Thursday 16th August

It was a day for performing arts, and a musical day at that! Our morning began with a drama workshop with the Warwick Arts team. All of the children took part in range of fun interactive drama games which involved the children using improvisation and communication skills, we were thrilled to see the children grow in confidence.

Our older group took part in an arts and crafts session with the Holiday Scheme team where the children had a creative task to make animal mobiles. The djembe workshop was soon approaching, so the children made animals from the African savanna. The children created their animals in many ways, such as origami and sketching. Once the children had created their exotic animals, they used string to attach the animals to colourful rings. There was a large range of animals on each mobile! We saw lions, elephants, tigers, snakes and so much more. Our younger group finished off the morning with a range of animal safari games. Unfortunately it did rain, but the weather did not stop us! We played our safari circle games indoors, which involved a theatrical game of animal charades and we saw some fantastic acting from the children. We also played a musical game of banana monkey and sleeping lions.

After lunch and a range of team games led by Flo, our groups took part in a djembe workshop where the children learnt a range of drumming rhythms and created a group piece together. The children got the opportunity to play a range of drums which involved using their hands and drumsticks. It was a pleasure to see the children concentrate and work exceptionally hard, which resulted with a significant improvement in their drumming skills by the end of the afternoon.

Following the djembe session, both groups spent the remainder of the day either making their own djembe drums or playing team games outside.

We are so excited for our art themed day tomorrow.

Best wishes

The Holiday Scheme team

Rachael Snell : 16 Aug 2018 16:09 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Wednesday the 15th of August

There was something fishy in the air today - Investigations 👀 and Spying 🕵️‍♀️ being the running themes.

The children enjoyed code-breaking activities, including trying to decipher what their peers wrote on white paper with white crayons. The messages that they managed to read included “What’s your favourite animal?” and “What do you love?”
The responses that came from code-breakers read, for example, “Dogs are the best!” and “I love ice-cream.”

In the afternoon, an expert investigator ran a workshop, teaching the children gather clues and expose crimes. DNA, evidence, such as finger prints and hair were collected in order to solve puzzles. This, in addition to a very lively Scavenger Hunt!

A very good day, following, hopefully, an even better one.

With best wishes,

The Holiday Scheme Team

Rachael Snell : 15 Aug 2018 17:09 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Tuesday the 14th of August

The day that many photography fans were waiting for has finally arrived.

We started the morning activities with a Selfie 🤳 Challenge, which required of the children to be resourceful and inventive. They were to find a variety of objects - red, round, soft, etc. - and take selfies with them, as a group.
We witnessed random acts of kindness and generosity when the children with devices, be they iPads, cameras or iPhones, lent them to those who didn’t have them.

In the afternoon, Mike the photographer came in to lead a workshop and shared lots of tips and tricks about taking professional photos - as professionals children can make it.
The groups enjoyed rolling up their sleeves and posing, as well as arranging objects in ways to create optical illusions and picture stories.

It has been a day for getting cameras 📷 and lenses 🎥 out, for swinging them around and capturing the world around, as well as testing and expanding the campers’ skillset. We look forward to more fun tomorrow.

With best wishes,

The Holiday Scheme Team.

Rachael Snell : 14 Aug 2018 16:42 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Summer Holiday Scheme Monday 13th August 2018

It was a day for community projects. We had the pleasure to work with Warwick Arts, who led a creative and innovative workshop for the children. The children had the opportunity to create a large collage piece, using paints, newspaper images, hand drawn monsters and mystical creatures. The collage piece was inspired by the artist Rowdy, known for creating bright and bold art pieces using recycled materials as well as incorporating many layering techniques. The children were given a true insight into Rowdy’s work and history. The children learnt how to effectively layer images and other elements of their crafts onto the colourful hand-painted bases to create 3D effects. We saw some children create fantastic skylines, oceans and so much more for their centre pieces.

After lunch, the children ventured outside to play outdoor games and activities, we were impressed by the den that some of the children made from our resource bag.

We are looking forward to seeing the children tomorrow for some multimedia fun for photography day!

Best wishes

The Holiday Scheme Team.

Rachael Snell : 14 Aug 2018 15:06 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Friday the 10th of August

Welcome to Friday the 10th of August, halfway through the Summer Holiday Scheme.

It’s been a day of story-making here at Warwick, a Day of Drama!

As we write this, teams of story-tellers are making props and costumes for the performance this afternoon. But let’s start from the beginning.

This morning, the children divided into groups of eight and got thinking about their plots. The theme was Around the World, and all variations were accepted.

The teams assigned their script-writers, directors, characters and narrators. Within a couple of hours, the story-lines became visible and the kids started learning their words. Some, of course, jumped ahead and started making decorations.

This afternoon, we’re rehearsing and making the sets. The children will be performing to the audience of parents, just before pick-up.

