LITTLE DRAGON SUMMER CAMP:
Who are we?
Based in the heart of Maple Grove, Minnesota, Little Dragon Summer Camp is a non-profit organization started in 2019, aiming to support students in Chinese immersion programs or heritage Chinese speakers in K-6 grade.
OUR PURPOSE
An Impact that Resonates.
Little Dragon Summer Camp’s goal is to help students learn to build character, improve learning motivation, strengthening skills in different subject-matter areas, and become well-rounded, confident learners, all throughout the course of 7 weeks of summer, successfully catapulting their way into long-lasting learning.
Dual Language Environment
Students practice both English and Chinese, confidently evolving their literacy skills alongside a supportive team of teachers and volunteers.
Developing Social Skills
While being playful, it’s important to us that our students learn to show kindness, honesty, patience, and respect towards one another.
Honing Creativity
Academics aside, our students learn the importance in various artistic activities, dabbling in dance, arts & crafts, music, and drawing.
Staying Active
We get students on their feet with everyday active sports, such as basketball, badminton, or even swimming at the pool.
OUR Teachers
& other staff members
Ms. Long Laoshi
chinese language arts instructor
Long Laoshi has been teaching in Chinese immersion programs for over 10 years. Currently, she is a Chinese immersion teacher at Minnetonka Public Schools. With a Master’s in Education and a Minnesota teaching license, her approach combines academic rigor with a nurturing environment, helping students not only master the Chinese language but also gain a rich appreciation for Chinese culture.
Mr. Liu Laoshi
steam instructor
Liu Laoshi is a licensed teacher and has been teaching at Hopkins Public Schools for thirteen years. Liu Laoshi is a passionate educator who loves working with children and fostering their curiosity through learning and hands-on experiences. With a strong enthusiasm for science, Liu Laoshi encourages students to explore the wonders of the natural world through interactive activities that spark their imagination and critical thinking.
Ms. Wei Laoshi
Art instructor
Ms. Wei is a professional art teacher. Currently, she is the art specialist in St. Paul Public Schools. After graduating from one of the best design schools in China, she became a faculty in the School of Art and Design of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University. She not only teaches students art skills, but cultivates their appreciation and enjoyment of art.
Dr. Zheng Laoshi
SCIENCE instructor
Dr. Zheng is an assistant professor of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He enjoys bringing everyday life chemistry to younger students and making chemistry fun. At the same time, he helps students build up the foundation for further explorations.
Ms. Zhao Laoshi
CHINESE LANGUAGE ARTS instructor
Ms. Zhao has been a classroom teacher at Minnetonka Public Schools since 2010, holding multiple teaching licenses in English and Chinese. She aims to help learners think critically about language and content while exploring learning themes. Ms. Zhao is passionate about guiding students in character development and enhancing their higher-order thinking skills. She enjoys learning alongside her students.
Ms. Zhang Laoshi
DANCE instructor
Ms. Zhang is a famous Chinese folk-dance instructor in MN. Over 25 years, Ms. Zhang and her students have been very actively and proudly involved in many community outreach events to present Chinese performing arts at many local schools, festival celebrations, and cultural events.
Ms. He (He Laoshi)
Chinese Language Arts Instructor
Ms. He has 18 years of experience as a Chinese language and Chinese immersion teacher and currently teaches at Minnetonka Public Schools. She holds two master’s degrees in K–12 Education and Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, along with K–12 Chinese and K–6 Elementary teaching licenses.
Ms. He believes language learning should be fun, meaningful, and culturally immersive. She values both academic learning and social-emotional growth, helping children develop confidence, curiosity, and a love for Chinese language and culture.
Ms. Li (Li Yuqi)
Art instructor
Yuqi brings six years of elementary school teaching experience in China and eleven years as a fifth-grade Chinese classroom teacher at Hopkins Elementary School. She is known for her dynamic, student-centered teaching approach that fosters joyful learning and inspires curiosity and growth. With over twenty years of vocal music teaching experience in both China and the United States, she currently serves as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Minhua Chorus, integrating cross-cultural perspectives to deepen students’ understanding of Chinese and American musical traditions.
