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THE heat is on to find the best way to keep the children entertained during the long, hot school holidays.
Schools and clubs across the kingdom are offering a range of facilities to keep the little ones amused during the summer months.
The clubs are essential for working parents and those families unable to travel abroad during the annual mass exodus off the island.
Dr Preeti Narayan, a mother of two, said: "As a working parent it is better if our children go to a summer camp during the day time. Also, as most of their friends leave the island during the vacation, they have nothing to do and no one to spend time with while we are working."
Dr Seema Agarwal, from Hoora, agreed that the summer camps provided a perfect getaway for children who aren't travelling. "The camp keeps them occupied and is also a great way of getting the children to indulge in arts and crafts which they might otherwise ignore.
"My son Ishan, seven, really enjoyed his summer camp last year. He only complained that it took place too early in the day but I thought the timing was fine because it meant that he avoided the afternoon heat."
GulfWeekly's Shilpa Chandran highlights a selection of summer camp options available this season.
Diplomat Radisson SAS Hotel and Spa
Age: Five to 12 years
Time period: June 15 to August 28, Sundays to Thursdays, 9am to 3pm
Activities: The camp will be open to hotel guests, members and non-members. Hotel guests can also avail of the 'Kids Club' facility from 3pm to 7pm. Children can enjoy a variety of games including soft football, table tennis, basketball, waterpolo, pool relay games and swimming alongside sessions in aerobics, dance and yoga with the hotel's fitness trainers. Other attractions include activities like puzzles, board games and a treasure hunt.
Contact: 17531666 ext 237/332 or email Diplomat.spa@radissonSAS.com.
EZ FiT
Age: Four to 17
Time period: July 6 to August 28, Sundays to Thursdays, 10am to 2pm
Activities: Football, volleyball, cricket, basketball, tennis, sack race, aerobics, dancing, 'meet the chef', talent competition, mini-Olympics, art & craft, painting and decorating, field trips, nature trails, swimming, mini golf, table tennis and video games. Rates are BD8 per day, BD40 per week and BD99 per month.
Contact: Andy on 36628806 or EZ FiT on 17692378.
Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa
Age: Five to 12 years
Time period: On-going till August 13
Activities: It will be a mix of fun, learning and adventure with highlights including a football tournament and swimming competition, tennis, fishing, boat trips, windsurfing, boxing, snorkelling, badminton, volleyball, camp fire, cooking classes, camp sleepover and the closing ceremonies. The camp is priced at BD99 for members of The Sports Club and Spa and at BD119 for non-members per course for four days. Day packages are also available and is priced at BD35 for non-members and BD29 for members and in-house guests.
Contact: 17589380
Mšvenpick Hotel Bahrain
Age: Children and adults
Time period: On-going till August 31
Activities: The hotel is offering swimming lessons seven days a week in its 'Infinity Edge' pool. The hotel offers both personal training sessions and group lessons, wherein the charges will vary according to the number of sessions. Children can also enjoy activities like football, sports fitness, gymnastics and stretching. The hotel is also offering summer specials with the renowned Mšvenpick ice creams from 10am to 10pm at the Mšvenpick ice cream corner in the Gallery Lobby Lounge. Guests can relish a wide variety of natural flavours of the season all through the week at specially discounted rates. Mšvenpick Hotel Bahrain has also tied up with the Lost Paradise of Dilmun Waterpark so that in-house guests can receive special discounted vouchers.
Contact: 17460000.
Delmon International Hotel
Age: Three age groups, five to seven, eight to 10 and 11 to 14 years
Time period: July 5 to August 22, Saturdays to Wednesdays, 9am to 1pm
Activities: Field trips, art and craft, sports, swimming, yoga and karate.
Snacks will be served and the organisers will provide T-shirts to be worn during the field trips.
Rates are BD50 with extra for transportation. Application forms are now available at the hotel reception. A briefing will be held on July 2 at 8.30pm at the same venue.
