As the summer break approaches, many Chinese parents are making plans to send their children overseas－but no longer just as tourists or language students.

随着暑假日益临近，国内许多家长正制定将子女送往国外的计划，不过不再是仅仅作为游客或语言学习者。

The latest trend is to introduce young people to novel experiences at summer camps run by professional organizations, according to a report on overseas study tours by Ctrip, a major Chinese travel agency.

国内主要旅行机构携程发布的游学报告显示，最新趋势是参加专业机构运营的夏令营，让年轻人体验各种新奇的事物。

In addition, those taking part are getting younger. The age range of the children enrolled¹ this year is 8 to 15, three years younger than in 2014, the report said.

此外,这些参与者正变得更加年轻化。报告指出，报名的孩子的年龄范围为8-15岁，这一数字比起2014年要小了3岁。

Zhang Jie, head of overseas study tours for Ctrip, said parents today want their children to learn new things.

携程机构负责海外游学的张杰表示，现在的父母们想让他们的孩子学到新的东西。

"Before, study tours were basically focused on two aspects: trips to renowned² universities or middle schools, or language skills. It was more like preparation for studying overseas," she said. "However, when it comes to camps, it's totally different."

她说：“以前，海外游学基本上是聚焦在两方面：一个是去著名的大学或中学，另一个则是语言技巧。这更像是在为海外留学做准备。不过现在的这种夏令营则是完全不同的。”

Sun Kai, director of international admissions at Sappo School, a private school in New York's Long Island, said parents hope short-term overseas study will give their children new experiences and help them to build knowledge of the unknown.

纽约长岛私立学校赛博中学的国际招生负责人孙凯表示，家长希望短期的游学能带给孩子新的体验，帮助他们扩充关于未知事物的知识。

"More Chinese parents have chosen camps for their children because school is class-based and cannot cover lots of activities," he said. "Professional summer camps can teach pottery³, ballet, piano, violin and martial⁴ arts."

孙凯表示：“更多的中国家长为子女选择训练营，因为学校以课程为基础，无法涵盖多种多样的活动；而专业的夏令营能教授制陶、芭蕾舞、钢琴、小提琴和武术。”