Camp
Pre-Registration is now open for Summer 2025!
2025 Chinese Language & Culture Summer Camp
In Chinese, Gong Fu (功夫) doesn’t only mean Kung Fu, it also means SKILLS and TALENTS. Do you want your children to learn some real Gong Fu? Enroll them in the Become a Gong Fu Panda – 2025 Chinese Language & Culture Summer Camp, offered by the Center for Asian Studies (CAS) at The University of Texas at Dallas.
This three-week camp for children ages 5 to 15 not only builds Chinese language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing, but also develops specific talents in: Kung Fu, Calligraphy, Ink and Water Painting, Tai Chi Fan, folk dances, Chinese crafts and Jumping Ropes.
Daily immersion language classes that include reading Chinese classics such as Three Character Classic and Tang Poems, telling stories, singing songs and tongue twisters enable campers to master the language quickly. Inspiring and hands-on classes bring authentic cultural experiences and enable participants to develop talents while having fun!
Camp Time: June 9 – 27, 2025, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
**No camp on Thursday, June 19 for the Juneteenth federal holiday
Age Groups:
Class A: ages 5 to 7
Class B: ages 8 to 10
Class C: ages 11 to 15
Camp Orientation
TBD, JSOM 1.118 (Davidson Auditorium) — Parents and campers will meet with the instructors, learn the check-in/out procedures and camp policies, visit classrooms, ask questions and get answers, etc. Both campers and parents are welcome to attend.
Camp Closing Show
Friday, June 27, 2024, 2 to 3 p.m., Location TBD — Campers will perform and display what they have learned in the camp. Parents/guardians and friends are welcome to attend. Invitations will be sent by email to parents/guardians one week before the closing show.
Camp Location
Camp is held in the Naveen Jindal School of Management (JSOM) at The University of Texas at Dallas. Free parking passes will be provided for parents to drop off and pick up their campers during camp time.
Camp Tuition
A non-refundable deposit must be received at the time of official registration ($50/camper for one week; $100/camper for two weeks; or $150/camper for three weeks).
| Number of Weeks | Early Bird: If Full Tuition Received On/Before Friday, May 2, 2025 | Regular: If Deposit Received After Friday, May 2, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Week | $350 ($300 balance due May 2) | $400 ($350 balance due May 31) |
| 2 Weeks | $650 ($550 balance due May 2) | $750 ($650 balance due May 31) |
| 3 Weeks | $950 ($800 balance due May 2) | $1,100 ($950 balance due May 31) |
**The UT Dallas Center for Asian Studies reserves the right to change camp schedules and curriculums.
**A late fee of $50 per week will be charged if tuition balance is not paid in full by May 2 for Early Bird Registration, or May 31, 2025 for Regular Registration.
Camp cost includes a camp shirt (additional shirts are available for purchase), materials for calligraphy, painting, crafts and Tai Chi Fan. Campers must bring their own lunch. Discount has already been applied if registering for two or three weeks. For sibling or UTD students, faculty and staff registration discount, please contact the camp director. Campers can enroll from one to three weeks, but enrolling for three weeks is highly recommended since the content of each week is different and progressive. Three weeks provides a full and integral program.
Registration
Early Bird Deadline: Friday, May 2, 2025
Regular Registration & Tuition Balance Payment Deadline: May 31, 2025
Each class is capped at 18 to 24 students. Spots are limited, and fill up very quickly. Pre-Register for Gong Fu Panda now to be placed on the priority list to receive early access to camp registration when it opens. Please note that this is not official registration. Filling out this form places you on the priority list to receive the registration link once registration opens.
Cancellation and Refunds: Full tuition refund (minus the $50 nonrefundable deposit for each week of camp) if the cancellation request is received before May 31, 2025.
No refunds will be given for cancellation requests received on or after May 31, 2025.
Questions/More Information: For any questions, please contact Dr. Sharon Gou, CAS associate/camp director, by phone at 972-883-2798, or by email at asianstudies@utdallas.edu. Learn more about the Center for Asian Studies at UT Dallas.
Typical Daily Schedule
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30 to 9 a.m. | Check-in/morning exercise |
| 9 to 9:50 a.m. | Kung Fu/Table Tennis/Chinese Yo-yo |
| 10 a.m. to Noon | Chinese language |
| Noon to 1 p.m. | Lunch and recess |
| 1 to 1:50 p.m. | Chinese Calligraphy/painting |
| 2 to 3 p.m. | Tai Chi Fan/Folk Dance/Jumping Ropes |
| 3:10 to 4 p.m. | Crafts (paper cutting, Chinese Knots…) |
| 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. | Check-out |
| (Schedules are different for different age groups and may be adjusted based on groups and language skills) | |
The Gong Fu Panda Language & Culture Summer Camp is in partnership with:
NiHao – Food Bank Initiative is a volunteer-driven grassroots movement by the Chinese American Diaspora, focused on raising awareness about hunger in the United States, improving community engagement, as well as directing resources and contributions toward the North Texas Food Bank to fight hunger. Contact them at nihaofoodbank@gmail.com if you would like to become involved!