Great holiday camps to keep your children busy and focused

The school holidays can be a headache for some parents. While there is need to spend quality time with their children, more often than not the fact that they still have their eight-to-five jobs leaves them grappling with what their children get up to while they are away.

The fear that children, especially teenagers, can get into bad company results in many parents trying to monitor their activities all the time.

Often the security guard at the gate is under instructions not to let them leave the residence or allow anyone into the compound whose visit they have not sanctioned.

According to James Muiruri of Swim Africa, this has resulted in a number of children immersing themselves into the available technology devices which may prove far more dangerous.

“Today, most neighbourhoods are not safe for children to just play outside without keen supervision so they end up  spending the whole day  watching television or  going online through smartphones, computers or the tablets in the house with no one to supervise what they are doing,” he  says.

Muiruri notes that while it is necessary for children to relax after a three-month extensive educational curriculum they still need to engage in things that not only keep them active but also engage their minds.

“Sports camps are a way of ensuring that children stay physically active while at the same time helping them to build their confidence as they socialise with their peers,” he explains.

Age groups

Most sports camps are organised to suit particular age groups with different activities for toddlers, pre-teens, and teenagers.

Others are centred on particular activities with week-long training sessions complete with tournaments in order to improve the child’s performance in a particular sport.

Swim Africa’s holiday camp that is set to run for two weeks from December 8 caters for children aged between two to 12 years.

The camp, to be held at the Montessori Learning Centre on Grevillea Groove in Westlands, will include activities such as cycling, tennis, hockey, horse riding, swimming, basketball, skating, go karting, cricket, and soccer.

Parents have the option of taking their children for the morning sessions which run from 8.30am to midday or full-day sessions that go on until 4pm.

Weekly half-day sessions cost Sh4,000 while full-day sessions costs Sh8,000 though there is an option for parents to make daily payments with each drop off.

Teen Touch limited has also been running a camp at the StedMak gardens in Karen which is set to continue until December 11. 

The camp, which runs from 10am to 3pm, is a combination of both fun activities including music, dance choreography and sports as well as learning etiquette and life skills.

The weekly charge of Sh5,500 caters for the activities and lunch with residents of Kileleshwa, Langata, South C and Nairobi West having the advantage of their children being picked and dropped off.

“Last week, we had about 50 children participating in the camp, this week we have about 40 because some parents have already started making travel plans for their children,” says Ruth Nyabwa of Teen Touch.

Sessions

Raha Kids camp which targets children aged two years to eight years will run from December 1-December 5.

The morning-only sessions will run from 8.30 in the morning to midday and the children will have an opportunity to engage in craft making, storytelling, etiquette training and even baking at the Arcadia Kindergarten located behind Valley Arcade shopping centre.

Charges are Sh6,000 for the week with an option of daily payments of Sh1,500.

Nyota Zuri Soccer Club will be running a three week sports camp at the Lavington Montessori Kindergarten for children above two years.

The half-day sessions will see children learn new soccer tactics as well as play the game with their peers. Parents can opt to have their children enroll for a weekly programme for Sh4,000.

“It is not just soccer, there are also other sports like cycling, horse riding, skating and swimming that the children can also engage in at the camp,” Ruth Muhia told the BDLife.

Bumblebee Sports Camp which was scheduled to end on December 5 will now be extended for an extra week.

Speaking to BDLife, coach Nicholas Ananda says the extension of the camp that is currently ongoing at Hospital Hill Primary School was informed by the fact that most international schools would be starting their holiday around December 5.

Skills

“So far the turnout has been good, we have had to improvise on wet days with indoor tennis and skating to be able to keep the children active,” he explains.

The camp offers a variety of outdoor sports activities including tennis, soccer, netball and swimming with the coach adding that horse riding would be offered on two days every week if the turnout improved.

“We are looking at children aged five to 14 mainly because they can easily pick up the skills that we teach unlike children of younger ages who mostly need to be acquainted with the sport,” he explained.

Sadili Oval sports Academy in Langata is also offering various sports camp with classes  for beginners, intermediates  and those who are more proficient.

Their camps are also timed according to different age groups. Each of the tennis, basketball, soccer and swimming camps have various dates and timings each day. The cost for each weeklong camp session averages Sh2,000 per child.

Residential

For those looking for something different for their teenagers, the full residential Furaha Afrika Camp organised by the world youth alliance is suitable.

The camp that will take place from December 16 to December 19 at Corat Africa premises in Karen, will involve various sports and aerobics classes for those aged between 15 and 19 years.

The Sh10,000 fee is inclusive of meals and accommodation and your children will also have the opportunity to interact with their peers  from neighbouring  Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda and share ideas on issues affecting today’s youth.