Life at the Bay

In 2015, we saw Natalija walk through our gates on our Thailand week, and as we celebrate her 20th camp anniversary, she shares her journey at Sugar Bay and how camp has become her second home. "I always felt like a little bit of an outcast at school, but when I came to camp I just blended in; I was welcomed by the warmest and kindest counselors that I still hold close to my heart to this day. "  With Walnut being one of the counselors that helped her push through her insecurities, Natalijila dreams of being a counselor so she can help other kids come out of their shell. "I already have a counselor name! That's how serious I am. In 2 years I will be doing my C.I.T course and I'm pretty excited about it." Quick Q&A  1. What has been your favourite themed holiday camp and why?  "Definitely Thailand week! It was the start of me finding my voice. I found a place where I could be myself fully."   2. If you could travel any...

With a discount of R3000, don’t miss out on our blockbuster themed March / April holiday camps. Got two left feet? Don’t sweat it, with Ariel’s’shimmy, we’ll have you ready for a night out where fries and milkshakes fill your tummy and musical acts are the order of the day! If you think that’s the only trick we have up our sleeve, think again! We’ve got Genie dropping in, diverging realities; where we’ll be flying on carpets and making wishes come true! Who knows, we might end up travelling through time to a world of robots and flying cars. Footloose Week: 24 - 31 March 2019 Get your dancing shoes on because Sugar Bay will be going back in time and turning into a music and dance showdown! Highlights  Footloose fashion show  Rock music classes  Gumboot dance classes  Dancing with the stars competition  Themed flashmobs  HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GO BACK IN TIME?  BOOK NOW TO FOR A WEEK OF HAIRSPRAY AND ROCK MUSIC. ...

"Come have some tea with Miss Bubbles and me" - said by your 7-year-old, as they pull you in to sit on a miniature chair. It's 9:30PM, you're bushed and you're about to have tea with a teddy bear and the Queen of England herself. Spending uninterrupted time with your child has its infinite benefits and rewards, so what happens when you're swallowed by your work and life responsibilities that quality time with the Queen of England is unintentionally put on the back burner? Let's face it - life is busy, finding moments in your life to spend intentional quality time with your child is definitely a hard task as a working parent. And if not having enough time wasn't hindrance enough, you have to find something that you'd both like to do. Doubling the guilt for our poor parents. Creating childhood memories, formulating the idea of love with your child and getting to know each other a little better, are only a few of the amazing benefits of qua...

No other topic could create a catastrophe of opinions, judgements, beliefs and arguments as parenting. Add technology in the mix and you've created world war 3. According to a survey conducted by internet security company AVG in the US, 92% of children have an online presence by the time they are 2 years old. These days children learn to swipe a screen before they are able to hold crayons. The digital revolution of the past 2 decades has induced a moral panic in parenting. When a child goes on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, parents have certain unanswered questions such as: Are our kids aware of the privacy settings on social networking sites? Do they adhere to them? What kind of online games are our kids playing? Are they playing the right ones or ones that are not suitable for their age/ taste/ social-cultural backgrounds? How much digital engagement is enough and how much is too much? Though a child's online presence allows young people ac...

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...