Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Camping to cool down

A much-needed break from academics, writes G. PRASAD

WORTHY PLUNGE Good option to stay away from summer heat Photo: M. Moorthy

After a power-packed academic schedule, holidays are here. At least for the next 40 odd days there will be no books, no tuition and no pressure. But how about spending the leisure usefully. With numerous summer camps being organised in the city, certainly parents are not going to allow their wards to spend the vacation at home spinning their wheels.

Plenty of camps

Most of the programmes are designed in such a way that they meet the requirements of children and also the kids get a chance to make their choice from a wide range of options available from computers to spoken English, swimming to yoga.

Among the summer camps, swimming attracts the attention of most of the children. In the scorching heat, it is natural that everyone likes a splash at the pool. "This year, the response is really good. Apart from helping the kids to chill out, swimming is also a good exercise that helps them to stay fit," says the coach at the Anna Stadium, Latha.

While most of them are taught the basics and freestyle, there are some who wish to learn other styles including backstroke.

Parents who accompany their children also express their satisfaction over the hygiene levels at the pool. "It is also important to maintain the pool in good condition. And indeed they are doing a good job and also the fee collected is reasonable," says a parent.

At Sivananda Balalaya, a camp on painting and beadwork was conducted for children, while the students above 10th standard were taught fabric painting, pencil sketching and glass painting.

Combo courses

Private institutions like e-think also offer courses in a package, which includes spoken English, handwriting, chess, drawing and yoga.

"We have divided the children into two groups based on their age category. Since communication skills are given much importance these days, there is a need to teach spoken English to students right from their early days," says Vasanthi, a faculty at the institution.

In the yoga session, asanas and pranayama are taught to improve the children's memory power and ease pressure.

Improving their handwriting is also given due attention.

A `creativity workshop' organised by Bala Kala Vidhanam, an academy of Indian arts recently, aimed at igniting the creative spark in children.

It dealt with art and craftwork, including painting, paper folding and cutting. Improving theatrical skills was also part of the programme, with accent on better dialogue delivery.

According to the Director of Bala Kala Vidhanam, Vrinda Ramanan, the workshop not only prompted the children to think creatively but also taught them to express themselves in an appropriate manner.

The Tiruchi wing of Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) is also conducting free coaching camps in hockey, basketball, weightlifting, boxing, volleyball and athletics at the Anna Stadium.

Says District Sports Officer, Paneerselvam: "We did not fix any date for the commencement of the camp, which would enable the students to join as soon as their summer holidays begin. Since the coaches are from the SDAT, the youngsters will get a chance to learn the games in a much professional manner."

With World Cup football round the corner, it is obvious that football coaching conducted by SDAT and Jamal Mohammed College has hogged the attention of youngsters, as most of them wish to be a Ronaldinho or a Beckham at least at their schools.

The chess coaching camp being conducted by VBS Chess Academy has also drawn a good number of participants.

For the students, summer camps are a break from academics.

It is also a fun filled experience, which gives them a chance to make new friends.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail