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Innovative summer camp churns out child-authors

- young authors rework popular children’s stories of The Ugly Duckling & The Gingerbread Man
Some of the young authors display their work over the summer. Photo: VINO
Speaking at the closing ceremony for the summer programme held at the Red Cross headquarters on July 31, 2015, Programme Coordinator Valerie Charles-Welsh said that the whole concept was that the children should move away from the classroom atmosphere and are focused on three areas: problem-solving, creative writing and reading and comprehension. Photo: VINO
Speaking at the closing ceremony for the summer programme held at the Red Cross headquarters on July 31, 2015, Programme Coordinator Valerie Charles-Welsh said that the whole concept was that the children should move away from the classroom atmosphere and are focused on three areas: problem-solving, creative writing and reading and comprehension. Photo: VINO
The authors doing a traditional dance during the ceremony. Photo: VINO
The authors doing a traditional dance during the ceremony. Photo: VINO
More of the authors. Photo: VINO
More of the authors. Photo: VINO
“The idea was to create a setting that children do feel different in but at the same time they can relax and learn. So they were grouped, each group had names and was labelled ‘Authors at Work’,” Programme Coordinator Valerie Charles-Welsh said. Photo: VINO
“The idea was to create a setting that children do feel different in but at the same time they can relax and learn. So they were grouped, each group had names and was labelled ‘Authors at Work’,” Programme Coordinator Valerie Charles-Welsh said. Photo: VINO
More works on display by their authors. Photo: VINO
More works on display by their authors. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – In what is being described as unorthodox as much as it is innovative, a recent summer programme saw children rewriting the popular stories of The Ugly Duckling and the Gingerbread Man, making the stories their own and harnessing their limitless imagination.

Speaking at the closing ceremony for the summer academic enrichment camp held at the Red Cross headquarters on July 31, 2015, Programme Coordinator Valerie Charles-Welsh said that the whole concept was that the children should move away from the classroom atmosphere and are focused on three areas: problem-solving, creative writing and reading and comprehension.

“The idea was to create a setting that children do feel different in but at the same time they can relax and learn. So they were grouped, each group had names and was labelled ‘Authors at Work’,” she said.

“The children felt enlightened just by the discussion, the laughter and everything that took place at the camp. The focus, however, shifted a bit when parents decided to take everything to the next level.”

Charles-Welsh said that after they sent home portfolios of about three days’ work, “it happened.” She said parents came by to say how they liked what was being offered. “The phone calls were overwhelming,” she said.

She explained that the younger children were given The Gingerbread Man and the older ones The Ugly Duckling. Every day they were in a professional working environment where they sat in groups and discussed the setting of the stories, the problems and conflicts and how these were to be resolved.

She said that as a result, every one of the children had a rich author’s experience. “We brainstormed, we shared, we drafted, we edited and then we rewrote what was edited,” she said.

“There was so much done in a short time. It was a holistic approach. They did reading, they did reasoning, they did writing, they did paraphrasing, they did some rethinking and children use a lot of language, a lot of similes…and when you read them you’re like wow,” Charles-Welsh said.

The project received the support of the Rotary Club Sunrise of Road Town and LIME. Charles-Welsh also thanked the BVI Red Cross for the use of its building for the ceremony.

9 Responses to “Innovative summer camp churns out child-authors”

  • cool (10/08/2015, 14:21) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    NICE!!!
  • genius! (10/08/2015, 15:16) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    What a great workshop! Well done and thank you from the whole community. Keep on getting creative!
  • Concern 1 (10/08/2015, 15:20) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is not just nice but fantastic,creative and the list goes on. To the various organisers and stakeholders what a wonderful way of engaging our youngsters during this Summer vacation. Please consider similar workshops for the other age groups also especially those who may not have the opportunity to go to school at all or may not even had the task of completing primary or high school. There are many who are unable to fill out bankslips, travel documents, application forms etc. Do something to help them please. Perhaps a simple one month course.Thanks
  • Xxxx (10/08/2015, 16:38) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good good
  • A PARENT'S RESPONSE (10/08/2015, 20:02) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    I too was overwhelmed of the creativity that was put into this camp and the closing ceremony. Each item of the ceremony had its own OUTSTANDING AWESOME MOMENT! The icing on the cake however included the unveiling of the books, presentation of young authors, the young authors display of their personal business cards as well as the book-signing section. Mrs. Charles-Welsh is seriously dynamics. I hope that these can be our future writers. THIS IS GOOD FOR OUR TERRITORY.
  • mother hen (10/08/2015, 22:59) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    very good idea Kudos to all who made it happen
  • gosh! (11/08/2015, 01:16) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow! Hope that this opportunity will be available again. Who is this lady?
  • Wow! (11/08/2015, 20:17) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I LIKE THIS!
  • wondering (13/08/2015, 08:41) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    IS THIS PROGRAMME AVAILABLE NEXT YEAR?


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