Chinese ‘hardship camps’ see children chop wood, feed pigs to learn family appreciation

Chinese parents are enrolling their children in "hardship summer camps" to expose them to farm labor, with the intention of teaching them about the realities of life and cultivating a sense of appreciation for their families. These camps, which have gained popularity across China this summer, typically take place in the southwestern provinces of Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan, where the summer climate is relatively mild.

Parents are often willing to spend thousands of yuan (hundreds of US dollars) to send their children to these rural experiences. Activities for the children mirror the daily tasks of farmers, such as digging, selling potatoes, peeling bark, and feeding pigs. However, unlike farm laborers who receive payment, these children and their parents must cover the costs of the program.

The fee for a 10-day stint at one camp is over 4,000 yuan (US$600), while a month-long program can exceed 10,000 yuan. The camps enforce strict regulations; for example, if a child fails to complete their assigned tasks, they might be restricted to eating only potatoes. Their phones are taken away, and they receive food and supplies according to how much work they perform.

Organizers state their main objective is to help children understand the challenges of labor and earning money, while ensuring the tasks remain manageable to avoid distressing parents. Videos from the camps show children crying and requesting to return home, with some even suggesting alternative tasks like homework, saying, "I can do anything as long as it's not farm work."

Some camps require children to write letters to their parents, which has reportedly moved many parents and led them to recommend the camps to others. One Sichuan resident sent his first-year secondary school daughter to a "hardship summer camp"; surprisingly, his daughter enjoyed the farm work despite her constant complaints. Another Shanghai parent sent her seven-year-old daughter for a 10-day camp; although her daughter retained her lazy and picky habits, the parent was pleased that her daughter "stepped outside her comfort zone and experienced a different lifestyle."

Comments under the camps' videos reveal many people asking how to enroll their children, with some suggesting that these summer camps mirror the hardships faced by earlier generations and are intended to provide children with a better life. However, others warn against overburdening children, fearing that excessive labor could adversely affect their physical and mental development.