Spring Adventure Camp at School, Pre-primary, 6 March 2012

The children reached School on 6 March, 2012 in great excitement and anticipation, just the apt ingredient for the adventure that was about to open! And no wonder, the assembled props that they sighted appeared out of an adventure movie! The parents who had accompanied the children appeared equally animated seeing them too! The School field was transformed. A large Commando Net, River Crossing, Burma Bridge and Trampoline had been appointed at carefully selected points. The children in track pants were led by their teachers to collect on the basket ball court where each was ushered to sit down as per a preset arrangement. The teachers then asked them if they could imagine what lay ahead for them that morning. And to their amazement, several children promptly named the activities lined up. They seemed to recognise the equipment as perhaps seen in a newspaper or magazine or a sports show on television. Some even offered to describe, for the others, the thrills they could expect! The organisers then patiently explained the activities that were going to occupy the children and why they are good for them. They said that these help us to (a) lose our fear; (b) learn discipline and timing; (c) learn safety rules, besides (d) use motor skills for better coordination.   Then the instructors, began to demonstrate how each equipment was to be tackled. Rapidly the children applied their initiative and embarked on the exercises as per instruction. They seem determined to master the myriad little challenges laid out. Some were quicker than the others and some were cautious and more mindful of each step they took. The girls and the boys displayed equal energy, and it was extremely heartening for the teachers to see that the children carefully conserved discipline even as they attempted to better their classmates. Infact there were several examples of the achievers lending an arm to prop up their slower colleagues! One little girl was distraught mid-way up the comando net. She seemed to have lost her nerve sighting the elevation to be addressed. But soon enough the instructor guided her up and continuously prompted by her classmates, she crossed the beam. The elation was writ large upon her little face. After all her conquest had not been mean! A juice and and a banana were very welcome at 10 am and were served on the steps of the basket ball court. At 12:30 pm the children returned for their parantha-rolls , halwa and a drink. A breather followed and then they were back with a final round of activities until 3 pm. Another round of juice and a cup cake was well-deserved as they children prepared for pack-up. The Spring adventure seemed to have invigorated the children with a new spring in their step!