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Bhubaneswar, May 8: The temperature might be soaring but for students, summer is the perfect time to unwind and relax.
Remember what little Anjali in the movie Kuch Kuch Hota Hai did during this time of the year? Bingo! She sneaked off to a summer camp to indulge her pet passions – singing and dancing.
Schoolchildren here are doing the same at most city schools, which have transformed into busy camping sites.
They are forging new friendships, learning new skills and, basically, keeping themselves engrossed in a host of fun activities, that costs anywhere between Rs 200 and Rs 5,000.
Apart from regular activities such as music, dance, art and crafts, schools are now focussing on specific dos to bring about positive changes in the students’ personality.
Chill and Thrill, a 10-day camp at Blossoms School, which concluded last week, concentrated on inculcating moral values in kids through storytelling and drama.
“It was like bedtime with grandma,” said Amrita, a Class VII student of Blossoms, who participated in the camp.
Nadia Moghbelpur, vice-principal of the school and a well-known education consultant, said storytelling inspires children to take up reading, enriches vocabulary, arouses curiosity and improves communication skills.
“They were asked to speak about virtues such as honesty, kindness and so on. They also enacted short skits based on the virtues,” she said.
The Delhi Public School (DPS), Kalinga, is doing something similar.
“Our focus is on spiritual development and memory improvement. We are conducting sessions in yoga, surya namaskar, meditation and chanting of vedic slokas. At the same time, we are also encouraging students to take part in outdoor sports for their physical fitness and agility,” said DPS head of physical education, Sasmita Tripathy.
Adventure sports and daredevil dos such as rock climbing, flying fox, commando net and zorbing are keeping the 50-odd participants engrossed at the camp at DAV Public School, Chandrasekharpur.
“I was slightly nervous about swinging from one building to another through a cable but it was great fun. It helped me conquer my fear of heights. Now, I am looking forward to the parasailing session tomorrow,” said Purojit Mohapatra, a Class IX student.
The Odisha chapter of National Adventure Foundation has collaborated with the school to conduct these activities to develop life skills such as teamwork and responsibility.
“We have taken all safety precautions. The children are very adventurous and seem to be having the time of their life,” said DAV physical education head, Nabakishor Mahapatra.
At the Sai International School summer camp, the major highlights are horse riding and robotics, which are hardly offered at any other camp in town.
“Here, we are getting an opportunity to explore the fascinating world of robotics, which has always interested me,” said Class VII student, Anurag Samant.
Often, parents worry about children overeating during vacations out of boredom and putting on weight. But not anymore.
Eat all that you want and yet, stay in shape. The camp at Mother’s Public School is ensuring just that.
“Ten days of yoga, aerobics and dance helps you stay slim and fit,” said Ayesha, who is taking part in the camp.
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