Summer camps are increasingly seen as a community built by professional educators where the children learn life skills, gain hands-on experience and learn about themselves, both physically and emotionally. As temperatures soar and school vacations near, here are some interesting summer camps to choose from. From theatre and story-telling to cooking and swimming, there is something for everyone.
The Launch Pad kick-started one of the first summer camps at Kirlampudi Layout this week with its team of educators. The 15-day workshop called ‘Giraffes Can’t Dance’ began on March 15 and will culminate in a first-of-its-kind hour-long musical play. Spearheaded by Sangitaa Sehgall the workshop is packed with action, music and dance for children in the age group of seven years and above. There’s a common misconception that children are packed away to summer camps by parents who want a break - where someone else takes up the task of supervising the kids. That’s not quite the case.
Mom and me
The Launch Pad’s second workshop involving the mother and child in an exciting experiential workshop on early language development is one such example which underscores the growing involvement of parents in children’s summer activities. “We have got a very encouraging response for parents who have enrolled for this unique workshop being held in the city for the first time. The workshop will engage the parents through skill development techniques in phonics, rhymes, rhythm and pattern, action and body-movement. The basic idea is to impart critical foundation English language skills to the mother,” says Sangitaa Sahgall. The summer workshop titled ‘The Reading Mother’ will held from April 2 to April 12. The children’s age group for this workshop is four to six years.
For Harry Potter fans, this summer is promises an exciting workshop planned by The Launch Pad with its final summer workshop for the kids. This theatre workshop is for children in the age group of 10 years and above and will be held from April 26 to May 12. “This year we have chosen Harry Potter as the theme so that children can be introduced to essential values that these books celebrate like friendship, loyalty and striving for personal excellence,” says Sangitaa. To enrol your children in The Launch Pad’s summer workshops contact 9490417053 or 9052018881.
Educational activities
The demand for educational activity classes is growing rapidly and many specialised camps are springing up in the city to address the concerns of parents who seek to involve the children in ways that would have indirect academic benefits. “We have a lot of enquiries for workshop in vedic mathematics, mental ability games this year,” says Faiz Begum of Faiz Fitness Studio Seethammadhara. Headed by a team of qualified instructors, Faiz’s summer workshop will begin from May 3 and end on June 7. The activities will include vedic maths, story narration, kids’ Zumba and dance, mental ability games, calligraphy and free hand painting. “Every day there will be a daily routine. The idea is to not overwhelm the children with too much of anything and yet make them assimilate the nuances of each activity in a fun-filled manner,” adds Faiz. To enrol, contact 9866072538.
Junior chef
One of the major criteria for most parents when looking out for an appropriate summer camp is to select the ones that impart life skills. Donning the junior chef’s apron at a culinary workshop is one such productive way of engaging the young minds. The Gateway hotel’s executive chef will be passing on some delicious recipes to children of age group seven to 12 years. The workshop will start from April 1 and go on till April 28. It will have a one-hour cooking session for six days in a week in which the junior chefs will receive cookery kit along with other protective gears. There will be only one batch with 12 kids. This apart, the hotel also has a swimming camp for the little ones and batches start from April 1. To enrol, contact 9848869944.
Fun with dance
If dance is what excites your child, Destiny Breakers Dance School will be kick-starting its summer dance camp from April 1 at MVP Colony, Sector - 8. The dance lessons will include hip hop, b-boying, and dance choreography, meditation, physical training and beach sessions that will include fun activities. To register, contact 9949233350.