Summer camps with a difference

KOCHI: A couple of years ago summer classes sticked to painting, dance, music and piano lessons but the new gen summer classes in the city have come a long way after that. Many of the organisers of summer camps say that, the summer classes of today are not just about imparting maximum number of lessons but also about providing the children with an enjoyable vacation. Going by the trend many of the institutions in the city offer hitherto unheard courses. To know more, City Express takes a look at some of these ‘out-of-the-way’ summer courses offered to the kids.Screening and discussionof world classicsIn a film crazy society like ours what could be more obvious than a summer class promoting the best movies from across the world. The Cochin Arts and Communications has come up with such sessions wherein students are shown Oscar winning and other classic movies every Friday. After the programme, the audience are also given a chance to hold discussion on the movie.Wealth from wasteAt a time when the cities in Kerala are brought down on their knees due to the failure in waste management. The Arts and Craft Summer Camp organised by Smitha Sebi has introduced a course that helps children use their creativity in making the best use of waste.The programme includes doll making from disposed sponges, booklets out of waste paper, making little paper bags and so on. “The idea is to trigger the creativity of children to make things from waste. Children will learn to keep their surroundings neat and clean and also have fun while doing it,” said Smitha.Temple visits for dance studentsThe tradition of classical dance dates back to our history, when these arts were performed inside temples. To make the children know about the close relationship between dance and temples, Swathi Thirunal School of Performing Arts, Thripunithura, has come up with a five- day tour through the temples of the country. “The temples were the centres of art in the earlier days. The temples which are rich with the sculptures and the artifacts are in itself a learning experience for the dancers,” said RLV Jolly Mathew, managing trustee of Swathi Thirunal School of Performing Arts.Dance drama training Narrating stories through classical dance forms- that is the idea behind the dance drama training at the Swathi Thirunal School of Performing Arts. Apart from the conventional dance dramas involving Bharatanatyam styles, this one also imparts training to students through Mohniyattam Mudras.Diet awareness for sports studentsIf comprehensive sports training is said to be beyond training sessions, then no one would have heard it better than the Regional Sports Centre in Kadavanthara. The RSC has introduced summer classes where dieticians from top hospitals in the city give sessions to students on food that can bring out the sportspersons in them.Karaoke training Under the programme introduced by the Cochin Waves Musical Academy, students are trained on how to sing with the accompaniment of the background score. “Though karaoke singing is becoming very common in parties and events, children are not always able to do the singing due to lack of training. The training is given to the students in a studio with the required paraphernalia.” Magic classes, mask making, ornament making, kung fu classes, house-keeping, Thanjavoor painting and so on are the other programmes for the children available in the city.