Children aged four to 15 attending the Division of Youth Affairs summer camps were encouraged to choose the ‘good path and avoid deviant behaviour’.
This message of encouragement was shared by Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Dwight Sutherland, on Monday, as he, along with senior officers in the Division of Youth Affairs, toured six of the 22 summer camps in operation.
Minister Sutherland stated: “There are two paths in life you can take, the good path or the deviant path. I encourage you to take the good path, which includes developing good values; occupying your mind with positive activities; staying out of trouble; not fighting; not using drugs and staying away from bad company.”
He told them that summer camps were a “wonderful thing” and it is hoped that they would help them to stay on the straight and narrow path.
“These camps are here to help you build lifelong skills; make new friends and provide recreational activities, all in an effort to create positive citizens, who will contribute to the development of Barbados, making it a wonderful place to live, work, play and raise a family,” Mr. Sutherland stated.
Camp directors and assistants were thanked by the Minister for giving of their time and talents, which he noted, was an investment in the future leaders of Barbados. He encouraged them to instill positivity into the campers, and to be good influencers.
Children at the camps are involved in activities such as arts and crafts; cultural presentations; learning old time Bajan games, for example Warri; scientific experiments; dancercise and sports. They also receive lessons in English, Mathematics, Language Arts, Reading and Spanish. On Fridays, the campers go on tours, or participate in movie and karaoke sessions.
During the tour, the children told the Minister what they aspired to be when they grow up; showed him their arts and crafts projects; played draughts with him; welcomed him in song and said goodbye in Spanish.
Camps sites visited on the tour were Chesterfield Brewster Youth Empowerment Centre and St. Christopher Resource Centre in Christ Church; Princess Margaret Secondary School in St. Philip; Gall Hill Community Centre in St. John; St. Elizabeth Community Centre in St. Joseph; and Ellerton Community Centre in St. George.
At the St. Elizabeth Community Centre, Renica Clarke and Shae Green presented the Minister and Director of Youth Affairs, Cleviston Hunte, with a token of appreciation – a basket of ground provisions.