Teenagers are difficult to place for the summer outside travel plans since all they probably want to do is spend time with their friends (who are either traveling or visiting home), or remain glued to their computer/game console/mobile device/social media.  What they should be doing is reading to prevent summer brain drain, but that can get boring, so we’ve rounded up a number of Beijing summer camps for you to sign up your teen!

The camps are all for kids between age 13-19, or grades 7-12.  We begin with enhancement (to prevent summer brain drain and perhaps return to school more knowledgeable than before), then move on to enrichment (where the real juice is), and finish up with sports (to get them moving).

Enhancement

CISB Scholastic Assessment Test/SAT, Jul 18-Aug 5
Grades 9-11. The Canadian International School of Beijing’s SAT course trains prospective SAT testers in vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, and mathematics for an improved result.

• Registration deadline May 27. Discounts for CISB, ISNS, CCSC students. Fee includes tuition, materials, snacks, and lunches (possible transportation). For more details, contact: summeradmissions@cis-beijing.com.

CISB Intensive English Course, Jul 18-Aug 5
Grades 6-8. The Canadian International School of Beijing’s Intensive English Course is meant for SAT applicants to hone their foundational English skills and writing skills. The course will focus on sentence structure, grammar, vocabulary, strategic reading, and creative writing.

• Registration deadline May 27. Discounts for CISB, ISNS, CCSC students. Fee includes tuition, materials, snacks, and lunches (possible transportation). For more details, contact: summeradmissions@cis-beijing.com.

Keystone Summer Archway English Immersion, Jul 11-29
Grades 6-10. The English Immersion programme at Keystone Academy is designed for non-native English speaking students interested or currently enrolled in a local private school, or going abroad. They will learn how to perform at a high level in an international or American-style independent school learning environment. During this three-week programme, students will develop a strong proficiency in their academic English ability, while also honing their study skills and being introduced to many key concepts in the arts, sciences, and humanities. By participating in activity-based learning opportunities both in and outside the classroom, students will be well prepared for Keystone Academy and its peer institutions, and also develop and strengthen a genuine interest in learning as a personal quality.

• Registration deadline May 10. RMB 15,900. Contact: (5825 6008)

Harrow Beijing’s Summer School, Jul 26-Aug 5
Ages 13-15. Harrow Beijing’s inaugural summer program last two weeks at a time, providing outside students an opportunity to experience international school education.  The program is designed to improve students’ language proficiency, understand Harrow Beijing’s expectations and provide project-based learning experiences to students.

• RMB 14,000 (lunch included). Assessment required (RMB 50). Contact: harrowsaturdays@harrowbeijing.cn (6444 8900 6851)

Global P.R.E.P Boarding School Transition, Jul 10-16
Grades 6-9. Global P.R.E.P. is run by Metta Dael, international Admissions Director from Northfield Mount Hermon, and Martha Neubert, a Northfield Mount Hermon humanities teacher. This programme is designed to help new international students prepare for their boarding school experience through cross-cultural understanding and special academy programmes. It is open to students who have already received acceptances to boarding schools and who are focused on preparing as well as possible, socially and academically.

• Registration deadline May 15.  RMB 10,500 with 50% deposit.  Contact registration@hyde-education.com (8046 3886).

Enrichment

Chinese Cultural Summer Camps, Jun 20-24, Jun 27-Jul 1, Jul 4-8
Ages 6-14, China Culture Center hosts a five day bilingual summer camp with both indoor hands-on activities and outdoor tours exploring Beijing and its authentic Chinese culture.

• RMB 3,200 per child (5 days).  For more information, contact info@chinaculturecenter.org (6432 9341).

That’s Mandarin! Chinese Summer Camp, Jun 13-26, Jun 27-Jul 10, Jul 11-24, Jul 25-Aug 7, Aug 8-21
Ages 5-17. That’s Mandarin offers several different camp options to suit any family!  There are morning camps, day camps, and full day camps.  For older children, there are also homestay camps, and if you’d like in on the fun—family camps! Camps can be two week long or four week long. The full-length program includes intensive Chinese classes with cartoon class, reading and writing, and topic based oral lessons.  Each week has three days of cultural activities, including traditional Chinese calligraphy, opera mask painting, cooking classes, Chinese knot making, and mahjong. Fieldtrips and excursions are also available for Beijing, such as the Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Confucius Temple, and Beihai Park.

