There are a number of activities that the intense heat has put a damper on during this summer, summer camps being one of them.
Most summer camps in Kozhikode had to be concluded early following a recent order of the District Collector asking not to subject children to the heat. The order was issued mainly against schools starting their classes in May.
Meanwhile, it seems most camp organisers had ensured the safety of the participants.
‘Kaliveedu’ organised by Chavara Cultural Centre included mostly indoor activities such as personality development classes and training in theatre, art and crafts, Yoga, Western dance, music, rope skipping, bollywood dance, classical dance, classical music, guitar, key board, piano and violin, while roller skating was held outdoor during evenings when the heat subsided.
“We had planned many other activities such as a one-day tour during the camp, but which was cancelled due to the heat. It really affected the standard of the camps”, said Fr.George Punchayil, Director of the Centre welcoming the order. The centre had stopped the camp from Tuesday onwards.
Indoor camps
However, the Regional Science Centre and Planetarium has decided to continue with their camps ‘Mazhavillu’ for children of Third and Fourth standards and ‘Vijnana Kouthukam’ for those of standards V, VI and VII as all the activities are done indoors.
Escapist move
Meanwhile, noted writer and activist Civic Chandran opined that cancelling the camps was an escapist move and that it was not the solution to the problem.
“Children should know that there is heat and why it is so severe. The curriculum these days gives them primary lessons of conservation, but hides from them why it becomes necessary. Confining them indoors in air-conditioned rooms does not serve the purpose”, he said.
Mr. Chandran was coordinator of ‘Manchadikkuru’, a theatre camp for children that concluded on May 1.
“In the camp we made sure to give the participants cool drinks and food.
Though the activities were mostly indoors, they had yoga sessions outdoors in the evenings.
The food was pure vegetarian and we explained to them why it was necessary to stick to vegetarian food in summer. Each student planted 10 saplings during the camp and there were often discussions about why it was so hot,” he said.
