Day One: ROCK DAY
Billed as a ‘WONDER-FULL’ week, it was evident by the end of the first day, that something special was unfolding. The Holiday Club for 28 primary-aged children from across the Benefice and the local area began in a literal blaze of glory. Thanks to the fourth heatwave of the summer to grip the UK, blue skies and brilliant sunshine blessed day one.
Both inside and outside St. James’ church Stalmine had been transformed by Rev. Naomi and her team into marvelous spaces, ready for a heady mix of non-stop fun, excitement and laughter.
The area was divided into four zones, where the youngsters could take up a physical CHALLENGE, CREATE amazing things from next to nothing, CHILL if they needed somewhere quiet for a little while and finally, a space where their natural CURIOSITY could be explored. Each area provided both structured learning and free play, supervised carefully by volunteers from across the Over Wyre Benefice.
If parents (and children) had any slight anxiety about dropping their little ones off for the day, there was no need. Plentiful adults were on hand to ensure they had the very best of days. From the warm welcome they received at the church gates, to being registered and then guided towards an exploration of the grounds and the various areas and activities on offer, it was clear that this was a safe, happy space to be.
The day revolved around visiting the zones and being immersed in many diverse activities. Challenging physical team games went down a treat, enabling the little ones to run around to their heart’s content, bond with team mates and engage in a whole series of never-ending challenges.
The Create zone offered some amazing opportunities to craft beautiful objects using lolly sticks, paints, recycling materials, wood and stones. It was a busy space, with children only too keen to showcase their skills.
For those youngsters who love a more science-based approach to life, the Curiosity zone was a winner. Rocks, fossils, moon-dust were just a few items which set their imaginations alight.
The Chill zone was open all day, kitted out with cosy tents under the shade of a tree, a variety of books and fidget toys.
During parts of the day, all the children and adults gathered together inside church for some drama, story time, journal decoration and badge creation, in addition to some action songs. The witty role-play between the eccentric ‘Professor’ and his quirky assistant – ‘Sparky’ created much amusement as they acted out and discussed the dos and don’ts of house-building, mirroring the parable of the ‘Wise and Foolish Builders’.
Throughout the day, the message from the gospel narrative was gently reinforced through the activities connected to home/houses/rocks and sand.
An amazing variety of snacks were presented by the catering team, who worked hard to please even the fussiest of diners.
At lunch-time, the children enjoyed a 30-minute film whilst they ate their lunches. It provided fuel for the body and a rest for the mind.
The day had been packed with activity for hands, legs and brains. Wall-to-wall smiles clearly indicated that the day had been much-loved. Tired youngsters (and volunteers) made their way home, ready to rest and repeat a similar programme on Day Two!