• For Beijing camps, contact: info@thatsmandarin.com (5218 6432). For the Shanghai camps, contact: info.shanghai@thatsmandarin.com (6452 0017).

Keystone Academy’s Marine Science STEAM Program, Jul 18-29
Grades 3-7. The Marine Science STEAM Program for summer students is a small step that combines the school’s missions of promoting environmental stewardship and thoughtful bilingual immersion education. Students’ learning in the program will be inquiry-based: they will work with our teachers to observe closely, ask good questions, investigate actively, and find answers to their own questions–all in the context of studying ocean life in both Chinese and English. Students will be challenged to examine the connections between human life and millions of lives in the ocean. In doing so, they will achieve an understanding of the importance of environmental conservation.

• Registration deadline May 1. RMB 10,900. Contact: complete application at keystoneacademy.cn

Harrow Beijing’s English and Drama Summer Camp, Jun 26-Aug 5
Ages 13-15. Harrow Beijing’s two week summer camp will give children a taste of the international school experience with the aim of improving students’ language proficiency. The aim of this program is to encourage students to improve their language competency and take part in a drama performance. All teachers in this program are experienced Harrow International School Beijing teachers. They will use the Cambridge University English framework to help improve each student’s English level as they participate in drama activities.

• Registration deadline April 30.  RMB 14,000. Contact: harrowsaturdays@harrowbeijing.cn (6444 8900 6851).

DDC Talented Youth Program – MIT STEM, Jun 27-Aug 5
Grades 4-7. DDC Education Centre offers a tailored educational program dedicated to the development of highly talented children. With award-winning teams of instructors from the United States, it offers systematic STEAM courses to students aged between 7 and 14. Courses include web design, 3D printing and computer programming. They give priority to the development of students’ science spirit and comprehensive ability, and emphasize the mixture of social value, humanities and the arts, Information Technology & STEAM.

• Registration deadline August 1.  RMB 5,800 per week. Contact: contact@dd-learning.com (8049 0079).

DDC Talented Youth Program – US STEAM Summer Camp, Jun 27-Aug 5
Grades 5-8.
DDC Education Centre invites you to have a touch of the prestigious US STEAM summer camp at British School of Beijing Shunyi! Whether you want to know how to become a doctor, how to create water on Mars… you’ll learn how through the various projects in this camp.

• Registration deadline August 1.  RMB 5,800 per week. Contact: contact@dd-learning.com (8049 0079).

DDC Ocean Exploration Camp, Jun 20-Aug 26
Grades 2-7. DDC Ocean Exploration Camp is led by ocean experts from New England Aquarium USA.

• RMB 5,800.  Hosted at the Beijing Aquarium. Contact: dd-learning.com (8049 0079).

DDC Integrated Art Summer Camp, Jun 20-Jul 1, Jul 11-Jul 22
Grades 2-7. A joint effort between DDC and educational experts from the US, Integrated Art summer camp is an organic and evolving approach to teaching by integrating music, language, and visual arts.  It builds communication, problem solving, collaboration, shared experiences, and allows the student to actively ponder and experiment to display comprehension employing a variety of art forms.  Students will awaken their critical eye and develop ownership of thought and creativity with evidential reasoning via hands on and minds on learning.

• RMB 5,800. Contact: contact@dd-learning.com (8049 0079).

Beijing Playhouse Summer Theater Camps, Jun 27-Aug 6
Ages 6-14. At Beijing Playhouse’s two-week long summer camps, children will get to perform Peter Pan, Aladdin, and Rapunzel with acting, song, and dance. Aspiring actors, singers, dancers, and musicians are all welcome. Some English proficiency is required. All who audition will be cast. Parents are invited to the final performance.

• Audition dates May 7, May 21, June 4. RMB 8,000. Contact: broadway@beijingplayhouse.com.

