SUMMER CAMP AT BLUE LAKES FOR CHILDREN 13-16 YEARS OLD. TWO SESSIONS OF GREAT FUN!
For the first time, with the blessing of our spiritual father archpriest Andrei Lemeshonok, we are opening a children's summer camp at the Blue Lakes. Two sessions of great summer fun are awaiting children in Olshevo, a small village in Myadel district.
The first shift will begin on June 5th and end on June 18th. The age of the children is 13-16 years old. The camp's program has three focus points: spiritual life, hiking and sports.
The children will be taught skills such as setting up tents, building a fire, and using it to cook food. Together with their counsellors, they will learn the rules of safe hiking and learn the basics of first aid. The program of the first session includes a camping trip on a nature trail, a fishing competition, boat-sailing training, an excursion to Naroch village and a visit to a local church. Besides the daily volleyball, basketball, football and badminton, there will be swimming in the lake and evening bonfires (if the weather permits).
"The summer camp at the blue lakes for older kids is a completely new project. There will be two sessions, and the list of participants has already been set up. The children will have a chance to recreate in an amazing corner of nature filled with the beauty of God's creation. We believe that staying in such a place helps to bring up the best qualities in a child," said Tatiana Abramova, the sister in charge of the children's summer camp.
"The daily schedule will certainly include the morning and evening prayers, Communion once a week and Cross processions. Fasting days will be observed according to the Church calendar, while the meals will be accompanied by readings from the lives of saints. The children will be camping out in tents, but in case of bad weather, there is a house available on the premises. Each group will have two counsellors and professional instructors."
The second session will open at the Blue Lakes on June 18th and last until July 1st. During that time, the two focus areas will be spiritual life and sports.
The children will be taught skills of autonomous stay in wild nature, including things like building a temporary dwelling and protective camouflaging in the forest. The planned activities include a hiking trip, a basic boat sailing training session, tank laser tag and rafting on the Stracha River led by professional instructors. There will also be excursions, including a sneak peek at wind turbines, a visit to the Church of the Transfiguration and a memorial complex in Pronki village. If the weather is nice, swimming and evening bonfires are guaranteed.
We hope that the time spent at the Blue Lakes will become special for everyone who visits this amazing place.
Also, we ask you to help organise our children's summer camp. We still need to purchase tents and equip the house on the premises with everything necessary for the children's stay. The estimated cost of the work and equipment is 26,000 Belarusian rubles ($10,000).
To help these children have a Christ-centred summer, we ask that you make a donation by following this link. Please type "for the children's camp" in the 'note' section. We will be certain to remember each benefactor in prayer.