Summer camp allows participants to make new friends, and learn from myriads of activities. Therefore, it is popular among parents and children. In the past two months, YWCA Sydney Leong Holiday Lodge held 4 camps, receiving more than 200 primary school students. The camps focused on either training participants’ self-care ability, or showing them Lantau Island’s unique nature and culture.

Apart from enjoying the facilities in the campsite, for example, archery, sport climbing, ropes course etc., the specially designed programme also provided participants an extraordinary summer. Children needed to perform tasks that are used to be taken care of by their parents. For example, they had to prepare their own meals, clean up the dishes, wash clothes, etc. As meals are usually served on a silver platter, burnt food was not surprising. Yet, it was after the hard work and challenges can the children enjoy the appetising meals. Some of the participants visited Fu Shan in Tai O, and learned making sun-dried duck egg yolks from local residents of the fishing village.

The children did either foot drill or lion dance in the closing ceremony on the last day of the camp, where parents attended to witness their children’s effort. A mom was surprised by how her daughter finished her meals in less than an hour during the camp, as she spent more than 90 minutes at home. Before leaving the campsite, there was a parent-child muffin baking session using the earth oven in the outdoor kitchen.

The summer camps got a wonderful reception from the participants. The Association will organise similar events for children to learn through play. Family camps will also be run on a regular basis. The upcoming one will be around Mid-Autumn Festival. Follow the Facebook page of Sydney Leong Holiday Lodge and stay tune!