A unique summer camp is currently being discussed in China, which is attended by children from affluent families. Typically, the term 'summer vacation' evokes images of games, fun, outings, and learning new things; however, in China, some wealthy parents are sending their children to such camps where they receive training that includes fieldwork, peeling tree bark, and independently completing daily tasks.
A distinctive feature of these camps is that parents are willing to spend sums reaching hundreds of thousands on their children's participation, rather than just thousands of rupees. According to reports, the goal of these 'hardship camps' is to take children out of their comfort zone and give them experience with difficult conditions and labor. Here, children are forced to work in fields, learn agricultural processes, engage in product processing, and perform tasks they would not normally do in urban settings.
Many children spend the entire day engaged in physical labor to understand how difficult earning money and maintaining life can be.
The cost of this camp generates the most resonance. According to available information, a ten-day course costs about 4000 yuan, equivalent to approximately 48 thousand rupees. A monthly camp will cost more than 1.2 lakh rupees. Thus, parents who send their children here spend significant funds, striving to teach them the value of diligent work.
Children here are not limited only to fieldwork; their mobile phones are also confiscated. After this, they participate in the camp's planned activities and assignments. It is also noted that children who do not show diligence are given less potatoes as food. This allows children to get an idea that receiving benefits depends on their efforts.
Camp organizers explain that their task is to convey to the children the idea that money is not easily obtained. Many city-dwelling children grow up surrounded by so many amenities that they do not have to exert much effort to obtain food, housing, and other necessities, as their needs are immediately met by their parents. In such conditions, it is difficult to explain the true price of labor and money to children.
Therefore, some parents believe it is necessary to temporarily detach children from a comfortable life. They believe that fieldwork and physical labor will help children become self-sufficient and understand how much effort is required to obtain food and money.
Nevertheless, this type of camp also faces criticism. Various opinions arise regarding whether it is right to force children to work so much and keep them in difficult circumstances. Some believe that children should understand the importance of work, but at the same time, their age, safety, and physical capabilities must be taken into account.
Other parents argue that due to constant provision of all comforts in the modern world, children quickly panic even over minor problems. Therefore, a temporary introduction to real life difficulties can contribute to the development of their personality and thinking.
Overall, this camp in China attracts public attention because it takes children out of an environment of wealth and privilege, immersing them in a life based on labor. The high participation fee and the amount of work performed by the children have sparked a discussion about which method of labor education is most appropriate. The question of whether they need to work in the fields or if assigning them daily chores is enough to achieve self-sufficiency remains a subject of active debate.