Participants in the winter camp pose for a picture with lecturers and organizers of the activity at the Beijing World Art Museum on February 18, 2008. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/ Yang Yang]

Parents have already started work after the Spring Festival, but winter vacation for students is still on. How to spend a happy and meaningful vacation this winter? Many students in Beijing chose to go to the museums. Our reporter Yang Yang brings you more.

Reporter:

Accompanied by their parents, a group of students headed to China Millennium Monument located in western Beijing on February 18, 2008. They went there for a winter camp based on the Great Civilization exhibition at Beijing World Art Museum.

The three-day art popularization activity for children includes drawing pictures on the spot and making clay sculptures and ceramics by themselves.

Zeng Ruofan, an 8-year-old boy, is a frequent visitor of art exhibitions at the museum. His mother considers this winter camp much more than just an exhibition. It provides an opportunity for the kids to become involved in art.

"Firstly, to attend this activity can enrich my kid's knowledge of art. Secondly, it can help him to develop teamwork spirit and communication skills. Thirdly, the activity can make the kid more creative and active in making things by himself."

To hold such a winter camp for teenagers is a new effort on the part of World Art Museum. The whole process is specially designed for children. In order to ensure enough attention for each kid, only about 20 kids joined the winter camp. To attract the attention of the children, a museum lecturer tries to explain world art history in a more engaging way.

With shining eyes and strong desire of gaining knowledge, these teenagers showed great interest in this new form of learning, which is quite different from the way they have been learning in classrooms. Yi Feihong, a 9-year-old boy, is quite excited and very active during the process.

"It's more interesting to be here than to be in the classroom. The teachers here are more humorous and we can also see many real objectives here. I'm very happy."