For three weeks this summer a group of children attended a special summer camp initiated and run by Temporary Homes Manager Catherine Tyson with the help of local artist Aston and Temporary Homes staff.
Summer camp guides with participants. Photos: Submitted |
Ranging from age five to 15, most of the participants live with their families in the temporary houses and are part of a group called Generation Next.
‘The goal of the camp was to expose the children to a larger world in an effort to broaden their horizons, cultivate an understanding and appreciation for their environment while simultaneously reiterating the fact that they are the future of the islands and that they have potential to achieve great things,’ stated a press release from the group.
‘By exposing them to a variety of activities and taking them on numerous field trips this fact was constantly stressed.’
From their base at the Ed Bush playing field Temporary Home site in West Bay, the group would set out every day to explore the island. Among the activities was stone collecting at the blow holes, looking for mangos off the Queen’s Highway, swimming with the stingrays at Stingray City, fishing off the dock at Colliers’ beach and preparing their own meals.
‘I am very pleased at how the camp was conducted given our limited resources,’ said Miss Tyson. ‘Our camp base was a piece of tarp stretched between two trailers and our means of transportation was one rented van and our personal automobiles. Everyone involved recognized the importance of what we were attempting to accomplish and performed their individual roles exceptionally.’
Miss Tyson said when planning the weekly schedule, the goal to design activities to be both fun and educational. ‘When life lessons are incorporated in fun activities there is a greater chance of retention.’
She said the group is already looking towards summer camp 2008 ‘where the children will have a more active role in planning and raising funds for whatever adventure we embark on.
‘Despite limited resources much was achieved and it’s evident that with more resources great things can be achieved towards cultivating the future of our children, the leaders of the next generation.’
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