Local charity Nottinghamshire YMCA will be launching two holiday camps for children during August 2020. The programme relaunch comes after several significant updates to ensure it a safe space for children to have fun interacting and learning without fear of health risks in the current climate.
The charity has a long history of youth development and social responsibility, working with young people from vulnerable communities and championing the American summer camp model here in the UK. From their origins in 2014, their holidays camps have grown to encompass a variety of unique and challenging activities including skateboarding, kayaking, climbing and mountain biking. Arts subjects like acting, dancing, photography and game design are also offered, ensuring that campers get an equal chance to build on both creative and sporting skills.
This new programme launch will see YMCA Day Camps in Middleton Primary School in Wollaton and the YMCA Youth and Community Centre in Aspley, catering for families across multiple areas of the city. Safety updates for keeping children safe onsite include group size limitations, assigned materials and projects spaces for each child, social distancing sporting activities and regular cleaning of the facilities throughout each day.
For young people attending the camps this August, there will be a variety of interactive projects on offer, specifically focusing on interactive STEAM activities, arts and crafts, indoor and outdoor sports.
YMCA day camp and childcare programmes provide children and young people with opportunities to form positive values and to learn through positive, engaging, and interactive experiences. Socially positive behavior is also a prime focus of the programme and is encouraged throughout each activity. Campers receive awards and certificates for demonstrating the four core values of the charity – caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
Martyn Gibbons, Camps Services Manager at Nottinghamshire YMCA, said: “We feel that young people across the county would greatly benefit from the developmental opportunities offered at our camps, as well as parents who need holiday childcare.
“Our belief is that young people with access to this programme, including our role model team members and the skills that they teach, will make healthier choices as they grow into adults.
As a non-profit organisation whose primary concern is the health and wellbeing of children and families, we want to do everything that we can to provide safe opportunities for young people to grow and learn, especially during the difficult times that we are currently facing. We hope the strategies we have put in place will fill our parents and guardians with confidence that their children can develop and have fun in a secure environment at the YMCA.”
To book for Melbourne Park Day Camp or Wollaton Holiday Club call 0115 711 7006 / email [email protected] or visit nottsymca.com to book online.