A huge step for our 16-year-old: Our Chinese Summer Camp in China experience

We wanted our 16-year-old, Jack, to experience something completely out of his comfort zone, and RISH definitely delivered. The itinerary is packed—they don't really do "weekends," so they were constantly exploring, from the Bund in Shanghai to the Great Wall in Beijing.

I won't sugarcoat it: the first 48 hours were a massive culture shock for Jack. The jet lag combined with the intense Shanghai heat and the fast-paced schedule was a lot to handle. He called me on day two feeling pretty homesick. But what really flipped his mood was the way the camp is set up. Taking classes in actual university classrooms made him feel like an independent college student, not just a kid at a camp. His mentor, Mr. Li, was fantastic. Mr. Li noticed Jack was struggling and actively pushed him to use his Mandarin outside of class. By the time they took the high-speed train to Beijing for the cultural tour, Jack was confidently bargaining with street vendors in Mandarin and trying every weird snack he could find.

The food provided is very authentic. Jack loved the hotpot but honestly wasn't a huge fan of the traditional breakfasts. The staff were great about making sure he had enough to eat, though. If your kid is an adventurous eater, they’ll be in heaven. If not, pack some granola bars! Staying in the 4-star on-campus hotel was also incredibly secure, which gave us peace of mind back home. Looking back, this trip pushed Jack to grow up and build confidence in the best way possible.