New ideas and newer camps: Many parents in city opted for outstation camps

Many parents in the city have opted for outstation camps. Here, instead of the usual indoors activities, kids are taken to a hill station and there they are made to perform various tasks. For this camp, a trip of five nights would cost between Rs 12,000 and Rs 15,000 per child.

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“Rather than the usual indoor activities, we opted for this outdoor summer camp. My daughter Mansi has gone to Shoghi for a five-night camp. In this camp, children even get the feeling that they are out on a holiday and enjoy activities too,” says Mona Malhotra, a parent who has sent her son with this group to a trip to Manali. Mansi is a student of class VII at Carmel Convent School, Chandigarh.

Trekking, camping, bonfire and jungle walk are some activities being offered at hill station camps.

Asserting that the four- or five-hour summer camp was taxing for kids, Mona says, “For working mothers, it is imperative for them to send their kids to four- or five-hour camps to keep them busy. Being a housewife, I do not prefer such camps of long duration. Already the kid gets tired attending school the whole year.” Mona was charged Rs 14,000 for five nights.

With introduction of a spate of innovative tasks, private organisers holding summer camps or those organising such activities are trying all means to woo parents and the school authorities. From telecasting the child’s group dance or acting on a local channel to holding an exhibition of the child’s art and craft works done during the period, from plain cooking (without gas) to robotics, the organisers are trying hard to get more and more children to their workshops.

“I have made my son join the dance group of a famous choreographer. They charge Rs 20,000 for 20 days. My other son is just one year younger than him and he too wants to join his elder brother. So I have no other option but to get both of them enrolled for the course,” says Radhika, a resident of Sector 38.

For teaching cooking to small children who cannot use gas, the concept of plain cooking is being widely spread. The more the number of dishes, the more the amount of fee.

“If my child learns 60 dishes without using gas in a 30-day course, I will be charged Rs 7,000 and half the amount for less number of dishes. At least the kids remain busy. My daughter keeps trying the dishes at home too,” says Vipul, a resident of Sector 6, Panchkula.

There are some schools that have tied up with companies holding summer activities. Last month many organisers approached various schools and even gave presentations to school principals showing what they are offering for kids during camps.

Schools, on the other hand, are charging Rs 2,000 – 5,000 per child for the summer course. “Special teachers are deployed and money is spent on their salaries and power. For a course costing Rs 5,000, apart from activities, we provide transportation too. Since parents are working, it is difficult for them to pick and drop kids,” says principal of a well-known private school.

There are some parents who have made their kids join swimming and dance courses as well. “The camp in the school is till 12 noon. For the rest of the day, my son will keep watching TV. So I have put him in a dance class which he attends in the afternoon and then he goes swimming. To keep him busy is costing me Rs 25,000 for 20 days.”

There are some who are offering help to complete your child’s academic course during the vacation. “I saw an advertisement wherein tutors promised to complete the child’s school course. This way when my daughter joins her class, she won’t hesitate and it will be a kind of revision,” says Rajnish Sharma.

“I like vacations more than school days not because you stay at home but because you get so many activities to do and learn so much in a short period,” says Tanya, a student of class VIII.

Aarushi, a mother based in Sector 16, Chandigarh, prefers school activities for her children. “Since my eight-year-old daughter plays golf and piano, I have made her join the activities being held by her school. My six-year-old son too goes with her to the summer camp. Instead of getting bored at home since we do not have plans to go out as of now, it is better to send them to school camps,” says Aarushi. Aarushi is paying Rs 2,500 per child for eight classes; she is shelling out Rs 5,000 for eight days for both her kids.

A teacher and her husband, who is a retired Armyman, have been holding personality development classes for kids. “I feel personality development is the need of the hour. Even if a child has secured 99 per cent, he or she needs to be confident enough to speak at an interview. So learning to speak before people is highly important,” says Daisy, who is holding classes in Sector 7, Panchkula.