What is camp education? The definition given by the American Camp Association in 1998: “An outdoor, team-based experience that provides continuous opportunities for creativity, entertainment, and education. Through leadership training and exposure to nature, it helps every camper grow physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually.”
In recent years, as an imported concept, camp education has become another popular option for families in China to provide quality education beyond traditional schooling. There is a Chinese saying, “While your parents are alive, do not travel far,” so why are Chinese parents today eager to let their underage children “travel far”? The first generation of only children in China under the one-child policy have now grown up and become parents themselves. They have gradually become aware of the issues that arose from their own upbringing as only children. With the one-child policy limiting each family to just one child, all the attention and focus—along with high expectations and often excessive pampering—have been concentrated on that single child. A widely discussed comparison between Japanese and Chinese middle school students during a summer camp in recent years serves as a clear example. And these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the challenges children face during their development. Due to a lack of character education during adolescence, many young adults entering society struggle to cope with minor setbacks and hardships. Tragic cases of top-performing students from prestigious schools taking their own lives, or even becoming psychologically distorted and turning to crime, are unfortunately not uncommon. So, what kind of education should Chinese children receive? Should we quickly shift from reducing academic burdens to opening up more personalized educational opportunities?
Ms. Zhao Wei, the founding chairperson of the China Camp Education Alliance and director of the Qixing Camp Education Development Center, once succinctly articulated the goals and responsibilities of camp education in China: “In the 21st century, our education needs to cultivate future leaders who can tackle the many unresolved issues in the world, such as poverty, environmental pollution, energy shortages, and education. Society needs a new generation capable of finding answers in innovative ways. Youth education is facing an urgent need for innovation. We hope that the education sector and the whole of society can come together to foster in young people the learning abilities, life skills, and survival skills needed for the 21st century through educational innovation.” This may also be exactly what Chinese parents hope to offer their children—another window on their path to growth.