing and applying earth | Mud building continued · Tour of agroforestry systems |
| Day 3 | Gardening — weeding, bed preparation, composting, soil observation | Permaculture practice — planting trees on the farm land |
| Day 4 | Karen natural weaving with local artisan — traditional patterns and techniques · Depart for Muang Noi Karen village in the afternoon | Overnight at the Karen village — sleep in traditional village homestay · Experience local evening life and communal dinner |
| Day 5 Village |
Morning village life · Guided activities with community members · Cultural exchange and traditional practices | Community-prepared lunch · Return to Seedlings Farm by evening |
| Day 6 | Full cooking challenge — students plan and prepare lunch from the farm harvest | Outdoor team games · Personal reflection time · Free exploration |
| Day 7 Closing |
Group coaching session facilitated by Lyse · Each student writes a personal commitment | Visit to the Pai hot springs — a final moment of rest and celebration together · Closing circle · Minivan return to Chiang Mai |
Day 7 group coaching: Lyse facilitates a closing session — reflecting on the week, naming what shifted, and identifying one practice each student wants to carry forward. Students leave with a structured self-coaching journal.
What Students Take Home
Seedlings Farm, Pai — Mae Hong Son, Thailand
Practical Information
Get in touch
www.seedlings-foundation.org
202 Moo 8, Tambon Wieng Nuea, Pai, 58130 Mae Hong Son, Thailand