The summer is here and with it the intense heat. It is also the
time for summer holidays. Exams are done and dusted. And yes it is time for
holidays. That also means it is a time for summer camps. Summer camps are a
very important part of the summer experience. The last two years have been an
aberration of life as we know it. Everyone stayed home and stepped out
following the regulations laid down by the government.
Various organisations
conduct summer camps during the summer vacations. These camps can cater to
different needs of the child. From providing assistance in improving ones skill
in tennis ball cricket to young boys and girls to helping one improve their
skill in karate or self defense, it is all available for a fee of course.
Summer camps offer an avenue to kids
between the age of 2-6 and above a time to have fun. Aarti the principle of a
private school that organises summer camps said the camp had commenced on April
1 and she felt the response had been surprisingly good. She said they already
had thirty kids and expected more once the schools shut for the vacations.
Aarti said she had received several phone calls from parents expressing their
interest and their kids being part of the camp. The camp she said was divided
because there were kids of various age groups. She said there two groups one
for kids between 2-6 and the second one between 7- 12. Parents, she said were
not allowed in the camp, they were all requested to wait outside. Asked what
precautions she was taking to ensure everyone stayed safe in these times she
said since it was not possible to ensure kids as young as two or three followed
instructions, the organizers would ensure there was adequate space between the
kids. The camp members could be involved in activities as diverse as
storytelling, fun with clay, painting and colouring and pottery, math and
science quiz and even non fire cooking for the older children. A month in the
camp will cost parents Rs 3000 per month. She said for the very young children
it was like preschool and it helped them gain the skills and the confidence
when it was time to go to junior kg. This camp she said would flow seamlessly
into June second week when schools would reopen.
Deepa Kannan said she had signed up her son for the camp because
it would help him learn some new skills and importantly gain confidence which
she said was a bit of a problem for a kid in his pre –teens.
Vrinda Kanani organizes camps during the summer and Diwali
vacations. She said parents liked the fact that camps were organised which
would then guarantee their kids did not spend their time sitting in front of
the television set or their computer playing games. She said before the
pandemic, she had eighty children and they were introduced to Zumba, yoga,
acrobatics, karate and even storytelling and taking them for competitions.
Parents she said had to pay around Rs 1100 odd for the ten day camp. Asked what
the response like she said there were around twelve to fifteen registrations
and she expected to eventually have around twenty five children in the camp.
She said since most of the kids were not vaccinated, distance would be
maintained between kids. She said “I have a large hall and it will be easily
managed.”
Stephen Thomas who has just shifted to Goa said camps were a
wonderful idea and he intended to place his kids to help them interact with
kids their age. He said “I grew up in Pune and I attended camps during the
summer vacations and it was great fun. The camps of today are very well
organised and full of activities. I hope the kids come out of it feeling good
they had a good time”.
Camps are also being organised by schools all over the state.
Some of them conduct football and basketball camps for starters. It is a good
opportunity for schools perhaps to keep an eye out on talent out there.
It
is a time to enjoy because what is it about being young hat is so great. The
ability to live in the moment and not having to think about the worries of
tomorrow.
