mangalore today

A Unique Beach Camp


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 1: Summer camps are the order of the day during vacations  However, it was a unique and novel experiment that was conducted at the sea shore of Thannirbavi in the city from April 26 to 28. It was a three-day camp with a difference. The mix of participants, the theme of the camp, the activities and the resolutions were all something that was different from the rest.

 

CIL camp 1May10 1


As many as 26 participants were engrossed in an array of activities ranging from art and craft, leadership effectiveness, sensitisation to social issues, environment protection and beach cleaning to magic, memory retention and various life skills. The uniqueness of the camp was that the participants comprised of a blend of students from the lowest strata of the society, basically coolie workers of coffee plantations at Sakleshpur district to those from the urban elite. The three-day residential camp provided an exposure to all the participants to mingle with each other and learn while having loads of fun.

Organised by the Centre for Integrated Learning (CIL), a city based organisation, in association with Rotaract Club of Mangalore City, the camp focussed on sensitising the children with regard to socio-cultural environs of fisheries community and the significance of marine eco-system. Through the Beach cleaning activity, CIL launched its ambitious Student Action Movement (SAM) which will act as a platform for students to take up civic issues and their redressal.

 

CIL camp 1May10 2

 

CIL camp 1May10 3

 

CIL camp 1May10 4

 

CIL camp 1May10 5

 

CIL camp 1May10 6

 

CIL camp 1May10 7

 

CIL camp 1May10 8

 

CIL camp 1May10 9

 

CIL camp 1May10 11

 

CIL camp 1May10 12

 

CIL camp 1May10 13

 

CIL camp 1May10 14

 

CIL camp 1May10 15


The camp mates enjoyed making kites and flying them, moulding clay into beautiful models, crafting flowers from paper, preparing envelopes and paper bags that will substitute plastics, meditation, learning mime and folk songs among other activities. The creative structure resembling a makeshift waste dump was made at the Thannirbavi Beach to create awareness among the visitors not to litter waste while on a picnic to the spot, thus maintaining cleanliness of the beach and its surroundings.


The participants had a first-hand experience of deep sea fishing, fish auction at the fishing harbour, ice plant and other related activities that is the lifeline of millions of people of the coastal region.


Organisations like United Sports Club, Bolur and Swasahaya Mahila Sangha assisted the organisers in the beach cleaning activity at the historically acclaimed Sultan Bathery.


The students took a pledge to start motivating their fellow students in their respective schools to involve in social awareness activities under SAM.