Holiday Club - A Helper (& Mum's) Experience

It was clear from the start that the theme of the week, Champions Challenge, was all to do with recent events in Beijing. Someone was clearly obsessed with alliteration as the groups were all named things like Amazing Archers and Quick Equestrians (ten out of ten for whoever made up the Group Chant for that lot). We were the Fast Fencers. It seemed that my task that Bank Holiday was to create a ‘den’ for my group of eleven 10-11 year olds, so there was a quick trip to Toys R US to get play swords and plastic Olympic medals.

The first day was a bit of a steep learning curve but the old hands were right—things did keep turning up, from wonderful craft boxes with lists of activities to refreshments (including cups of tea for the den leaders). Brilliant organisation from many people behind the scenes, I suspect. Most exciting was the realisation that each den had a leadership team—it was great working with Mark, Tammy and Harry, and there was so much going on that everyone was really busy. I was particularly impressed by the involvement of the teenagers in everything from drama to sport. I think it was very important for younger children to see the older ones involved and they were extremely competent in organising games and generally helping. Most amazing were the fashions which appeared from the rather trad T shirts we were all wearing—the girls in particular cut, folded and stitched their T shirts in extremely creative ways. My favourite was cut up the back, then re-fastened with a kind of string that was threaded through especially cut holes, corset-style!

There were songs and talks throughout the morning for which we all assembled, and the children listened extremely well. Highlight of the week for me was Will dressed as the Roman Centurion from Luke 7, in what was obviously his own Britiish Army uniform. He really did get across the idea that this was a man who was used to giving orders, who recognised in Jesus a superior authority…
I am sure the children got a lot from the week. I certainly did. As well as the lovely photograph of my group, I got to take home a handwritten note of thanks—but to be quite honest, it should be me thanking the organisers. I am so glad to have been part of a supremely efficient and well thought out but really wacky and extremely enjoyable few days.