Student Programs

Culture Camps | In-Person Tours | Virtual Field Trips | Intern Spotlight

Culture Camps

Asia Society Texas' Culture Camps seek to advance young learners' understanding of the world through fun, interactive, and meaningful activities. Camps are designed to engage students with Asian art, culture, and history.

For additional questions, please email Jennifer Kapral, Director of Education and Outreach, at JKapral@asiasociety.org.

In Asia Society Texas' 11th year of Culture Camps, students embark on hands-on programs delving into Asian traditions, arts, and culture.

Bedazzled Truck Art of Pakistan
Monday, June 5 – Friday, June 9, 2023・9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Daily
Be transported to the streets of Pakistan with Indus Arts Council and explore the art, history, and language painted and carved upon the giant "jingle trucks" that transport goods between cities. Paint your own art in the Truck Art style while learning the Urdu vocabulary for the art forms and colors!
Recommended for students ages 9–12.

2023 Explore Asia Culture Camp Documentary Filmmaking

Documentary Filmmaking
Monday, June 12 – Friday, June 23, 2023・9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Daily
In this two-week filmmaking camp, explore the themes of memory and world religions while scripting, filming, and acting in an original movie under the guidance of a professional television producer.
Recommended for students ages 12–14.

2023 Explore Asia Culture Camp Manga Pop

Manga POP!
Monday, July 10 – Friday, July 14, 2023・9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Daily
Attention, artists and manga fanatics! Create your own comics inspired by the Japanese manga style, with opportunities for Beginner and Advanced students to bring their comics to life on paper and the web.
Recommended for students ages 9–14.

2023 ExploreAsia Culture Camp Animals Fantastic Beasts

Animals and Fantastic Beasts of Asia
Monday, July 24 – Friday, July 28, 2023・9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Daily
Embark on a safari across Asia! Learn about the unique animals and mythical creatures found in various Asian countries, and hear stories and legends featuring these animals and other fantastical beasts!
Recommended for students ages 6–9.

2023 ExploreAsia Culture Camp Master Chef Showdown

Master Chef Showdown With Bite of HOPE
Monday, August 7 – Friday, August 11, 2023・9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Daily
Whose cuisine reigns supreme? Learn about food traditions across Asia while honing your cooking skills to prepare for a final competition before a panel of Houston's top chefs!
Recommended for students ages 13–17.

Register for Culture Camps Now!

Registration is open for all sessions of Culture Camps.

Register Now

In-Person School Tours

Guided tours by Asia Society Texas docents lead students through visual art exhibitions on view offering unique perspectives into the talents and traditions of artists from around the world. Asia Society also offers guided architecture tours of our iconic Center, designed by Japanese architect Yoshio Taniguchi.

Groups participating in guided tours may also expand on the experience through add-on workshops, led by Education Department staff and artists and consisting of hands-on activities, reflective exercises, and more. Workshops are designed to align with current exhibitions and can be tailored to suit the needs of any group.

Guided tours are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis and are available Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. At least two weeks' notice is required for booking.

Schedule a Guided Tour

Virtual Tours

Asia Society Texas' Virtual Tours, created and facilitated by Asia Society education staff and content experts, provide educationally rich, interactive opportunities for students to learn about Asian art, culture, and traditions.

All virtual field trips are FREE and tethered to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

Virtual field trips include three components:

A pre-lesson for teachers to facilitate in their classrooms (virtual or in-person), including:
1. An "Introduction to Asia" interactive presentation highlighting essential information about Asian art, culture, geography, history, and politics
2. Fun, engaging activities to spark student curiosity and interest
An hour-long, live virtual lesson consisting of:
1. A docent-led tour of our current exhibition, highlighting four items from the collection
2. Educator-facilitated activities connecting the culture of the exhibition to the students' own cultures
3. Hands-on learning experiences that can be easily completed from home or in the classroom
A post-workshop lesson for teachers to facilitate in the classroom, featuring interactive projects based on the tour content.

Teachers can choose from the following workshops:

Elementary Teachers:

Animals of Ancient China
All subjects and grade levels

During a virtual tour of our current exhibition, Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes, students will learn about the roles animals played in daily life and rituals during the Chinese Bronze Age. Students will compare ancient animals to modern animals, then create their own portraits of animals that are important to them.

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Secondary Teachers:

Women Warriors of China
Social Studies and ELA teachers

Our exhibition Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes explores the ritual significance of ancient Chinese bronzes. Students will study the Chinese Bronze Age, learning how bronzes connect art to traditions, celebrations, and culture. Students will then explore the tomb of Fu Hao, a woman warrior unique to Chinese history, and the bronze and ritual tools discovered in her tomb, studying gender roles and societal traditions throughout China's history and modern culture. The lesson ends with a creative writing activity for students to share their new learnings.

Ancient Times to Modern Art: Chinese Ritual Bronzes
Art teachers

Students will take a virtual tour of our current exhibition Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes, studying the materials, shapes, and purposes of ritual bronzes. Students will consider how bronzes have influenced other art forms in China, and connect art to traditions, celebrations, and other cultural elements. Students will then participate in an at-home art activity, using items they can find at home.

Buddhist Zen Gardens
Social Studies and Art teachers

Using Miya Ando's installation Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form as an anchor, students will engage with an introductory presentation on Buddhism, learning key understandings specific to Japanese culture. By analyzing Miya Ando's art, inspired by a Zen rock garden at the Ryōanji temple in Kyoto, Japan, students will apply their learning to design their own Zen rock garden using materials foudn at home.

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Book your tour today

Virtual field trips are available Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. At least two weeks' notice is required for virtual field trips. Teachers will receive all supplementary curriculum materials once they sign up. For more information, please contact Jennifer Kapral, Director of Education and Outreach at JKapral@asiasociety.org.

Schedule a Tour

Intern Spotlight

Intern Spotlight: Alyssa Green

Our Education and Outreach team loves working with student interns! Hear from summer intern Alyssa Green and her work with our Culture Camps and Young Leaders Institute!

Intern Spotlight: Jimena Escamilla

Our Education and Outreach team loves working with student interns! Hear from summer intern Jimena Escamilla and her work with our Culture Camps!

Intern Spotlight: Karla Macareno

Our Education and Outreach team loves working with student interns! Hear from university intern Karla Macareno and her involvement with facility rentals!

Intern Spotlight: Belén Fajardo

Our Education and Outreach team loves working with student interns! Hear from university intern Belén Fajardo and her work on the Education Project!

Intern Spotlight: Isabella Thibaut

Our Education and Outreach team loves working with student interns! Hear from high school intern Isabella Thibaut and what she's learned from her work on multiple projects!

Intern Spotlight: Tara Diep

Our Education and Outreach team loves working with student interns! Hear from high school intern Tara Diep and the skills she learned from her involvement with tours and events!

Education and Outreach programs at Asia Society Texas are presented by Wells Fargo. Generous funding also provided by Margie and Joe Blommaert, Cathay Bank Foundation, Chevron, the George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation, and H-E-B. Additional support is provided by Friends of Asia Society Texas, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing the best in exhibitions and public programming to Houston.

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