Since 2021, the SA has implemented the Outdoor Exploration Promotion Project, organizing 67 events.

To strengthen the mental strength and overall quality of competitive athletes, the Sports Administration (SA) organized an outdoor experiential camp on June 6, 2025 at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST). For the first time, the national boxing team was invited to participate in high and low rope extreme challenge training. The activity combined instructor capacity-building with hands-on athlete experiences. Through a variety of outdoor adventure courses, athletes were guided to develop skills in self-challenge, teamwork, and handling pressure, gaining practical experience in problem-solving and enhancing their men-tal toughness and responsiveness.

Since 2017 the SA has commissioned National Taiwan Normal University to implement the project "Outdoor Exploration: Experience Participation, Challenge Enjoyment, Cross-Disciplinary Innovation," supporting schools at all levels in or-ganizing camps or incorporating outdoor exploration activities into coming-of-age ceremonies or graduation events. Over the past five years, the project has held 67 events with a total of 3,027 student participants.

To further develop athletes' mental resilience and team spirit, this year's program invited 15 members of the National Sports Training Center (NSTC) boxing team to participate in high and low ropes courses in a natural outdoor setting. These extreme challenges serve as a means of " adding value" to athlete competitive power, extend-ing athletic preparation beyond the traditional gym environment.

This activity marks an innovative step in the training system of the NSTC. By utilizing non-conventional training methods, it seeks to unlock athletes’ potential and cultivate complete athletic qualities. This cross-disciplinary exploration has be-come a "hidden catalyst" for enhancing athletic performance.

The boxing team conducted training at the rope course facility of NPUST. Drawing from previous experiences, the program combined hands-on athlete expe-rience with instructor guidance. The courses incorporated scenario simulations and mission-based designs to improve not only athletes’ physical coordination and adaptability but also critical soft skills such as communication, trust, and leadership. The activity supported teacher training by allowing educators and trainee teachers to observe and lead, enhancing their ability to deliver outdoor exploration courses and creating an interactive platform for mutual learning between athletes and instructors.

Led by a team of professional outdoor exploration coaches, the boxers took part in activities including low-rope cooperative challenges, high-rope climbing, and high-altitude ball strikes. In the process, the athletes had to support one another and overcome psychological barriers, challenging their fears and reinforcing trust and tacit understanding within the team. They demonstrated strong engagement and willpower throughout the experience, breaking through self-imposed limits while facing physical and mental challenges. Tsai Hsuan-tsun, who just won first place in the men’s 65kg division at the 2025 national team boxing trials, shared: "Although we're a boxing team and usually train individually, this exploration activity made me deeply understand the importance of teamwork. At critical moments, each of us supported the others." Kuo Sheng-chi, winner of the youth boy’s 60kg division, added: “I thought these challenges were just part of physical training, but they actu-ally required psychological strength and tacit understanding between team mem-bers. Every completed task felt like a journey through fear and self-dialogue."

The “Outdoor Exploration Program” is flexibly scheduled during after-school hours, weekends, and school holidays to help schools at all levels plan specialized camps or incorporate the activities into unique events like coming-of-age or gradua-tion ceremonies. It is also included in the framework of outdoor and wilderness ed-ucation promotion. The program aims to make outdoor exploration education more widespread and regular through cross-agency collaboration, allowing schools to build exploration curricula that reflect their own distinctive characteristics.

Additionally, the program emphasizes using outdoor exploration as a platform for teacher training. Teachers and trainee teachers gain hands-on experience, equip-ping them to develop their own independent exploration programs in schools, to improve overall teaching quality in outdoor education and ensure sustained imple-mentation capabilities. The SA hopes this model will be win-win—training both athletes and teachers—while promoting the long-term development of outdoor ex-ploration education.

This camp was not just a combination of physical and mental training, but also a deep journey of athlete growth and educational practice. In the future, the SA will continue to promote similar activities to strengthen the connection between athletes and education sites, injecting more resilience, confidence, and innovation into Tai-wan’s competitive sports.