Summer camps with a difference: Students enjoy Foreign trip, adventure sports

A group of boys cooked Indian food for an Australian family in Queensland, girls slid down a zipline in the hilly regions of Mussoorie.

Several schools organise summer camps where young minds can imbibe and strengthen new and existing skills.

Twenty students of St Xavier’s Collegiate School went on a 10-day trip to Australia, 69 girls from Mahadevi Birla World Academy went to Mussoorie and 72 girls and boys of Lakshmipat Singhania Academy visited Manali.

School trips are not only about fun but also teach children to be independent and responsible, said teachers across several schools.

They learn the value of time, said a teacher.

“We saw boys trying out different things, which they would not usually do at home with their parents. For example, some of our boys cooked a meal for the families they were staying with,” said Farino Torcato, senior English teacher at St Xavier’s Collegiate School, who led the students.

The boys spent 10 days with the students of Hillcrest Christian College, a co-educational school in Queensland.

During the stay, the boys attended classes at the Australian school, played cricket with them and extensively interacted with them throughout the day.

Debdeepta Ray and Rohan Saha, both Class XI students made butter chicken, rice and rotis.

“Some of the family members found it a little spicy but they enjoyed it and we enjoyed making it for them,” said Debdeepta.

Schools have been organising such trips for years but after the Covid pandemic, principals said both parents and children are more keen about them.

“Earlier if their friends were not going, students would drop out. But now we notice that they are more keen to go perhaps because they have realised what confinement means,” said Meena Kak, director, Lakshmipat Singhania Academy.

A school trip naturally becomes a training in life skills, she said.

“They learn to collaborate and adjust with one another. Also, they learn how to spend their money while travelling alone without parents,” said Kak.

At St Xavier’s Collegiate School, the boys had to find and speak to sponsors who would fund the exchange programme, if not fully, some part of it.

“We learnt the skill of making a pitch and how to face an interview,” said Rohan.

Teacher Torcato said that it also teaches the students to accept “no” for an answer and that they will not be assisted or be under the tutelage of adults around them.

The girls at Mahadevi Birla World Academy were asked to leave their phones in the hotel, while they went out during the day.

“We can’t ask them not to carry their phones but we can at least restrict the use. We want them to see, feel, experience and enjoy nature, which they did,” said Nupur Ghosh, vice principal, Mahadevi Birla World Academy.

Back in school, the girls would have to write a journal and make a presentation during assembly on the trip.