It has become a lovely tradition in our institute to conclude the academic year with the Children's Chinese Language and Culture Summer Camp and this year the camp was open from June 30 to July 4.
We believe that the appealing camp program and excellent feedback attracted the attention of parents, resulting in more children attending than we had initially planned. We are delighted to see the children learning Chinese at our institute and in Vilnius schools, many of whom have been participating in our camp for several years. We are also pleased to welcome new friends each year.
In just one week, the children had the opportunity to get acquainted with the Chinese language, songs, Chinese outdoor and indoor games, and learned the most commonly used Chinese phrases. Camp participants also tried their hand at Chinese calligraphy and learned to write their first character.
Each morning began with Chinese language lessons and wushu. The term wǔshù (wǔ 武 meaning "martial, military," shù 術 meaning "art, skill, technique"). These practices were led by Tomas Lapinskas, a wushu instructor and disciple of the abbot of the Shaolin Monastery, who not only taught this martial art but also introduced the children to ancient Chinese weapons and demonstrated how to handle them in combat.
In the cultural sessions, children were introduced to Chinese musical instruments, the tea-drinking culture, Chinese crafts made from threads, bamboo strips, and palm leaves, made Chinese lollipops, and brewed bubble tea!
Here, we not only learned but also made friends, mischief, and had a great time playing Chinese board games and watching Chinese cartoons.
On the last day of camp, the children had the opportunity to solidify the knowledge they acquired through a quiz. During the celebration, we tasted Chinese desserts, shared our impressions, good emotions, and expressed the desire to repeat such vivid and unforgettable moments.
The Confucius Institute at Vilnius University is a place where traditional Chinese culture flourishes. As connoisseurs of Chinese culture, we are pleased to share our knowledge with children and all those interested. Here, we create a lively cultural dialogue that allows us not only to understand others better but also to gain a deeper understanding of our own culture.