Chinese students choose to carry on camping once school’s out for summer
Mainland parents increasingly sending their children to residential camps in China – many hosted by international schools with activites and classes taught in English – to improve their life skills
Lele, a seven-year-old boy from Shanghai, is looking forward to studying next month - during his summer holiday.
He will be attending a seven-day camp that will see him collect shells on the beach, observe snails and ants, create webs to catch insects and make his own telescope.
This year will be the third summer in a row that his mother, Gong Ying, will be sending him off on a residential activity in the hope that he will learn life skills that will boost his confidence and independence as well teach him some useful knowledge.
Two years ago, at the age of five, Lele was the youngest child to attend the residential camp, held in a forest just outside Shanghai, by Baoyatu, a leading mainland Chinese organiser of such activities.
Last year Lele took flights all by himself, along with other children and teachers, when he attended a summer camp held in Qingdao.
“I am willing to send my son to summer camps because as parents we can relax, knowing that we don’t have to take care of him during this time,” said Gong, who owns a small telecom equipment store.