AI, smart farms, history experience, and more…
This is a public holiday program in Seoul that supports emotional recovery and career exploration.
Seoul announced that it will operate the ‘Youth Companion Camp’ for two weeks from July 28 to August 8 to help teenagers’ self-directed growth and emotional recovery during summer vacation. This camp will be held simultaneously at a total of 19 youth facilities, including 16 Seoul Youth Centers, 2 Future Career Centers, and 1 Music Center.
Starting as a pilot project in 2022, the camp has been established as a trusted public holiday program, with 99% of parents and 97% of teens expressing satisfaction. In particular, 93.2% of teenagers expressed their intention to participate again, continuing steady enthusiasm.
This summer vacation camp consists of experiential programs tailored to the eye level of teenagers. In addition to future technology education related to the fourth industrial revolution such as artificial intelligence (AI), metaverse, and smart farms, various activities such as survival swimming, water park experiences, ecological sensitivity education, cultural arts, and English programs are provided.
This year, on the occasion of the 80th Liberation Day, related historical experience content is significantly expanded. Education on independence movement history, tours of historical sites, and Liberation Day commemorative experiences will support future generations to correctly understand our history. Additionally, in connection with the Seoul International Garden Expo, garden experience activities within the expo grounds will be held, contributing to the emotional stability and environmental sensitivity of teenagers.
Seoul has prioritized the safety of participating teenagers by mandating insurance subscriptions, reporting training activities, and providing pre-safety education. The same standards apply to schedules that include overnight programs or travel to other regions.
The camp targets 440 teenagers from 4th grade in elementary school to 3rd grade in middle school. The participation fee is 30,000 won for a 2-week course and 15,000 won for a 1-week course. Socially considerate teenagers are given priority.
Applications will be made on a first-come, first-served basis through the Seoul Youth Information Platform ‘Youth Navi’ website and mobile app from 10 a.m. on July 1.
Jung Jin-woo, the director of the Seoul Lifelong Education Bureau, said, “The Companion Camp is a program that provides meaningful growth for teenagers during the holidays and reassuring care for parents,” and added, “We will continue to develop it as a Seoul-style holiday model where learning and care are achieved together.”