Hyde Education Summer Enrichment Program, Jul 11-Aug 12
Grades 1-9. Hyde Academy has scheduled a series of fun, hands on, academic summer enrichment programs in math, science, language arts, and humanities for students in grades 1- 9. Take a tour of the universe from the inside out with our exciting introductory physics course.  Use math to explore the world around us through a variety of inquiry-based problems and projects. Fancy yourself as the next Sherlock Holmes? Sign up for our Crime Scene Investigation program.  Other course titles include: Public Speaking, Archaeology, Geography: Mapping our World, and Vocabulary and the Art of Writing.

• RMB 2,250 (half day), RMB 4,275 (full day) per week. Contact registration@hyde-education.com (8046-3886).

Sports

BSC Sailing Camps, Jun 12-Aug 26
Ages 8-16. Beijing Sailing Center will be hosting single and double week sailing classes.  The program provides an adventurous, intellectual and educational experience, while honing your child’s leadership and communication skills.  Last summer they hosted over 500 children and their parents coming. The center is both convenient to Beijing (a 2 hour train ride trip) and all the accommodation, transportation, a meal, activities, chaperones, and entertainments are covered.

• RMB 13,400 (2 weeks), RMB 6,700 (1 week). Contact: sailing@beijingsailing.com (400 180 0107).

DCB Sports and Fun Summer Camps, Jun 20-Aug 5
Ages 4-15 Dulwich Community Programs (DCP) will host football, tennis, swimming and non-sports camps throughout the summer in collaboration with Rising Stars Tennis Academy, Firepower Swimming Club, and Beijing Kickers.

• Registration deadline June 15. RMB 1,500-3,000 per week. Contact DCP: dcp@dulwich-beijing.cn (6454 9150, 6454 9019).

O’le Climbing Summer Camp, Jun 20-24, Jul 4-8, Aug 1-5, 8-12, 15-18
Ages 15-19. O’le Climbing will be offering indoor and outdoor adventure summer camps for students during the summer holiday. Various activities are ready for this summer from indoor rock climbing to outdoor camping trip, all activities lead by professional and qualified instructors.

• RMB 4,500 (includes equipment and admission, transportation, food for two camp days). Contact: oleclimbing@gmail.com (150 0137 1016).

Sports Beijing ISB Dome Summer Camp, Jun 13-Jul 22Ages 5-16. Sports Beijing will be offering a wide variety of full-day activities and half-day activities both in the morning and afternoon!  The morning sports will include basketball, soccer, gymnastics, and tennis, and the afternoon activities will include a multi-sport program and tennis. The multisport afternoon will offer many fun activities for the kids, like kickball, dodge ball, juggling, and much more. This is a time to let loose, compete, and learn new things.

• RMB 2,600 half day per week (includes lunch for full day and t-shirt for half day). Discounts for siblings and additional weeks.

CK Martial Hearts Shaolin Temple Experience, Jul 10-24, Aug 7-Aug 21 Ages 14+ (14-17 when training together with a parent). CK Martial Hearts, in association with Shaolin Temple International Liaisons Office, offers 7 and 14-day programs at Henan’s Shaolin Temple to learn martial arts with genuine Shaolin warrior monks.  The program includes daily taichi and qigong classes, kung fu classes inside the temple, a guided tour of the temple, as well as an optional sightseeing excursion.

• RMB 5,188 (7 days), RMB 8,888 (14 days). Includes transportation to the Shaolin Temple from Beijing, three Chinese meals per day, hostel accommodation, total of 7 hrs of instruction per day, Chinese speaking expat guide, optional sightseeing tour, and a complimentary training outfit.  Contact: train@theshaolintemple.cn

ClubFootball, Jul 5-Aug 24Ages 4.5-16. ClubFootball has been around since 2001, hosting football classes and camps that promote coordination and teamwork. This summer, their coaches will have week long summer classes for players of all skill levels, or minimal three-day intensive workshops, depending on your child’s schedule.

• RMB 800-1,500/week. Camps will be held in Chaoyang Park, Olympic Forest Park, Zhongguancun, Wangjing, Lido and Shunyi (contact coaching@wanguoqunxing.com, 5130 6893)

Photo: Pixabay, and courtesy of Beijing Playhouse, BSC Sailing Camps, CISB, China Culture Center, DCB, DDC, Harrow Beijing, Hyde Education, ISB, Keystone, O’le Climbing Summer Camp, CK Martial Hearts, and That’s Mandarin!

