Life at the Bay

Are leaders born or are they made?     We're close to 4 decades since the act of  absolute bravery displayed by the courageous South African youth in 1976. In celebrating this heroic act, we cannot help but wonder what the future holds for our youth at this moment in time. In the spirit of youth month, the big question on our Bay is , "What efforts are we making to encourage sound leadership and teamwork among our children?" In light of this, Youth Day gives us a few things to ponder when it comes to leadership and reformation. While there is no formula or scientific theory to raising children, the small lessons and experiences in daily life have the power to transform a life, no matter how small.  At Sugar Bay our response to the question of raising leaders is found in our vision for camp: To create a nurturing environment : Not only do we strive to promote a fun environment for children, but our core vision is to invite children into a sp...

  At Sugar Bay, the sweetest memories are those wonderful recollections we have of the best moments of our lives. These are often created when we allow ourselves to just BE. This seemed to be the motto for these vibey young campers from Thembalisha Preparatory School. Tucked away in the north-eastern corner of the Kingdom of Swaziland in the Lubombo Lowveld, this school is neatly situated on the Royal Swazi Sugar Corporation Estate and a home to the most energetic little people. Sugar Bay had an awesome taste of Swaziland as we welcomed our Camp buddies on the 26th of May 2015 for their school camp on our sunny Bay. The atmosphere was immediately filled with a cheerful spirit as these energetic Campers went about exploring what was to be their new home for the next 3 days. All geared up with war cries, eager spirits and really cool teachers; these buddies were all set for a wonderful memory-filled camping experience with fun as the center of it all. One could t...

Having its origin in England, rock climbing has become an increasingly popular sport over the last century. While this sport has mainly been used for exercise purposes, its mental and physical effect on children is not to be under-estimated. Here are three of the main benefits of this awesome activity: The climbing process helps build concentration and focus, especially for children with autism. Allows for physical development as climbing improves muscular endurance, balance and flexibility. Boosts the child’s self-confidence and ability to set and achieve goals.The higher the child climbs it boosts their self esteem as they learn that they can set small goals and achieve them as they climb. A great life lesson to learn at a young age. These are just a few of the benefits of rock climbing which have a long term effect on child growth and development. Encourage physical and mental health by allowing your children to engage in sports. At Sugar Bay, not only ...

Camping is one of the best and super cool ways of spending time with mother nature. But that experience is quickly dampened when mother nature does not seem to be so welcoming to us. Mosquito bites, ticks, scratches here, there and EVERYWHERE turn our precious camping moments into an absolute nightmare . B ut fear not! We did some research and found  the best remedies to make sure you get  the best out of your camping experiences. You'll kick yourself once you find out that some of these can be found around the house. Mom's kitchen even! 1. Beat the mosquito bites with Johnson's Baby creamy oil; it is a super-effective mosquito repellent and smells great too! 2. Adding sage to your camp fire keeps away those bugs we hate so much. 3. Citronella candles or incense is one of the most effective ways of repelling mosquitoes , as it contains citronella essential oil  which is perfect for driving these little monsters away. 4. Essential oils also do an awesom...

Turning 18 may be daunting for many teenagers as it means they are stepping into adult-hood which is often accompanied by a long list of responsibilities. Before that list of responsibilities makes its way over, Sugar Bay has a bucket-list of exciting and fun things your children can do before “growth” kicks in.  Go camping - while this has no age limit, the things you can do and explore while spending the night under the stars are ENDLESS! 2 . Try an indoor/outdoor activity you have never tried before -  surfing, boating, rock climbing, kayaking and loads more. Dare to meet new people - Life is quite a long and very exciting journey. What makes it more meaningful are the awesome people we meet along the way. Be open to new encounters, you never know what you might learn. Get out of your comfort-zone  - Try a strange meal, try being away from home for a week! It may feel daunting,  but it will be worth the e...