Chinese middle school students are to study environmental protection on a Canadian summer camp.

It will be the first time that the Center for Environmental Education and Communication under the State Environmental Protection Administration organizes such a camp, said center director Jiao Zhiyan on Friday in Beijing.

Organizers hope the 50 students, selected from some 23,000 "green schools" across China, can learn environmental knowledge such as climate change, exchange ideas with their Canadian peers, and develop their ability in various fields at the camp in Vancouver during July and August.

The "green school" campaign was launched in 1996 to promote environmental education among Chinese youths.

Jiao said until the end of April, the administration and the Ministry of Education have jointly named more than 480 national "green schools".

According to Si Zhizhong, vice-president of the L.Mou International Development Inc, another organizer of the event, activities in the camp will include outdoor missions like mountain climbing and cultural exchanges like visits to Canadian families.

(China Daily May 14, 2005)