Basseterre, St. Kitts (August 03, 2005): The Department of Youth follows up its successful staging of the Summer Residential Camp with a three-week Non-Residential Camp on Monday.

The annual camp, now in its fifth year, takes place at the Sandy Point hard court and will cater to 100 children between the ages of 8 and 16 years.

Deputy Camp Director Kenny Douglas told SKNIS that the programme was developed to keep children busy over the vacation period and educate them on cultural and sporting disciplines. As such, drumming, t-shirt design and musiclasses will be held. Participants will also be taught techniques of playing football, cricket, basketball and track and field. The sporting components will be carried out by coaches from the Department of Sport.

Also returning in 2005 is the teaching of Spanish. Douglas, who currently studies in Cuba, directs the class. "Last year we introduced Spanish and the children showed a lot of interest," he told SKNIS. "They were keen to learn another language and this year we are looking forward to going to the next level." 

Much like its sister camp, the non residential programme will feature extra activities including a hike as well as visits to businesses in the manufacturing and service sectors industries such as Nova Foods Ltd and the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.

 To take part in the 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. sessions persons have to complete a registration process. Douglas noted that it was important for persons to return the forms on or before Friday. He also explained that parents/guardians need to pay particular attention to the 8 to 16 year requirement.

"We are appealing to the parents to keep the younger children at home," he stressed. "Some of the activities we'll be hosting, such as the hike will be too strenuous for the younger ones and we will have a problem accommodating them."

A ceremony will be held to officially open the camp on Tuesday, a day after the sessions begin.