The increasing flow of Chinese students heading to overseas summer camps is testament to a rising desire to learn about the outside world. But many of the trips on offer are highly disorganized.

On July 6, Asiana flight 214 crash-landed at San Francisco International Airport, killing three and injuring many more. The tragedy brought to light, among other things, the phenomenon of "summer study travel" as all three killed were high school students from East China's Zhejiang province. The remaining 31 students and teachers from their group later returned home without embarking on the planned US tour that they had just started while another similar group of 35 students and teachers from Shanxi province continued their journey.

An airplane accident is no reason to discredit such programs. But it could be a good time to scrutinize their history and effectiveness.