NASSAU, The Bahamas – Stakeholders in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Summer Youth Camps said it is a good way for children to learn about Bahamian culture sports and history, while giving them positive activities to take part in.

 Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Charles Maynard, First Assistant Secretary (Administration) at the Ministry Ms. Phedra Rahming and Acting Director of Youth Greg Butler visited several sites for the Department of Youth Camps and were met with positive feedback from campers and instructors.

According to a statement from the Ministry, the camps are designed to “provide meaningful educational and recreational activities, in a safe and secure environment, for our young people during the summer months; as well as to provide part-time employment opportunities for qualified students during their summer break.”

 Additionally, the statement continued, students are given the opportunity to work in selected business houses during the Summer programme in order to gain valuable work experience and job training.

 At the camp at the Centre for Deaf Children, participants took part in sporting events, visited cultural sites and learned Bible verses in sign language and verbally.

 “What we learn here is spiritual, educational and cultural,” said Principal Esther Nottage.

 Principal at the camp at Progress Education Centre, on Andros Avenue, Ms. Debbie Scott said that the children and instructors are thoroughly enjoying the experience they are having there.

“We have been having a lot of fun,” Ms. Scott said.  “The kids are excited, especially when they are introduced to some of the things that are native.  Some of them are not familiar with things like how we used the leaves of some trees for teas.

“We have had a few of the parents come in.  We made cassava bread, they did some baking and they made some ‘switcha’ (lemonade) today.  We have been having a lot of fun.”

The camp at Progress Education Centre is the only one that facilitates preschoolers.  Some of the older children, Ms. Scott said, graduated from the Academy and have now returned to their former preschool for the summer camp.

Ms. Scott added that the children at the camp were excited that the Minister came to visit them and were happy to showcase the various Bahamian plants and memorabilia.

“They could hardly wait,” Ms. Scott said.  “We were in here until 9 p.m. last night, fixing up the room with the neighbourhood kids.  We had a lot of fun.”

“It’s fun, it’s exciting and it’s great,” agreed eight-year-old Elvonte Richards.

Five-year-old Carlton Seymour added that it was fun and he liked being the one chosen to present the Minister’s delegation with the small tokens of appreciation they made.

“I love to say nice things to people and I love to be nice to people,” Carlton said.

At the camp at Evangelistic Temple, Collins Avenue, Camp Co-ordinator Mrs. Sabrina Donaldson said the more than 180 students taking part are enjoying various activities, including music, civics and sewing, with new campers joining every week.

“They are having fun and are very interested in the camp and it has been constantly growing,” she said.

“It was a lot of fun and I learned about music and keeping The Bahamas clean,” said five-year-old Antonio Carlos Rose.

The Department of Sports Summer Programme started on Tuesday, July 13 and will end August 6, 2010.  The predominant venue for the Summer Sports Programme is the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre and the Blue Hills Sports Complex.  Additional approved satellite camps will also be held throughout New Providence and the Family Islands.

 The sports camps cater to various sporting disciplines, including basketball, karate, golf, swimming, netball, cheerleading / dance, lawn tennis and softball.