Life at the Bay

Do you want an African drum beat master at your next party? Well our campers should be on your speed dial! Drumming has become a phenomenon at the Bay where we see our campers create extraordinary rhythm and beats with the djembe drum. The djembe drum is said to have been invented in the 12th century by the Mandinke tribe in what is now Mali, West Africa. The djembe has a great cultural heritage in Africa and still has a weighty presence in African rituals. The body of the drum is made from a single piece of tree trunk and topped with goatskin, providing the djembe with a piercing high-pitched tone. The Mandinke people believed that the Lenge trees held great spiritual importance while also lending its trunk to make the drum. It is said that the drum consists of three spirits: the spirit of the tree from which it was made, the spirit of the animal which covers the head and the spirit of the drum-maker. The term djembe originates from the Bam...

Throughout our lives, from childhood to adulthood, community is an essential part of everyday existence. The beauty behind selfless acts lies not only in the party receiving the act of service, but the shared experience between the giver and the receiver. Community Service Learning is one way that Sugar Bay gives back to the local community and Bongimfundo Primary School is one of the schools that benefit from our Service Learning initiative. We are always happy to host the school at Sugar Bay and we delight in seeing bright smiles from the learners.   Service Learning is a far-reaching and life-altering experience for students, where they undergo incredible growth in their emotional maturity and learn a great deal about themselves and as a part of a greater society. On their visit to the Bay, the American International School of Johannesburg shared a day of their school camp with the learners, where they relished in foursquare, space jump, chalking, body...

There are a gazillion articles with tricks and tips on sending your child to camp; how to pack for your child like a pro, how to choose the correct camp for your child, the benefits of camp and so forth. But what about when they come home from camp? What can you expect?  All children are different and the re-entry home from camp can range from never wanting to go back  to instant talks about plans for the next trip. Here are 3 tips for a smoother re-entry back home from camp. Listen  You may need to prepare yourself for an eventful ride home. They'll sing every camp song, tell you all about the new friends they made and mimic their favourite counselors. This is their way of processing and reliving their camp experience and they essentially want to share their adventures with you.On the other hand, you may get one-word answers and periods of silence. Don't push for more information, sometimes kids just need to settle down in order to get comforta...

Are you ready for magical adventures and a swashbuckling good time? This festive season we'll  be delighting in a world where imagination and animation take over Sugar Bay these upcoming holidays! Devouring in a land of mystical creatures on our DreamWorks week and Jack Sparrow visiting us on Pirates of the Caribbean week, don't get caught missing out on the magic! DreamWorks week: 7 - 14 December 2018  DreamWorks week promises to be magical with creativity and mythical creatures coming to life! Join us as we explore alien life and monsters under our beds.  Highlights Movie-making / drama classes.  DreamWorks bingo. V.I.P tuckshop session.  Monster treasure hunt.  DreamWorks show night.  Monsters vs. Aliens auction.  How much does it cost for a trip into outer space?   Book now for a trip to Mars.   Pirates of the Caribbean week: 14 - 21 December 2018  Sugar Bay will be turning into a dead sea a...

Camp is a great place for children to get some much-needed time out from mom and dad and form relationships with other authoritative, yet not as threatening, figures: camp counselors. The role of a counselor is not only being of a guardian and caretaker, but a friend as well. Camper- counselor relationships provide long-lasting values for both parties; camp allows children the freedom to grow into independent individuals and teaches counselors teamwork, communication and responsibility. Let's take a look at the benefits of camper-counselor relationships. Counselors show campers that being an adult can be fun.  Children have many adults in their life: mom and dad, the family doctor, their teachers; they're constantly surrounded by someone who either always has something to do, stressed out from work or giving them instructions. A counselor is an adult that is also a peer to the camper. When they see an authoritative figure playing in the mud, ...

Fire-spinning has become a sensation at the Bay with our campers delighting in performances put on by our counselors every final camp night. The tradition has become so popular, our campers have joined in the shows and have brought new tricks to the game. Before you start spinning with fire, you use poi to practice your routine. Poi originates from the Maori people of New Zealand and has spread across the globe. Poi is the Maori word for 'ball' on a cord. Maori women used Poi to keep their hands flexible for weaving and men for strength and coordination during battle. The practice was also seen in beautiful dance ceremonies where the poi was put on fire and phenomenal images emerged as they swung rhythmically. Here are 5 easy steps to make poi What you will need:  String or shoelaces Black plastic bags  Scissors  Ruler A4 paper or rice  Rubber bands  Sellotape Method:  Step 1: Pour the rice into the plastic bag until it...

It's not easy being a kid today; facing chunks of homework and a seemingly never-ending quest for achievement, it appears to be harder being a kid than a CEO of a large corporate company. It's even harder for creative children; to discover and nurture their talent with different social pressures and numerous inconsistent daily requirements. How do we create the next generation of innovative artists? Through all our art teachers across the globe! Listed below are 3 key qualities every art teacher should have. Cultivating these principles assists our aspiring Picassos, aka your students, in finding their role in the creative world and how to play it. Curiosity Curiosity builds a desire for a greater understanding and learning more. Besides innovating your student's creative talent by gaining more intel, curiosity develops awareness and attention to detail for their craft. It is of utmost importance to motivate them to consistently ask questions and to dig deeper. ...