Early Childhood Development (Grades 3-6)

Our view of early childhood development applies to the processes by which children in the age group of eight to eleven develop. During this developmental stage they grow and thrive - physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, morally and socially.

It is during these early stages of a child’s development that we have the opportunity to influence all the key elements of emotional intelligence, namely; confidence, curiosity, purposefulness, self-control, connectedness, capacity to communicate and cooperativeness.

The early years are also critical for the acquisition of the concepts, skills and attitudes that lay the foundation for lifelong learning.

Grade 3 / 4: Bush Babies “Becoming a Yapper”

• Key focus: To familiarise children with the camping environment (being away from home), and assisting them to confidently function independently and to take personal responsibility with self and others.
• Our main aim for the camp is that they spend time outdoors, learn about and experience nature and then participate in activities they don’t do at school or at home.
• We facilitate the capacity to confidently function independently from parent’s direct support for an extended duration, in a foreign environment.
• The theme of the camp is not limited to environmental experiences and includes experiential team related exercises.
• Outcomes: Independence, going on camp skills, survival away from home, punctuality, problem solving, listening skills.

Grade 5: The Explorer

• Key focus: To introduce children to challenges they might not face at home. Testing them with activities that challenges their physical abilities and starts to teach them in a playful manner to persevere and explore their strengths and weaknesses.
• Our aim with the camp is to help and support those children that struggle with challenges and to help them understand and cope in difficult situations.
• We facilitate the capacity to confidently function within a group format during difficult situations.
• The theme of the camp relates to a Fun and Adventure camp.
• Outcomes: Co-operation, confidence building, curiosity to explore own strengths and weaknesses, emotional control during challenges.

Grade 6: Junior Graduates

• Key focus: To start to expose the children to more complex problems that will facilitate a higher degree of co-operation, interdependence, self-control and resilience. A deep challenge that facilitate digging deeper into their emotional and cognitive resources
• We facilitate the capacity to confidently persevere for an extended period of time to accomplish a physical and emotional challenging task in a group environment.
• The theme of the camp can be but is not limited to experiential problem solving, adventure activities, introduction to day hiking and environmental experiences
• Outcomes: Higher degree of co-operation, interdependence, self-control and resilience.