Ms. Shi (Shi Lulu)
Chinese Language Arts Instructor
Ms. Lulu Shi is an experienced and enthusiastic Chinese immersion educator with 17 years of teaching experience. She holds a Master’s degree in Education and is a Minnesota-licensed K–6 elementary teacher.
At summer camp, Ms. Lulu creates a fun, engaging and fully immersive Chinese learning environment, where kids explore the language through hands-on activities, games, science projects and lots of laughter—building language skills, confidence, and curiosity while enjoying an unforgettable summer.
Ms. Long (Long Ye)
Chinese Language Instructor
Ye Long (Long Laoshi) has been teaching in Chinese immersion programs for over 10 years. Currently, she is a Chinese immersion teacher at Minnetonka Public Schools. With a Master’s in Education and a Minnesota teaching license, Her approach combines academic rigor with a nurturing environment, helping students not only master the Chinese language but also gain a rich appreciation for Chinese culture.
Daoyu Liu (Liu Laoshi) is a licensed teacher and has been teaching at Xinxing Academy for 14 years. Liu Laoshi is a passionate educator who loves working with children and fostering their curiosity through learning and hands-on experiences. With a strong enthusiasm for science and math, Liu Laoshi encourages students to explore the wonders of the natural world through interactive activities that spark their imagination and critical thinking.
Ms. Wei
Chinese Language Arts Instructor
Ms. Wei is a professional art teacher. Currently, she is the art specialist in St. Paul Public Schools. After graduating from one of the best design schools in China, she became a faculty in the School of Art and Design of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University. She not only teaches students art skills but cultivates their appreciation and enjoyment of art.
Ms. Manfred (Wenwen Manfred)
Chinese Language Art Instructor
I grew up in a seaside city in the south of China where I started developing my artistic tastes. I followed my passion for art by going to the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing where I graduated in animation and film. I furthered my studies by moving to the United States and attended the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) where I got my Master of Fine Arts. After I graduated in 2014, I worked as a graphic designer in Global Gaming Initiative and Jukko. I created websites, illustrations, short animations and videos for these two companies until 2020. I became a full time artist. Because I want to capture the pure memories of childhood on paper. The world is full of commotion and I want to give people a sense of peace. I try to express the carefree innocence, happiness, funny moments, yearning for freedom and mutual love that is untarnished by age. My hope is for these feelings to resonate with the audience. I am excited about the prospect of creating illustrations for children’s books.
Ms. Ma (Ma Weiwei)
Sports Coach
Coach Ma Weiwei was a professional basketball player and graduated from Shanghai Jiaotong University. After coming to US, she has been engaged in youth basketball and served as the coach of Girl’s Travel Basketball Team in the last three years. In 2019-2025, she led the one of the Minnetonka girl’s teams to win the States Tournament championship. She hopes that every child who comes to the summer camp will not only make academic progress, but also have a healthy body and a spirit of unity and cooperation.
Ms. Peng
Chinese Language Art Instructor
Ms. Peng has been a Chinese immersion teacher in Minnetonka public schools for 16 years. She dedicates herself to Chinese immersion education and Chinese heritage language education. She focuses on designing curriculum, developing unit plans, and identifying effective and practical teaching methodologies and strategies in Chinese teaching practice. She advocates for Chinese heritage learners to ensure they are learning in a culturally responsive environment.
Supporting Teachers
Ms. Peng Laoshi
Supporting Teacher
Ms. Peng Laoshi has been a Chinese immersion teacher since 2007.
Ms. Zheng Laoshi
Supporting Teacher
Ms. Zheng Laoshi is working with Chinese immersion students in kindergarten.
Coach Ma Laoshi
Basketball Coach
Coach Ma Weiwei was a professional basketball player and graduated from Shanghai Jiaotong University. After coming to the US, she has been engaged in youth basketball and served as the coach of Girl’s Travel Basketball Team in the last three tears. In 2019-2020, she led one of the Minnetonka girl’s teams to win the State tournament championship. She hopes that every child who comes to the summer camp will not only make academic progress, but also have a healthy body and a spirit of unity and cooperation.
English Teachers
Every year, we have 3-5 English teachers handling 6-8 groups of learners of different English levels per week. They are not only good at English reading and writing in high school and college, but are full of patience and love with young learners.
What are you waiting for?
Ready to enrich your child’s summer with fun, engaged learning? Join the Little Dragon community today!