The first school term is almost over, which is good news for students. They can sleep in, relax, go out, enjoy friends and family, travel, or do nothing at all. For parents (and their sanity), however, children need to be out experiencing new things and not plugged into their gadgets. If you're not leaving town for the holidays and are looking for fun activities for school-age children, where they can engage and learn in a safe environment without your hands-on supervision, there are several options in Cairo. Camp-O-Mania offers a variety of day and residential camps for children ages four to 12. They offer everything from sports like swimming, soccer, horseback riding, basketball, tennis, dodge ball, archery, volleyball and hiking, to fun teambuilding activities like painting, puppetry, drama, arts and crafts, cooking, dancing and even candle making. Camp-O-Mania focusses on teaching children life values like self-confidence, courage, accepting others, respect and teamwork through different fun activities. Older campers, ages eight to 12, choose their preferred activities while younger campers, ages four to seven, rotate and engage in a different activities. For more information and registration visit their website at www.camp-o-mania.com, or call 012-23410007 or 012-28022285. For even more adventure, head to Wellspring, one of the most well-regarded camps in Cairo. Their programme, for ages four to 12, offers a variety of fun-filled, age-appropriate activities. Campers can choose specialised activities where they develop more skills in things they love. The camp's primary focus is to encourage each camper to develop his or her character while having fun. Children will have a chance to build self-worth, create memories and make new friends. Activities include climbing walls, zip lines, high rope courses, treasure hunts, water games and Olympic games. For more information, visit their headquarters in the Fifth Settlement, go to their website at www.wellspringegypt.com, or call 012-80811185 or 02-2706262. There is also Helen O Grady's Drama Academy in Arabella Country Club. The Academy is Africa's largest and most extensive drama school, offering an international drama curriculum to both children and adults through a wide selection of creative and sensory play activities. This winter camp for children, ages three to 12, is “Drama Life Skills” and focusses on humility, love and compassion. Other activities include cooking, teambuilding and a variety of sports. The camp runs from 20-31 December. For more information, visit its blog at helenogradycairo.blogspot.com.eg, or call 010634 79 551. Another option that takes hands-on learning to another level is Kidzania Cairo. Located in the Fifth Settlement, it gives children the chance to engage in fun, competitive and challenging activities while meeting new friends. At Winter Camp, from 20 December to 14 February, participants will learn core values through experimental learning games, where they go through an experience then reflect and discuss what they learned from that experience. The camp caters to different age groups. For more information, call 16593 or visit the Kidzania Cairo website at www.cairo.kidzania.com. If your child is artistic, sign up at the Rizkallah Art Academy for Children. Artist Adli Rizkallah is celebrated worldwide for his contributions to children's literature. Through the academy, he is passing on his unique artistic vision to children through his ‘play and learn through art' method. Activities include story-telling, origami, arts and crafts, music, drama and drawing. Children between the ages of three and seven will develop positive attitudes and build character. Camps are held at different locations. For more information, visit the academy's website at www.adlirizkallah.net, or call 012-1111-2671 or 010-6628-5545. For younger children, ages three to eight, there is the Montessori Way Foundation in the Fifth Settlement. The foundation teaches children the culture of Asian countries (China, India, Japan and Thailand), including geography, zoology, cuisine and traditions through arts and crafts, in addition to their international Montessori programme and life and linguistic skills activities. The camp is four weeks' long and you have the option to enrol for the entire period or on a weekly basis. For more information, call 011-51003544 or 010-19970567, or visit their website at www.montessoriwayfoundation.com. If your child has a passion for science and wants to discover the mysteries of the universe, from tiny cells to giant planets, then consider Nutty Scientists-Egypt, one of the world's leaders in edutainment. Their fun science shows, treasure hunts, character building activities and hands-on lab experiments will leave your children enlightened and more curious. Their “Discover the Universe” winter camp starts on 20 December for children between the ages of four and 12, and is located at Trillium school and the American University in the Fifth Settlement. For more information, visit their website at www.nuttyscientists-egypt.com, or call 011-45332288 or 011-23239999. Instead of wiling away the hours glued to gadgets or TV this winter break, your children can breathe some fresh air while developing their athletic and artistic skills. Two birds with one stone: you keep your sanity and have some time for yourself, while your children learn something new and have fun participating in a competitive and healthy community environment. More importantly, they will learn basic life skills, make friends and leave their cell phones and tablets at home.