If you don’t have an easy answer to the question “Where are you from?” and your closest friends are from six different countries, chances are you’re a third culture kid. The term was coined by Ruth Hill Useem, an American sociologist and anthropologist in the 1950s to describe children who spend a significant portion of their lives outside of their parents’ native culture.

Hannah Smith of Harrow International School of Beijing has written a blog post on the experience of being a third culture kid in Beijing on The Guardian’s Student Blog.

She writes:

Most students at my school aren’t from one particular place. Sure, our passports might say we’re British or Malaysian, but it’s more complicated than that. Where you’re “from” is less about birthplace and more about cultural identity; as an expat student your cultural identity ends up being difficult to categorise.

Third culture kids quite often feel more connected to each other than to their parents culture or the society they live in. Theirs is an experience that only each other can understand. Research from around the world has shown that third culture kids from completely different cultures share more in common with each other than with peers from their parent’s original society.

Quote:

I feel like a foreigner everywhere I go, a sentiment echoed by other students at international schools like mine. Mixed-race students who travel a lot while growing up can lack a cultural identity and also have to struggle with the fact that they don’t have a history – or not one that’s easily explained.

Kamalabadi says: “I very much feel like a cyber-age person, with bits and pieces of my background stuck together like a montage from the things I read, movies I watch and places I’ve been.”

And while third culture kids build connections to all of the societies they are exposed to, they generally don’t feel real ownership of any.

Quote:

For me, a cultural identity is something I have to cultivate and maintain, not something that falls into place naturally. I’ve heard my accent becoming progressively more American over the last five years. This is jarring because my vaguely British accent was the last real reminder of where I was born. Without it, how am I supposed to tell people I’m from the UK?

I’ve had to make a concerted effort to retain my nondescript, regionally ambiguous “English” accent because without it, I don’t have any proof that I was from the UK at all. My passport might as well have been Taiwanese.

This lack of definition means that I’ve ended up in a murky haze of different cultures, with bits and pieces from everywhere I’ve lived and everyone I’ve met. I count with my fingers the way they do in Taiwan and I grew up eating roti in Singaporean food courts and goose fat noodles at my grandmother’s house in Kaohsiung.

The good news for parents of third culture kids is that according to Useem they are more mature as teenagers, much more likely to be linguistically adept, and four times as likely as non-third culture kids to earn a bachelors degree.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.com

Ahhhh…spring break! Just those two simple words bring back memories of trekking south with friends for some sunshine and fun. But even if I went nowhere it was still a week off of school, much needed R&R. While the “official” history of spring break has no true origins, there is a lot of speculation about its purpose: celebrating the return of spring, having a holiday around Easter weekend, observing “study week” or “reading week” to avoid academic burnout, or just being a college student tradition (for some) of, well, partying.

As spring breaks approach in our area, we hear about planned trips to exotic locations – far more thrilling than the trips we used to take. Wow, how lucky are our children?! Sometimes it’s nice to simply stay home and relax with no pressures or homework; other times there’s an urge to travel to warmer weather or simply explore different places. 

Schools here have their week off at different times – most unfortunate if families have children at different schools. While some call it Spring Break, others will say Term Break, Easter Break or something else just to denote some time off to recharge everyone’s batteries. For those schools whose breaks are not around a Chinese holiday, it may well be a good time to travel when the rest of the country is not. If staying in Beijing, the weather is warming up enough to enjoy some outings on the town with family.

Some Shunyi school spring breaks:

• International School of Beijing (ISB):                       March 26-30
• Dulwich College Beijing:                                        March 30-April 6
• Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA):          March 30-April 6
• British School of Beijing (BSB):                               March 30-April 9
• Western Academy of Beijing (WAB):                        April 2-6
• Harrow International School Beijing:                        April 2-13
• Beijing Rego British School:                                   April 30-May 4
• International Montessori School of Beijing (MSB):      April 30-May 4
   

Photo by astrolame of flickr.