Events

Summer has arrived. SFUSD just had their last day of school and OUSD is quickly wrapping up for the summer break. Whether you have finalized your summer plans or if you are still in between deciding on the right program I want to encourage you to consider a Mandarin Summer Camp for your child.

A summer camp is a great opportunity for your child to experience a Chinese Immersion program in a fun, relaxed environment. Summer camps can provide you and your child with a range of activities and experiences to better assess if your child would enjoy learning a new language. It’s also a great opportunity for children that will begin a full-time language immersion program in the fall to receive a gentler introduction to a language immersion program.

New Sprouts Chinese School (Chinese Cultural Education Association):

In addition to their summer program New Sprouts Chinese School provides a year round weekend language program, after school programs at several OUSD and private schools. New Sprouts Summer Camp runs for 4 weeks from the last week of July through August. You may enroll for as many weeks as you like (a discount is offered for multiple weeks of enrollment). Each camp week is associated with a theme (Session 1: Art & Music, Session 2: Inventions, Session 3: Cooking, Session 4: Festivals).

Location: Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1255 First Ave., Oakland, CA 94606

Phone: 510-206-5666

Shu Ren International School:

The Shu Ren International School provides a Mandarin Immersion education within an inquiry-based, interdisciplinary curriculum that highlights skill in critical thinking, in-depth learning and global competence. Shu Ren’s Summer Camp will run in four two-week sessions (June 27 – August 19). Shu Ren’s Summer Camp is designed for children who are interested in learning Mandarin language skills and Chinese cultural knowledge through fun, immersion-based activities. No prior Mandarin is needed. They provide a Pre-K camp for children ages 3 – 4, as well as a school age camp for children ages 5 – 10. Morning activities will focus on developing Mandarin language skills and the afternoons will focus on cultural activities (e.g. Chinese stories, painting, calligraphy, martial arts, music, cooking and field trips).

Location: 1333 University Ave., Berkeley, CA 94702

Phone: 510-981-0320

Ya Ya Chinese School:

Ya Ya Chinese School offers children an immersive experience in Chinese culture via bilingual education in English and Mandarin, children’s Kung Fu and Tai Chi, calligraphy, painting, hand work/arts and crafts, and music, all within the context of a small, loving family day care setting.  Each student gets individual attention from Teacher He, a Tai Chi master and teacher with 22 years experience teaching Mandarin to children in the public elementary school system in China.  Teacher He (Ya Ya) uses this experience to engage students thereby encouraging curiosity, learning, and development of social skills and confidence.  Students are provided many opportunities for enrichment that extend beyond the classroom in the form of field trips and school/community events.   The children are also given a nourishing home made lunch and snack each day. Summer camp is scheduled to begin June 27, 2011 – applications are still being accepted.

Location: 426 Evelyn Ave., Albany, CA 94706

Phone: 510.559.3687

For additional resources please check out the Mandarin Immersion Parents Council as they provide a great list of additional summer camps throughout the bay area.