Hip Wah Summer Program

Hip Wah is a summer program founded in 1984 by a group of East Bay parents looking for a fun way to teach their children about Chinese culture and traditions. The first program was located at the Berkeley Chinese Community Church. In 1984, there was one class. Today, there are seven classes and up to 130 students. Unique in the summer camp community, our 4 week camp is run by an all volunteer board, yet staffed by credentialed teachers passionate about giving children this Chinese-American experience. “Hip Wah” translates to “cooperation among the overseas Chinese.” The program has evolved over time to mirror our changing Chinese community. The community may include those who can trace their roots to immigrants who joined the Gold Rush, or may be more recent immigrants from China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and other parts of Asia. Hip Wah is also well regarded as an important resource for American parents of Chinese-born children as a way to connect adoptees to their birth heritage. Camp Overview Hip Wah runs four consecutive weeks each summer, generally starting at the end of June. The day at camp is filled with fun, hands-on activities where 1st-7th graders experience Chinese culture, traditions, food, music, language, arts and crafts. In Week 3, the entire family is invited to the Open House and potluck lunch. The summer camp culminates in a Music Festival where the youngest campers sing traditional Chinese folk songs and older campers showcase their skills on traditional Chinese instruments such as the er-hu and moon guitar. While many students are Chinese/Chinese-American, students do not need to be Chinese or speak Chinese to attend. Core hours are 9-2 with before and aftercare available. Costs are kept low through parent participation. Hip Wah is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.