Some 200 children from Mayaro ended a recent vacation camp with mixed emotions after enjoying five weeks of fun activities, sports, music, field trips and inter-active learning. The feedback from the campers, five to 12 years, demonstrated that they have entered the new school academic year with great self-confidence and optimism.
Appropriately code-named Steam (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math), the camp was organised by energy company bpTT which reaffirmed its longstanding social investment in the potential of the youth of the country, a release said.
The camp was conducted at the bpTT Mayaro Resource Centre.
For Fay Ramnath, ten, who entered Standard 5 at Poole RC Primary School earlier this month, her first-time experience at the camp was “truly enjoyable”. “I took part in several sports, such as football and basketball and revised school subjects like mathematics and English, The best part was meeting children form other schools and the field trips and fun activities. It was a great five weeks but it is kind of sad it has come to an end. I will make sure to take part next year,” said an elated Fay. “It was the best camp ever. I made a lot of new friends and learnt new things. The teachers were patient and made you feel at ease. The field trips were special. I will go back to school in September prepared to do better in my studies. My parents are also happy that we had this camp,” said Adia Merrique, nine, of Rio Claro Seventh-Day Adventist Primary School.
Mother of two, Judith Bruce, of Pierreville, Mayaro, the five-week camp was a dream come true as two of her three children were Steam campers. “This camp is a great benefit not only to the children but to the parents as well. It is difficult to find wholesome activity for the children to be engaged in during the vacation period. The great thing about the camp is that it is free of charge and the children get to take part in all kinds of positive things. They also make new friends who they may meet in secondary school,” said a happy Bruce, whose other child was too old to attend the camp.
Another parent, Dian Omalo, of Begorat Village, Mayaro, said bpTT filled the role of a “giant surrogate parent” by taking care of the children during a very challenging period for the real parents. “Most parents cannot afford to pay for their children to attend a vacation camp. Sometimes it costs around $400 a week for a camp. With bpTT, this is all free. I am really happy for this,” said Omalo, whose daughter, Tieshelle, six, was a bpTT Steam camper.
The campers were divided into three age-groups to ensure full and active participation: Pioneers five to seven years; Juniors eight to ten years; and Seniors 11 to 12 years. Camp Director was bpTT’s Nadia Portillo, while Neil Roopnarine continued his responsibilities from previous camps as Sports Director. A corps of bpTT’s Brighter Prospects scholarship students performed responsibilities as Camp Counsellors.
Matthew Pierre, community liaison officer, bpTT, congratulated the Steam campers, some of whom were accompanied by their parents, for their exemplary behavior during “five wonderful weeks of fun, excitement and learning”. “This vacation camp was organised to make sure that the bright young minds of Mayaro were engaged in wholesome activities during the holidays. We are sure you are better prepared for the new school year and the years ahead. I also want to reassure the parents here today of bpTT’s commitment to the annual camp and other educational initiatives,” Pierre said.