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Which camp do you belong to?

Summer holidays will never be the same again. Camps filled with fun games and activities ensure that

CHILLING OUT Look before you leap

Summer holidays once meant a wonderful break from school, books and homework. And, the perfect time to indulge oneself. From squeezing out the last bit of juice from a plump mango to endless hours of playing under the sun to curling up with a racy thriller and playing native games like kabbadi and pallankuzhi, it was idyllic. Indulgent grandparents who catered to every whim and fancy only added to the joy.

Now, things are a little different. Summer holidays are taken care of by camps. The profusion of nuclear families and growing competition have ensured that kids spend summer holidays out of home and in a swimming pool or craft class or even a cookery workshop. Sometimes, they embark on a week away from home in a residential camp where they are introduced to trekking and Nature. While parents are out at work, these camps, many of which are organised professionally, seek to keep the artist alive in the child and also have fun sessions where he or she can just `be'.

If the more traditional ones concentrate on in-house activities like painting, drawing, handwriting and embroidery, the `out-of-box' ones seek to nurture the adventurous spirit in your child. Think early morning walks, farm visits, bird watching and wildlife sighting. Or, for the musically inclined, there is a mix of bhajans and Western music. Now, organisers are looking at catering to eclectic tastes. So, you get to choose from pot painting and origami, mural demonstration and rock painting and paper embossing and jewellery art.

Motivational classes abound, too. Some camps focus on improving the moral health of children through stories and recitation of the Bhagwad Gita.

Value for money

Even though these camps don't come cheap, parents do not mind as it takes care of the greater worry of what to do with their child during vacation time. The camp provides a safe environment for the child during the day.

Some camps offer add-ons like free pick up and drop. Perfect for working parents.

"In fact, working couples are one of the main reasons for the sudden popularity of summer camps," says an organiser. Also, women have learnt to lead their own lives and children come in the way of shopping expeditions, kitty parties and lunches with friends, she says.

Are children paying the price for their parents' freedom by having their days crammed with so much activity?

"Not really. Sometimes, we just let them be. It might not be constructive from the parents' point of view, but for the child, leisure is a must. It is unfair to expect them to learn through the holidays," says another organiser.

SUBHA J RAO

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