Lotus Bloom Children Camp 2010 - Learning from nature

As the place of the camp by the edge of a forest, we had fresh forest air accompanied by the sounds of the the forest insects. The boys had a practical nature lesson. Previously, they thought all insects were called ants. Now they know what ants are. On different occasions, they saw ants carrying a large dead beetle, a dead grasshopper and a dead worm. My, were they going fast!

They kids also saw many types of ants - large ants, small ants, red ants, black ants and white ants which were carrying their eggs and migrating from one place to another. They saw moths, which they thought were butterflies, and smaller butterflies flitting here and there. They also learnt about the sounds the insects made in the forest. The sounds were louder at night. When we got back after 4 days and 3 nights, I started to miss the forest sounds and fresh air there.

Counting petals on the hibiscus flower

Studying the tiny durian fruit that he picked up 

Tiny, tiny durian

Mesmerised by ants carrying a dead grasshopper.

One of their favourite vehicles - a caterpillar tractor / excavator

Learning meditation

Here is E, at 2 years 7 months, learning to meditate. He knows how to fold his legs and put his hands. He even knows how to take a deep breath.

Lotus Bloom Children Camp 2010 - Drawing

To my kids them occupied, I got them to draw on a large flipchart paper.

Wowing their "fans"

Intense concentration. He holds the marker pens just like an artist.

S drew this fire truck. The other drawings around it were drawn by other children. 

E drew this car with flashing lights and a traffic light

Posing with his monster truck

Lotus Bloom Children Camp 2010

We were involved in facilitating the Lotus Bloom Children Camp in SBS Taiping, and we brought our children along so that they get to interact with other children and see daddy and mummy at "work". The camp was for children aged 10 - 12 years. This was the second time we are conducting it in SBS and the second time that our children attended this camp. They were the youngest "participants" there. The first time was 2 years ago, in 2008, when S was only 2 years and E, 7 months and was still crawling.

Just by tagging along, they learnt about interaction with other people, and also about science and nature. Below are some pictures of the camp.

Ice-breaking and introduction

E together in a group

E helping to distribute marker pens to the groups

Interacting with the children and playing with their torchlights

Bubble blowing session - one of the mindfulness activities conducted for the children

S interacting with the older children

Making themselves busy

Mealtime

Camp participants