Camp-style sessions offer a refreshing way to play and reconnect

After months of isolation, which for most of us entailed very little social interaction, the Grange Hill East Neighbourhood Group’s (GHENG) camp-style half-day sessions stand out as a refreshing and safe way for kids to meet their neighbours. The best part? The opportunity allows children to connect with each other without the assistance of technology and screens.

“We introduce games that allow participants to stay physically distant,” explains Libby, a camp team lead. “The younger kids can burn off lots of energy playing pool-noodle tag, dodge-ball and circle games. The sessions for the 10-13 year-old set revolve around group activities such as escape rooms and science experiments.

These boisterous activities are also paired with calmer options, including riddle-time, quiet games, nature hunts and crafts (slime and kite-making are hits).

For those who have been struggling with the loss of routine, isolation stress, and the constant changes the pandemic has thrown at us, the 3-hour camp sessions provide a welcome break. For caregivers, they offer a few hours of much-needed time to relax, sneak in a workout, or be able to contribute during an uninterrupted Zoom meeting.

Our camp-style programming provides a stress-free way to for children to ease back into this post-quarantine “new normal". One mother let us know that her child’s recent week at one of our camps had a transformative effect on her daughter. “The camp truly changed my child after months of isolation," she wrote, “the staff were amazing, the crafts were great, and the safety protocols made us feel safe."

“Our sessions are a great way for new campers to get a feel for what we have to offer during a normal year,” says Libby. “As for returning participants, it’s an awesome way to reconnect: a camper let us know today he was ‘happy to be at camp this summer, because he didn’t think he could make it another year without seeing us’. It feels great to know we are engaging kids in such a meaningful way.”   

More Information

Link to web page and registration: www.gheng.ca/camps

Dates: Weekly from July 13 to August 14 (1/2 day sessions available in morning or afternoon). 

Locations: Ecole Guelph Lake and Ken Danby Public School. 

Cost: $50.00 per week

Contact: ghengcamp@gmail.com