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Launch of Holiday Camp for Cookham Kids
18 February 2014
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Looking
for an unforgettable experience for your children this summer? Search no
further… Rocky’s Plaice Fish
and Chip Shop Holiday Camp is coming to Cookham!
The
camp will run daily, 9am to 3pm from Monday, 28th July to
Friday, 1st August at Holy Trinity Church Parish Centre and
paddock.
Fun
and action-packed, it will feature fast-moving creative teaching, games,
songs, drama, craft activities, chat, music and sports. And what’s more,
it will be set in an imaginary fish and chip restaurant called Rocky’s
Plaice, which happens to be where a church meets to help youngsters learn
about Jesus.
Father Nick Plant, who has been Associate Priest
in Cookham for nearly five years, had the idea to launch the summer camp
after helping with Burnham Lighthouse, a Christian holiday week for
primary school-age children.
‘It’s
huge - 800 people attend the Lighthouse camp every day. It is incredible
and brings people together in ways I haven’t seen before. Everyone has a
wonderful time, so I thought we could do something similar on a smaller
scale here in Cookham,’ he said. ‘Trying to keep children busy and
prevent them from getting bored in the summer holidays can by hard, so a
camp in the first week could be just what’s needed.’
Organised by Holy Trinity and St John the Baptist churches, and supported by all four Christian churches in Cookham, Rocky’s Plaice will be based on an established Scripture Union holiday club programme.
There
is room for 60 children on the camp, aged between five and 11 year’s
old. They’ll be split into two groups for most activities - 5-8 years
and 8-11 years.
‘I
don’t think as a church we currently cater for young people as well as
we could, so it’s something we want to work on. Likewise, teenagers are
illusive and we want to appeal to them too,’ said Father Nick. ‘The
camp is open to all primary-aged children in the community – those with
little or no experience of the church as well as those who are already
part of a church community. Our aim is for the children to have a great
time and learn a little bit more about God, and for us to connect with
families in the local community.’
The
camp can’t run without donations, so the suggestion is £30 per child
for the week. However, the organisers don’t want to exclude any child
whose parents can’t afford it so will
accept any donation or none if in some cases this is necessary.
‘I’m really looking forward to running it, and I’m lucky to have such dedicated and talented people around me to help. But we do need more volunteers,’ said Father Nick.
The organisers are looking for adult and teenage helpers, and local
sponsors, and they’ll be putting on a creche for any volunteers’
children under the age of five. If someone volunteers for a minimum of two
days, you will not be expected to make a donation for your children to
attend the camp. You
will be trained in safe-guarding policies and need to be CRB-checked.
‘We’re also looking for people with specialist skills who might want to get involved. Are you energetic, good with kids, great at ball games, musical or able to motivate people to put on a play? Then we need you!’ said Father Nick.
The
priest has a few ‘secret skills’ he’ll be bringing to the camp, in
addition to his religious teachings. For a start, he plays bass guitar
with a rock group! ‘We play the Beatles, Oasis and present-day stuff.
We’ve done a few gigs in pubs and I’ve been known to do a bit of
head-banging! I don’t mind showing off my talent at the camp!’ he
laughed.
Father
Nick also sings with Voices in Harmony and a cathedral holiday choir.
‘My wife, Angela, and I have been singing with them for years -
classical stuff. And I shall of course be singing God
is Good to Me at the camp – all the children know that one! My sons,
Josh, 18, who is a teaching assistant, and Jamie, 14, who just about to do
his GCSEs, will both be helping at the camp too. We all enjoy playing
football, so they may oversee a few games. Our family will be joining
forces for Rocky’s Place, and I hope it brings many others together too.
‘If your children want to have what will be an unforgettable and
amazing week of fun – perhaps the best week of their summer - and if you
want to do a good deed and make friends for life, then get involved.’
If
you’d like to volunteer to help, email chris.harris10@btinternet.com
Tickets will go on sale at the Stationery Depot in Cookham from 14th April.
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