17 yam' CAMP CASTAWAY HOLIDAY PROGRAMS FOR KIDS

Transcription

1 17 yam' CAMP CASTAWAY HOLIDAY PROGRAMS FOR KIDS

2 Camp Castaway: Holidays for Kids Camp Castaway is a place designed for kids. The beach is long and white with sea-formed coves and enticing rocks and caves to explore and climb. The jungle rises behind the longhouse-style home, holding mysteries in its dark undergrowth. No one else is there, only kids and counselors. And the counselors don't seem like grown-ups; they're there to have fun too! Situated on a lush tropical island near Singapore, Camp Castaway is a spartan but clean atap and wood building with a long verandah facing the sea and sunrise. Fresh spring waters flow down from the hills. Beds are simple canvas cots with two white sheets. Wholesome camp meals are served family style around a long table at which enthusiastic -. discussions range from the lowly sand flea to the satelites that soar through the clear dark sky high over the South China Sea. There are no radios, TV's, video tapes, or junk food. Cash is useless on an island without a store. Camp Concepts The camp is the brainchild of Singapore-expatriate Jim Baker who has a reputation for quality youth work. His beliefs are reflected in the ideals of the camp: to push young people to know and reach their potentials whether it be in sports, citizenship, integrity, or intellectual pursuits. The camp philosophy incorporates his concerns for and faith in young people. His hand-picked staff shares this philosophy of living and learning. The counselors expect young people to work at developing their bodies and minds, and the campers seem to want to live up to these expectations. Camp Castaway's patrons are between 9 and 14 years of age and come from international homes in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Hong Kong. They have signed on for a true summer camp experience. The two-week sessions run from June to the end of August.

3 Camp Counselors Charismatic and Capable The staff is made up of young dynamic educators drawn from international schools in the Asian region. Although they are professional.teachers, wellversed in modern classroom methods, they relish the live-in summer camp experience. As in most camps, there is a heavy schedule of recreational activities, but the counselors also introduce the campers to alternative learning situations in which living stimulates the desire to acquire new knowledge. Malaysian Location and Culture Camp Castaway is located on Pulau Babi Besar, an island off the east coast of Malaysia, near Mersing, Johore. The island is about an hour away by slow fishing boat and has only a few Malay residents. The campsite side of the island is completely deserted and the only visitor is the food and supply boat that arrives every few days. The campers love this but, for worried parents, there is a police station on the island that is equipped with shortwave radio facilities and the town of Mersing has a hospital and helicopter services available for emergencies. This year the staff is headed by a former instructor from the U.S. National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). A NOLS instructor is a highly skilled professional who has knowledge and technical expertise in outdoor skills and in developing self-confidence, responsibility, and motivation in students. He is trained in advanced first aid and registered as an Emergency Medical Technician. Assistant counselors, 18-year-old high school and university students, complete the staff roster. These young men and women have trained at the camp in previous years. They possess camping and athletic skills. Their light-hearted approach to tasks and ready friendships with the campers contribute much to camp life. Camp Castaway counselors feel that certain introductions to the life and culture of Malaysia contribute to the overall enjoyment and knowledge gained by a camper's two weeks away from home. Malay customs and festivals are discussed; campers learn proper etiquette when in a Malay restaurant or home; and, although the basic camp menu is Western, they try out some Malay foods. r

4 Days and Nights on the Beach and in the Sea On a typical day, campers rise with the sun at seven a.m. Showers and brushing teeth are expected - just like home! Breakfast is followed by dish washing. All campers are assigned to a rotating schedule of camp chores, ranging from peeling potatoes to scouring the washrooms. Morning activities include hiking in the nearby jungle, snorkeling or water-safety instruction, collecting shells, swimming, aerobics or body building, games, and fishing. Lunch is followed by journal writing. Each camper keeps a personal journal. These are reviewed by the staff to evaluate and improve writing skills as well as examine the campers' experiences and help with goal setting. Enthusiastic writers are encouraged to contribute to the camp newsletter. Free time is available for arts and crafts, quiet table games, or letter writing. The camp library is always open. Organized sports, such as volleyball, dodgeball, and football, come late in the afternoon. Excursions are organized to explore neighboring islands, visit fishing villages, or enter the spooky depths of the large grotto on Pulau Harimau. Overnight campouts, scavenger and treasure hunts teach survival skills: how to read a compass, how to survive off the land, how to build a shelter, and how to prepare food over an open fire. After showers and a hearty dinner, the campfire is lit and by its flickering light there is singing, talent shows, ghost stories, and marshmallows to roast. Lights go out at 10p.m., but whispered coversations linger on until the weary campers finally fall into much-needed slumber.

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