The long holidays are a great time for kids to gain some independence - and boost their learning - on a camp. Here's our pick of the most exciting summer camps in Asia
From surfing to learning Chinese, summer camps offer a heap of learning opportunities away from the classroom
Surfing in Hong Kong
Surfing in Hong Kong? Absolutley! The city maybe known as a concrete jungle but it's also full of surprises and a sandy coastline with surf-friendly waves is one of them.
Treasure Island on Lantau Island, Hong Kong's largest outlying island, has a fantastic track record of turning out the next generation of board-riders at its week-long summer camps at Pui O Beach. Busy days on the sand are packed with activities, including learning surfing skills, finding out about ocean safety and making new friends. And there are heaps of other fun activities to keep mini wave-riders occupied when they're not out on the water hanging ten.
This year Treasure Island is offering three camps. Grommet Surf Camp is aimed at beginners aged from five to nine years. There's an intermediate camp for kids aged niine to 12 years. And there's a broader-based Adventure Camp with a range of activities, including an overnight camp under canvas, for seven to 16 year olds.
A daily supervised pick-up adn drop-off from Central Ferry Pier on Hong Kong Island is included as well as all lunches and snacks for the week. Online bookings can be made at treasureislandhk.com
Mandarin immersion in China
Aimed at children aged from seven to 17 years, Summer Camps China will have your offspring participating in Chinese cultural and learning activities and visiting historical and tourist sites in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. And, of course, taking part in Mandarin classes.
The teen immersion programmes can be customised to meet students' learning goals, with internsive or part-time Mandarin classes offered.
There are homestay camps (kids must be 12 years or older) for up to four weeks, as well as day camps and family camps for younger students. Classes focus on developing students' speaking, listening, reading and writing skills so they'll head back to class in September brimming with confidence - and great summer memories. Online enquiries should be made at summercampschina.com
Going green in Indonesia
Peel kids away from their screens for a summer of adventuring at Green Camp Bali. Days are spent kayaking mangrove swamps, island-hopping, raft-building, crafting or learning about the Balinese rainforests.
The length of the camps range from single activity days to a full week and are easy to combine with a family trip to Bali.
Depending on the length of the camp, shared accommodation is included in yurts on the campus of Bali's Green School or in local family homestays. Twenty-four hour supervision is included and medical staff are available at all times.
Week-long day camps are also available for younger children as well as three-day and five-day camps. More information is available online at greencampbali.com
Back to nature in Hong Kong
Outward Bound is located in Sai Kung's stunning Country park and is a year-round provider of outdoor activity programmes. During the summer holidays the group reaches out with fun adventure camps for youngsters aged nine to 17 years.
Leaders work hard to encourage children to be curious and to take part in new challenges, but most of all to have fun and appreciate the great outdoors - well away from screens and social media.
The 4kidz programme welcomes nine to ten year olds with paddlling, dragon boating, bouldering, hiking, camping, gorge walking and jetty jumping. If nothing else, they'll sleep well when they return home each evening.
The Teen Explorers Camp for 11 to 13 year olds includes a camping element, as well as a leave-no-trace learning initiative. There's also a Youth Adventure Camp for 14 to 17 year olds.
Outward Bound encourages participants to develop independence and to take calculated risks, as well as being an effective team member who can make good decisions - all fantastic skills to take back to the classroom in September. Find out more at outwardbound.org.hk
Embracing the great outdoors in Japan
Niseko might be better known for its snowy pistes, but once the white stuff has melted the area is transformed into a verdant wonderland of snowy slopes.
Each summer, EdVenture takes advantage of the stunning scenery and activity-friendly temperatures (a blissful mid-20s on the thermometer and little-to-no-humidity) with a programme that embraces the great outdoors.
Camps can invlove the whole family, which is ideal for nervous littlies, or there are day camps leaving parents to enjoy some child-free time.
Camp activities include orienteering, nature spotting, kayaking, family-based overnight camping, drama, day-trips and more. There's more information online at edventureniseko.com
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