Contact: Anand Lobo on 39401279 or 17224000.
The Kalabhavan Music and Arts Centre
Age: Five onwards
Time period: July 1 to August 31
Activities: Classes are available in dance, South Indian classical music, musical instruments like the piano, violin, keyboard, guitar (flamenco and classical), saxophone, drums, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, conga (tumba), flute and oud. It will also offer a variety of activities including karate, yoga, drawing and painting and picnics to landmarks.
Contact: 17717271.
Sherlock Holmes at the RIA Centre
Age: Two to 10
Time period: July 3 to August 31, Sundays to Thursdays, 8am to noon
Activities: Programmes on 'Investigative' themes. It will cost BD60 for four weeks or BD25 per week.
Contact: 17716871 or email info@ria-institute.com.
Parampara 2008 at the Indian Institute of Performing Arts
Age: Five to 14
Time period: July 2 to 29 and August 3 to 28, Sundays to Thursdays, 9.30am to noon.
Activities: Subjects offered are Hindustani classical singing, harmonium, tabla, light music, violin, Bharatnatyam, painting, thematic presentation and acting skills. A summer camp concert will be held on August 29 with certificates for participants. Fees will be BD40 for both camps or BD25 per month. The registration fee is BD3 and a special discount will be given to children enrolling from the same family. Transportation available at extra charge.
Contact: 17231717.
Bright Beginnings Day Care and Child Development Centre
Age: Two groups, one to three and four to nine
Time period: July 6 to 31
Activities: Field trips, baking, water activities, art and craft, music, bowling, swimming, dance, science, math and theatre. Cost is BD200 for the first group and BD300 for the second, including snacks and field trips.
Contact: 17710405 or email on info@bb-daycare.com
Be Free Centre
Age: Four groups - four to five, six to eight, nine to 11 and 12 to 14
Time period: July and August
Activities: Children aged four to 12 will be taught skills to protect them from abuse, as well as basic life skills. Workshops entitled 'I am a Smart, Strong and Safe Child' will be held from Sunday to Wednesday, from 9.30am to 11.30am and from 4.30pm to 6.30pm. Emotional Intelligence in daily life will be held for children aged four to eight from Sunday to Wednesday, from 9.30am to 11.30am and from 4.30pm to 6.30pm. Children from 12 to 14 will be taught leadership skills, as well as the importance of forgiveness.
Contact: 17242415.
Karnataka Social Club
Age: Four to 18
Time period: Two-month camp will be held on Fridays from 4pm to 7pm and on Tuesdays from 6pm to 8pm
Activities: Quiz, art and craft, games and other recreational activities with the grand finale in the last week of August including an entertainment show performed by the children. The camp is free for members' children, while children of guests will be charged BD10 for the full two months.
Contact: 17254257 or 39970145.
Kannada Sangha
Age: School children of all ages
Time period: July 1 to August 31, Sundays to Thursdays, 9.30am to 12.30pm.
Activities: Public speaking, interview techniques, dance and music, calligraphy, painting, drawing, vegetable carving, embroidery and stitching for girls, clay modelling, educational activities, quiz, a cartoon and film show, swimming, yoga, recreational games and trips including breakfast.
Contact: 39837771
Kerala Social and Cultural Association
Age: Six to 15 years
Time period: July 4 to 13 from 8pm to 9.30pm except on Friday, when it will be from 11am to 12.30pm.
Activities: The camp will cover various subjects ranging from culture and history, speaking skills, group discussions, health and safety, time management, environment, art and craft, instrument and music learning and a half-day trip to the Coca Cola factory on July 12. Fee is BD5 and children of members and guests may join, by registering in advance. Merit certificates will be issued to all participants.
Contact: V R Vishwanathan on 39589063, R M Pillai on 39575162, Prabhakaran on 39677828.
The Art Of Living
Age: Five to 13
Time period: July 1 to 31, Sundays to Thursdays, 9am to 12pm.
