Summer camp is a great opportunity for children and young people to develop their independence and self-confidence, but sometimes they can just seem like an extension of school. Here are a few camps that promise a taste of real adventure, offering experiences your kids will never forget.

Wilderness Survival

Imagine China’s Adventure camps let kids loose in the wild, learning important survival skills under expert supervision: making fires, building shelters, rafting, and using bows and arrows. And for those who have built up their skills, there are level 2 courses, where you can build on your learning and actually sleep in the shelter you’ve constructed!

Summer Adventure Camp, Jun 17 to Aug 16

Age 7-14. RMB 890 per child per day, minimum 3 days, discounts available. Imagine China (5739-4933) https://imagine-china.com/adventure-camp/.

Horse Riding

Is your kid pony mad? Or do they dream of galloping away to adventure? They can learn the basics of riding at this camp, run by Oriental Equestrian Club. Instruction is in Chinese, English, or French, and focuses on the proper care of horses; as they say, “learn to become a complete rider by loving, respecting and understanding your horse!”

Summer Horse Riding Camp, Jun 18 to Aug 23

Age 7+. RMB 5460 (English or French instructor), RMB 4460 (Chinese instructor) for four half days. 8.30am-1pm. Oriental Equestrian Club. Xiwanglu Village 500m to the West, Gaoliying, Shunyi District. (13811233647, WeChat: 13811233647) http://www.horseschool.cn/. 顺义区高丽影镇西王路村西500米东方马汇马术俱乐部.

Action Movie Stunts

Even in these days of CGI, there’s nothing like a good stunt to ramp up the excitement in an action movie. Now kids can learn parkour skills in the safety of a Beijing trampoline park: vaulting, climbing, balancing, and flipping.

Summer Action Camp, Jun 24 to Aug 23

Age 7-16. RMB 790 per day including transport. Imagine China (5739-4933) https://imagine-china.com/adventure-camp/.

The Great Outdoors

Camp Greenwoods promises to bring all the adventure of a traditional US summer camp to China, with purpose-built camp sites. Kids can look forward to sports, arts, and perhaps most importantly, making new friends.

Camp Greenwoods, Jun 24 to Aug 31

Age 7+. RMB 8800 per week. Camp Greenwoods. (6417 3809, WeChat: lufang0105) www.greenwoodschina.com/.

Giving Back to China

This is an opportunity for teenagers to give something back to their host country, working alongside people from the Miao minority in rural China and leaving a permanent legacy in the form of a recycle receptor and a trash incinerator. The tour starts in Beijing, before moving onto Xi’an, and then deep into Guangdong and Guangxi, ending up in Shanghai. It’s an experience that could change a young person’s life.

Service Learning Summer Camp, Jul 25 to Aug 8

Age 14-18. USD 2,790 (approx RMB 20,000). WildChina. (6465 6602) www.wildchina.com/tours/wildchina-summer-camp-2019.

Photos: courtesy of organizers