Children thrive in the camp environment. They have the experience both of extraordinary freedom and safe holding and their joy, laughter and playfulness deeply infiltrate daily camp life.
The team caring for the children is formed from volunteers who offer daily activities. There are two sessions per day covering the two main singing workshops. All children from three and upwards are welcome to these sessions and a programme is announced each day. Children have the use of a carpeted dome equipped with basic craft supplies and, of course, the resources of the field, stream and acres of wild woodland. Activities will vary according to who is on the team and what initiatives come from the children but we always have at least one musical activity each day. Other activities might include creating a performance, damming the stream, children’s sauna, making things, basic bushcraft, archery, games or stories.
Children are welcome to all the singing workshops and may never dip into the “childrens” activities. Children also belong to the small groups which form part of the structure of camp life, helping out alongside adults with cooking and maintenance, tending the fire and chopping wood. In this way children are fully integrated into the community and both adults and children benefit from children’s active contribution to camp life. We aim to create an experience of healthy vibrant community for everyone and we especially honour the place children hold in this. We believe that the experience of camp life can be pivotal to a child’s growth. This is why we often hear from parents that their child has not stopped talking about the camp or starts asking at Christmas “when are we going to camp again?”
Our children’s team leader is Felicity Hollow, accomplished musician and workshop leader. She is co-founder of ‘the hothouse’, taking rhythm workshops into schools and is percussionist for both ‘the hothouse band’, and Helen Yeoman’s ‘Glorious Chorus‘.
” I appreciated the great skills, goodwill, patience and care of the childrens team who were wonderful…..ps Harry said he wanted to live at camp forever” Penny, Cambridgeshire