You may or may not be able to make it, but we guarantee that it will be fun following journeys through a rainforest or through China, in the desert 🐫 or through Spain, across the ocean 🌊 or into India. Luckily, we have the in-house expertise as well: the children and the staff at The Holiday Scheme speak a dozen or so languages between them.

We can’t wait for the show and we look forward to welcoming you next week.

With best wishes,

The Holiday Scheme Team

Rachael Snell : 10 Aug 2018 14:19 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Friday the 10th of August

Welcome to Friday the 10th of August, halfway through the Summer Holiday Scheme.

It’s been a day of story-making here at Warwick, a Day of Drama!

As we write this, teams of story-tellers are making props and costumes for the performance this afternoon. But let’s start from the beginning.

This morning, the children divided into groups of eight and got thinking about their plots. The theme was Around the World, and all variations were accepted.

The teams assigned their script-writers, directors, characters and narrators. Within a couple of hours, the story-lines became visible and the kids started learning their words. Some, of course, jumped ahead and started making decorations.

This afternoon, we’re rehearsing and making the sets. The children will be performing to the audience of parents, just before pick-up.

You may or may not be able to make it, but we guarantee that it will be fun following journeys through a rainforest or through China, in the desert 🐫 or through Spain, across the ocean 🌊 or into India. Luckily, we have the in-house expertise as well: the children and the staff at The Holiday Scheme speak a dozen or so languages between them.

We can’t wait for the show and we look forward to welcoming you next week.

With best wishes,

The Holiday Scheme Team

Rachael Snell : 10 Aug 2018 14:19 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Wednesday 8th August 2018

What a creative and imaginative day! Our morning began with a fantastic storytelling workshop with John Harris, a professional storyteller who has made many appearances on the BBC. The children had the opportunity to listen to a range of mystical and historical tales.

Following the story workshop, the next part of the morning involved an exciting outdoor game of human hungry hippos. The children thoroughly enjoyed working in teams and trying different variations of the famous board game, including travelling in pairs as wheelbarrows.

After lunch and games of badmington, our groups took part in creative and performance workshops, invloving different groups working together to create a short play or favourite story. The leaders saw some brilliant acting from the children as well as some creative ideas for their performances. The children had a second opportunity to join John Harris for a practical story workshop, involving interactive games and creative discussions. The children had to work together to create and develop thier own story.

Best wishes

The Holiday Scheme team.

Rachael Snell : 09 Aug 2018 15:47 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

9th August 2018

Hello again 👋 .

Holiday Scheme calling on the day of Circus Skills.

We started the day with handy work - that is, cutting cardboard into rings and making juggling balls 🤹‍♂️ and ring toss stands.

The children enjoyed trying out alternative uses for rolled oats: you put them into a plastic bag, seal it tight and dress it with a balloon 🎈. If you’re still unsure, you’re not alone, but it did work and revealed a few master jugglers 🤹‍♀️ in the process.

In the afternoon, Steve the Juggler came in with bis heavy load of circus equipment. His workshop put us Leaders to shame 😊 but thankfully, the children were too excited to notice us fail at spinning skills, to name But one 😜.

In other jolly news: we had a Birthday Girl 🎁 🎂 🍰 plus we have a Drama Day tomorrow.

With best wishes,

The Holiday Scheme Team

Rachael Snell : 09 Aug 2018 15:42 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Tuesday 7th August 2018

We had a full house today as is always the case with Falconry.

In the morning before Hawkwise visited us, the children kept asking us to confirm that “the owls are coming”, and once reassured, started reminding US that “the owls are coming”!

When the owls did cone, they were dead quiet. The mesmerising talk about birds of prey in general and the birds that came to The Holidays Scheme in particular was accompanied by ample opportunity to hold them - always with a glove - and watch them up close.

It was a sight to behold when the owls took flight ever so silently, gliding through the room to the children’s amazement.

The children also made origami birds and bird-feeders with their hands, imaginations and chosen materials. One person’s paper chicken laid eggs as you squeezed it - go figure!

We look forward to seeing the boys and girls tomorrow.

With best wishes,

The Holiday Scheme Team

Rachael Snell : 07 Aug 2018 16:19 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Tuesday 7th August 2018

We had a full house today as is always the case with Falconry.

In the morning before Hawkwise visited us, the children kept asking us to confirm that “the owls are coming”, and once reassured, started reminding US that “the owls are coming”!

When the owls did come, they were soooo quiet. The mesmerising talk about birds of prey in general and the birds that came to The Holidays Scheme in particular was accompanied by ample opportunity to hold them - always with a glove - and watch them up close.

It was a sight to behold when the owls took flight ever so silently, gliding through the room to the children’s amazement.

The children also made origami birds and bird-feeders with their hands, imaginations and chosen materials. One person’s paper chicken laid eggs as you squeezed it - go figure!

We look forward to seeing the boys and girls tomorrow.

With best wishes,

The Holiday Scheme Team

Rachael Snell : 07 Aug 2018 15:42 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem