Patna: The Kilkari Bihar Bal Bhavan, a wing of the education department, launched the second leg of its summer camps in slum areas on Sunday to help the children remain engaged in productive activities.

The seven-day summer camp started at the slums near Hartali Mor on Sunday. On the first day, the children learnt to make masks with chart paper and crayons, and attended singing classes.

"In the next six days, we will teach the children various skills, as they will learn while having fun. They would be taught thread painting - they would dip threads in colours, and then make patterns on paper with it. They will also learn palm painting, drawing outline putting their hands on paper and then make fun figures out of it," said Sudhir Kumar, resource person of Kilkari Bihar Bal Bhavan. "These activities will instil creativity among the children and help them learn how to make artistic things with small things found at home. We will also train the children in sculpture and songs and dance. The summer camp will end with an exhibition of the items made by the children. Later, the children will also be taken on a daylong tour of Kilkari."

Sudhir said last Sunday the first of these summer camps - a new initiative taken by Kilkari - was started in the Gandhi Nagar slum area. Around 50 children participated in the summer camp that ended on Saturday, said Sudhir.

Gaurav, 13, said he loved making the masks. "I danced with my friends wearing our masks. The next time we have a party we will wear them - it will be fun," he said.

The next summer camp will be organised at the slums near Patliputra Junction.