Developing K-8 Chinese speakers who can confidently communicate and collaborate with others.
Join us this summer in beautiful Chattanooga, TN • Currently enrolling for July 7-11
Total Immersion
Campers are warmly and consistently supported by staff in speaking Chinese from Dropoff to Pickup.
Play-Based Learning
Campers complete projects, tinker, pretend & more while using Chinese as a tool to pursue personal interests.
Thoughtful Input
Weekly activities designed to support campers’ language comprehension and vocabulary development.
Fun Outdoor Classroom
Being outside sparks creativity and imagination while combating the “nature deficit” so many kids experience in today’s society. Studies by the Children & Nature Network show that a meaningful connection with the outdoors:
sharpens attention span and executive function
develops creative problem-solving skills
relieves anxiety
improves physical fitness
encourages collaboration
improves emotional regulation.
Exploratory & Purposeful Learning
Through open-ended exploration and guided activities, campers get hours of language input paired with meaningful output. This intentional, sensory-rich play provides meaningful opportunities for campers to engage with peers on their own terms and for their own means.
In addition to having open-ended free time, middle school campers will complete a naturalist project on the grounds of the nature sanctuary.
During the week, campers’ motivation to use the target language shifts from extrinsic — like completing homework — to intrinsic as they use Chinese to accomplish their own goals throughout the day.
Open-Ended Social Time
Outdoor Explorers Free Play Stations are open-ended areas that provide all the tools campers need to explore their interests, make friends, and learn new skills — 100% in Chinese!
Read Chinese books at the Library Station
Make beautiful art at the Creative Station
Get some exercise at the Movement Station
Create a miniature environment at the Small World Station
Middle school campers will enjoy playing tabletop games offered completely in Chinese, organizing themselves into activities of all sorts, and getingt creative with art and tinkering supplies.
My boys really enjoyed camp. I didn't know how much they would enjoy being outside all day but was so pleased to hear how much fun they had. I could tell they were becoming more comfortable in communicating in Chinese after spending all day in that language.
Chattanooga is a great city and so much easier to access for us than an immersion camp on the west coast. In addition, traveling to Chattanooga for camp is much more cost effective. This is certainly no small consideration when trying to support language development throughout my kids' childhood. We would certainly want to return again.— Kristen H.
Sample Daily Schedule
Camp takes place Monday - Friday from 9:30AM to 3:30PM in our outdoor classroom at beautiful Audubon Acres.
Morning Warm Ups • Play icebreakers, practice social interaction vocabulary, and make friends!
Group Activity • Start the day with a fun game, show-and-tell, or a nature-inspired adventure.
Social Time & Projects • Elementary campers enjoy our Free Play Stations with staff nearby to provide language support while middle school campers work on their naturalist project.
Lunch + Read Aloud • Each week of camp features an array of picture books or an exciting chapter book for lunchtime entertainment!
Guided Activity • Campers will do some arts & crafts, go on a guided hike, explore the creek, or complete a STEM project together.
Social Time • Campers return to Free Play Stations for the remainder of the day.
*final schedule determined by staff & facilities
我很喜欢这个Summer Camp，有很多小朋友一起玩，徒步，玩水，踢球。最喜欢去河里游泳，捞鱼。非常开心看到了Box Turtle。–T. L., 8
小宝：我喜欢和老师做手工，徒步的时候喜欢大喊然后听山谷的回音。–X.L., 4