Activities: Yoga and meditation, together with exercises, art and craft and interactive games. Rate is BD20 per child with extra charges for transportation.
Contact: 39837475 or 36641677.
British Council
Age: Seven to 14
Time period: July and August, 30 hours from Sunday to Thursday, 9am to 10.30am, 10.45am to 12.15pm and 3pm to 4.30pm.
Activities: Registration for past students will take place on July 4 and 5, from 8am to 11am and 3.30pm to 5.30pm and new students on July 11 and 12, from 8am to 11am and 3.30pm to 6.30pm. Fees are BD120 per course and BD5 for registration and placement test for new students. Students are requested to bring their CPR cards and past students must show their last certificate while re-registering.
Contact: 17261555
Children's Health Academy of Specialised Sports (Chaoss)
Age: Six months to 16 years.
Time period: July 13 to September 2, Sundays to Thursdays, 9am to 12.30pm.
Activities: Gymnastics, contemporary dance, swimming, taekwondo, cookery, theatre, physical education, basketball, sporting activities and art and craft. Cost is BD12 per day and BD50 per week.
Contact: 17592096 or chaossgymnastics@yahoo.com
L'Atelier Art Lounge in the Country Mall, Budaiya
Age: Five and above
Time period: On-going
Activities: They will be able to try painting on wood, textiles, porcelain and glass, as well as pottery-making, scrap-booking, collage work, candle-making, and various other art and craft activities. Cost is BD45 per week or BD165 per month including painting and object materials, snacks and juices with discount for siblings.
Contact: 17599030
Yahoo Club at the Middle East Hotel
Age: Five years and above
Time period: On-going until August 30
Activities: Swimming classes will be held from 7am to 8.30am on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 4pm to 5.30pm and 5.30pm to 7pm on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Karate classes will be held from 4.30pm to 6pm on Saturdays and Thursdays. Rates per month are BD30 for both, BD25 for swimming only and BD15 only karate.
Contact: 39079142 or 17251777
The Golden Tulip Hotel
Age: Four to 12
Time period: July 5 to July 31 and August 1 to 31, on Saturday and Monday or Sunday and Wednesday 4pm to 5pm and 5pm to 6pm
Activities: Swimming classes for children twice a week. The charge is BD28 for group classes and BD55 for private classes per month with eight lessons.
Contact: 17535000, 17523570, 36060777
The Children's House
Age: Two to six
Time period: June 29 to July 10
Activities: Art and craft. Rates are BD45 for five days per week and BD35 for three days per week. Last date of registration is June 26.
Contact: 17699844
The Indian Club, Manama
Age: Five to 15
Time period: July 1 to August 15, Sundays to Thursdays, 9.30am to 1pm.
Activities: Programmes include art and craft, swimming, drawing, painting, dance, yoga, cricket, games and various other indoor and outdoor games. A group of toastmasters will train the children on public speaking with its Youth Leadership Programme (YLP). Children will be taken on field trips to places such as Funland, the King Fahad Causeway, Bahrain National Museum, shopping malls and other landmarks. A sports day will be held at the end of the camp followed by a stage performance. Participants will be awarded certificates and winners will receive prizes.
The fee for members' children will be BD25 and for non-members BD34. Transportation will be provided for an additional charge of BD10 for the whole programme. Snacks will be provided by the camp organisers.
Contact: Mathew Joseph on 39407393 or Ulhas Karnavar on 39861266.
The Marina Club
Age: Four to 15.
Time period: July 1 to August 31, Sundays to Thursdays, 8am to noon.
Activities: Art and craft, taekwondo, karate, listening to music, watching TV, swimming, talent and drawing competitions and a field trip. Cost is BD55 for members and guests. Boys and girls will be split into different categories and be supervised by Bahraini college students. Also available are swimming lessons from Sundays to Thursdays, from 4pm to 5pm and 5pm to 6pm. Cost is BD25 for members and BD30 non-members.
Contact: 17291527 or Bahar Al Shaikh on 39600475.
