Chinese American Youth Association™

Chinese American Youth Association (CAYA) was established in 2015. The headquarters of the Chinese American Youth Association is in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America. We serve more than 1,000 students, Chinese clubs, and Chinese schools from across the United States. Our summer camps, which host thousands of overseas Chinese, provide an opportunity for people to experience Chinese culture first-hand, and explore their Chinese heritage. Our efforts allow Sino-American cultural exchange and the inheritance of Chinese culture across generations of American-born Chinese.

DUFE Concludes First 2025 China- Youth Exchange Camp

Dalian, China — From June 12 to 25, Dongbei University of Finance and Economics (DUFE) successfully hosted the first session of the 2025 China-U.S. Youth Exchange Summer Camp under the “Youth Ambassador Exchange and Learning Program.” Sixteen Chinese-American youth, selected and recommended by the Association of Chinese American Youth (CAYA), took part in the program. Through immersive coursework, hands-on experiences, and vibrant cultural activities, students gained a unique and in-depth understanding of China's economic development and cultural heritage.

Innovative Curriculum Connecting Culture and Commerce

The camp featured a series of specially designed finance-themed Chinese language courses, focusing on real-world applications. Topics included “Business Banquet Etiquette,” “China’s Consumption Upgrade and the Evolution of the ‘Three Big Items’,” and “Development of Guangdong Province and the Greater Bay Area.” Through role-play scenarios and group discussions, students enhanced both their language skills and cultural fluency.

Complementing the language instruction, DUFE offered a case-based economics curriculum. Lessons explored China-U.S. trade relations using Dalian Port as a case study, examined digital transformation in the Xian Road business district, and investigated China’s digital economy through the lens of e-commerce development. These real-world cases helped participants grasp the vitality and direction of China’s economic growth.

Cultural Workshops and Local Immersions

In the Chinese Culture Workshop Series, students explored traditional customs and values through hands-on experiences—learning tea whisking rituals from the Song Dynasty, dressing in Hanfu to understand ancient lifestyles, and singing “Descendants of the Dragon” as a symbolic start to their cultural journey. These interactive sessions not only provided cultural knowledge but also created lasting emotional bonds with Chinese heritage.

To further deepen their understanding, campers engaged in local field studies: exploring financial history at Zhongshan Square, interviewing merchants in Dalian’s busiest commercial districts, and visiting companies like Dayang Group to witness the internationalization of Chinese brands. Activities like offshore fishing, cherry picking, and a visit to the EX Technology Pavilion showcased China’s innovation and fostered group cohesion.

Arts, Athletics, and Friendship Across Cultures

On June 19, at the invitation of the Dalian Municipal Publicity Department, students attended the original acrobatic production “Echoes of the Deep Blue” at the Dalian Grand Theatre. Based on real stories from fishermen in Changhai County, the performance creatively depicted China’s evolution from traditional fisheries to modern ocean ranching.

Outside of classes, campers participated in friendly volleyball matches with international students. These energetic encounters highlighted the power of sport to transcend language and cultural barriers. Students forged friendships while exchanging stories and laughter, embodying the spirit of international cooperation and youth engagement.

Reflections and Aspirations at the Closing Ceremony

At the closing ceremony, students delivered Chinese-language presentations titled “My Dalian Observation Report.” Through vivid photos and personal stories, they shared insights into China’s development and their own family roots. One camper, Wang Guanhong from Florida, remarked:

“I want to thank Dongbei University of Finance and Economics for broadening my horizons. Over these fourteen days, I’ve witnessed Dalian’s progress, tasted its delicious food, and met friends from across the U.S. and around the world. I hope we can meet again here at DUFE!”

About the YES Program

The Youth Ambassador Exchange and Learning Program (YES) was launched in response to President Xi Jinping’s call to invite more American youth to visit China and expand China-Europe youth exchanges. Initiated by the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), the program facilitates cross-cultural understanding through school-based exchanges, short-term visits, and collaborative learning platforms. Its goal is to enhance the scale and impact of youth engagement while helping young people around the world gain a deeper understanding of modern China.

The Chinese American Youth Association was recognized as the founding member for the Global Chinese School Alliance in 2020 by Jinan University Chinese School

Welcome!

Chinese Camp is one of the best parts of the Summer of 2020 for over 60,000 kids over the globe. We held many camps throughout the summer that showcased our outstanding campers! This page explains the Online Summer Camps, including the format, activities, fun learning experiences, and people!

Format

The camp is around 2 weeks (16 days) long. All camps are held online in a WeChat (微信) Group. Campers and teachers can interact with each other through texting, talking, and sharing pictures and videos! Campers can experience many WeChat Interactions, zoom meetings, daily homework, and much more!

Activities

From learning Chinese songs to playing Kahoot! games, camps feature a plethora of interesting and diverse activities.

Most activities are held through online meetings on Zoom, where teachers can easily interact with campers. People can record meetings, share their screens, chat, add reactions, and much more! Click on this external link for further information about our fun activities!

Fun Learning

Every day, the campers are expected to complete homework assignments. The assignment can be found on a mini-program on WeChat called XiaoDaKa (小打卡）.

Usually, there are 3-4 specific tasks students can choose. These tasks involve listening/reading a story and then completing an assignment based on it. Students can submit their homework through writing, art, or videos. Many choose to be creative with their work and end up producing beautiful results!

We also have a page that explains the Chinese stories we learn!

People

Our camps consist of campers, teachers, and teacher assistants (TAs). Campers' age range from _ to 18, so each is filled with diverse talents and knowledge! Our teachers work voluntarily and try their very best to make our camps an educational adventure. Lastly, our TAs help our teachers in various aspects, making camps more efficient and fun.

If you wish to become a teacher/camper/TA, please visit the Contact Us Page.