Tzu Chi Camps and Humanistic Education

Tzu Chi Camps and Humanistic Education offers a mix of academic and hands-on activities, including English language instruction with vocabulary, grammar, reading, and reading and writing workshops, as well as mathematics and Pre-Algebra. Camp days include history tours, volunteer work, humanistic culture classes, STEAM, Traditional Chinese, Drawing and Design class, Recycling Arts & Crafts, Veggie-idea Smart Chef, an Environmental & Ecological Workshop, Fun Activity Class, and gardening and ecology with hands-on activities and observational experiences.

• Ages: 5–11 years old
• Schedule: Winter Camp runs for 11 days, with camp days scheduled for 12/23, 12/26–27, 12/30, and 1/2–3 and 1/6–10 from 9 am to 4 pm, with extended care available from 8–9 am and 4–6 pm

The Humanistic Education Department plans and hosts Spring Camp, Summer Camp, Winter Camp, and International Summer Camp, and Tzu Chi Summer Camps are based on humanistic curricula locally and internationally. Summer Camp includes a varied curriculum in academics, physical fitness, and different talents, and offers academic courses to review and transition to the new school year and prepare for new curriculum. Winter Camp emphasizes vegetarianism, environmental protection, ecology courses, and observing the growth process of plants. The International Summer Camp includes students from Tzu Chi Schools in Taiwan and gives them a chance to experience different cultures and broaden their horizons.

The Tzu Chi Education Foundation was established in 2004, and its Humanistic Education Department and camps focus on character education through joyful, meaningful learning. The mission of the Tzu Chi Education Foundation is to advance a global humanistic culture through education that balances developing the mind and opening the heart. Camps and character education programs are described as nurturing positive character traits and self-esteem, awakening the conscience, instilling environmental awareness, and supporting the development of interpersonal skills. Preschools and elementary schools under the foundation offer a holistic curriculum that supports spiritual, intellectual, physical, social, and creative development while cultivating integrity and social responsibility, using small class sizes, strong teacher-student relationships, and real-world social interactions connected to Tzu Chi’s core missions.

Tzu Chi Education Foundation is a President’s Volunteer Service Award-certified organization and was selected by the American Camp Association as a recipient of the Character at Camp grant, and Tzu Chi Elementary Schools provide WASC-certified academics. The Tzu Chi Sprout Volunteer Program allows children to participate in various volunteer services, and depending on the number of volunteer hours logged per year, participants may be eligible for the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Parents, grandparents, and Tzu Chi volunteers accompany students during their learning experience and provide emotional support and individual attention in what is described as a loving, family-like environment. The seven-week “Gardening and Ecology for the Earth” program is run in partnership with a public school’s Life Science Garden, and programs at the Life Science Garden are described as fun, educational, and safe for students to connect with the natural world during the pandemic. The Environmental Protection Education Center focuses on appreciating the natural world and the interconnectedness of all life, with activities about conserving and protecting Earth’s resources and recycling effectively. The Tzu Chi Education Foundation lists Ben Tu in its leadership and notes that Tzu Chi’s core missions include community service, charity work, disaster relief, and medical outreach.

Last updated March 26, 2026.