What a summer we have had! The weather has largely been incredibly forgiving for our camps this summer, and it continues to be absolutely glorious going into the new academic year. (Well, certainly it has been hot!)
Our clubs have all begun anew now, and we’ve settled into our new venues at Naseby CofE, and Loatlands Primary School very comfortably indeed. We hope that the venues, staff, and children we are working with will continue to be as happy with our services as we are enthused to deliver them!
For now, we would like to reflect on our extraordinary summer camps. We were running not only at what could be considered our ‘regular’ venues (that is Rothwell schools and Harborough Town Football Club) but at new venues too! This summer we ran clubs at Polebrook, Walgrave and Rushton in addition to Rothwell and Harborough!
The experience was immensely eye-opening. We came to realise that the skill that was required most of all was great organisation; running this many camps simultaneously for a number of weeks was seriously ambitious, it relied on the exchanging of sports equipment and arts and crafts supplies, as well as on the commitment and reliability of our staff. We planned for success, and success is precisely what we received.
One of the challenges of summer camps is coming up with a timetable of alternating activities for children to engage in; especially when staff and equipment had to be rotated between so many different locations, delivering to children of varying ages, need and ability. Yet Fiesta’s Operations Manager Georgia managed to create a timetable of activities that meant we never had a session unplanned for!
Whether it was a run Arts and Crafts session on creating nautical images, a crazy lazer tag experience darting in and out of the apple orchard, stretching out with some calming yoga, or having fun in outdoor adventure activities, there really was something for everyone. Lots of children joined in and gave activities that they may not ordinarily think of as within their grasp or their idea of fun, and they were rewarded for it in laughter, smiles and making lasting summer memories!
Of course, we do like to reward children who come to our camps, every day is a fresh chance to start anew and potentially win a medal, rosette, trophy or prize! We also gave out stickers to show how pleased we were with actions, creations and the enthusiasm with which so many children demonstrated when they entered into the spirit of things.
For now, our attentions have turned not only to the new academic year and our new clubs, activities and wraparound services at continuing and new venues, we also are thinking ahead. Just around the corner is October half term, and we’re busily planning ahead for the activities and venues we will be running these camps at. So watch this space, we’ve got plenty more fun school holiday camps to come!