Night camp

It’s the night camp for our kindergarten children.

Their teachers are about to put on a show. The children sit eagerly, waiting for it to begin. Suddenly, a clown jumps through the window! The children are startled at first, then burst into laughter.

For the past 25 years, children have spent one night at school before moving from kindergarten to Grade 1. There is always a surprise waiting for them. But the camp offers much more than that.

Preparations begin a month in advance, with conversations and planning involving the children. They make lists of everything needed, from games to meals. They even visit a local grocery shop to buy supplies themselves.

On camp day, children arrive in the evening and return home the next morning. For many, it is their first night away from home and their mothers. It is a small but important step towards independence.

They get another chance to experience this fun at the end of grade 4. By then, they are older and ready to plan much of the camp themselves. Their teachers still organise special activities, shaped around each year’s group of children.

Sometimes, children paint a wall with Warli art. Sometimes, they put together a short play. The school also gifts each child a book, which they choose and collect from a nearby bookshop.

Washing their own plates, listening to stories in a tent, and exploring the school grounds at night become memories they carry for life. Every little experience helps them grow in confidence and independence.