On Aug. 4, the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) concluded another successful run of its vacation library camps, held at public libraries and in communities across the country.

During the various camps, which began last month, library staff and several volunteer facilitators from other organisations focused on empowering camp participants: children between seven and 12 years, and 13 and 17 years old.

The children received information and learned new skills through a number of fun and engaging activities, which included reading, creative writing, storytelling, arts and crafts, games, field trips, workshops; lectures on bullying, etiquette, local history and cyber safety; to name a few.

This year, most of the camps’ themes were based on the book, “Green Days by the River”, written by Michael Anthony. The novel, now in its 50th year of publication, is NALIS’ selection for the One Book One Community nationwide reading project, which began in April and runs until August 25. Library camp activities especially based on the book included “Games We Used to Play,” word/vocabulary exercises, interactive informational sessions about local fruits mentioned in the book, reading and comprehension exercises, art and craft sessions and more.

Library vacation camps were held at Arima, Carnegie, Chaguanas, Couva, Debe, Mayaro, Moruga, Point Fortin, Princes Town, Rio Claro, Sangre Grande, San Juan, Siparia, St. Helena, St. James, and Tunapuna public libraries. In addition, the Cedros Mobile Library, based at the Cedros Community Centre, and the La Brea Mobile Library at the Brighton Sports Club facilitated library camps in those communites. Library camps ran for up to three weeks, with two to three hour-long sessions held each day.

NALIS thanks the Ministry of Agriculture, ChildLine, El Socorro Centre for Wildlife Conservation, NAMDEVCO, CybersafeTT and the Institute of Marine Affairs for their support and contributions towards July/August camp 2017.

The next round of vacation camps is scheduled for the Easter holidays in 2018. For more information on library vacation camps and other library activities call or visit your local library or email nalis@nalis.gov.tt.