Y.W.C.A. and Y.M.C.A. holiday programmes

Press, 10 December 1982, Page 1 (Supplement)

Y.W.C.A. and Y.M.C.A. holiday programmes

Holiday time is here again and for those mums and dads who are scratching their heads and wondering how to entertain their children, the Y.W.C.A. has come to the rescue with another series of holiday programmes designed to inform and entertain. The programme for the youngsters aged 6 to 12 is centred round activities which should provide loads

of fun and entertainment. It includes a wide range of experiences including farm visits, fancy dress discos, boating on the Avon, barbecues, theatre groups, a martial arts ' demonstration and a number of arts and crafts ’ activities. For the older students, in the 13 to 18 age group, the programme co-ordinator has produced a more mature programme aimed at en-

couraging young- people to find out more .about the community they live in. Visits have been arranged to places such as Burwood Spinal Unit, Sunnyside Hospital, and to three communities, including the Salisbury Street ■foundation, which provides a social re-entry and action programme for former prisoners. The highlight of the week will undoubtedly be a full day on the marae at Tuahiwi, where the students will be able to participate in the day’s activities and learn something of the ethics of the marae as well as the history and Maoritanga of the Tuahiwi people. The programmes for primary students run over two weeks, from January 17 to 21, and January 24 to 28, and cost $25 per week. The secondary students programme is from January 24 to 28 and costs $3O. Anyone wishing to find out more about the programmes is welcome to ring the Y.W.C.A., phone 63-063, or write to Box 21-110, Edgeware. Enrolment forms will be sent on request.

For most people, the Christmas holidays are a time of rest and relaxation but not so,, at , the Christchurch Y.M.C. A., who are getting ready for their busiest time of the .year. First, they have a Fun Overnight for 5 to 10-year-olds held at the Y.M.C.A., 12 Hereford Street, from 7 p.m. on Friday, December 17, to 9 a.m. Saturday, December 18. Fun Overnights are a new feature started up this year by the Y.M.C.A. and have proved highly enjoyable for all those who attend. This is the third Overnight that has been held for 5 to 10-year-olds and promises to be bigger and better than those held previously. The children, will have an enjoyable evening of films, cartoons, swimming, games and a supper party before going to bed. The Fun Overnight is a great place for a child’s first night away from home and is also a good chance for mum and dad to go out Christmas shopping without having to worry about their children. Following soon after the Fun Overnight are the Christmas holiday programmes for -5 to 8-year-olds and 7 to 14-year-olds. The Y.M.C.A. holiday programmes will be a week of fun and excitement for all those concerned.

In May, the Y.M.C.A. opened a new programme at the Central New Brighton School which filled and was very successful, and in August they started the Hornby-Riccarton programme which was also very successful. During the first two weeks of the August school holidays 1450 children attended. This Christmas, the Y.M.C.A. will run five programmes from Monday, December 20, to Friday, December 24. The Tiny Y programme will be running from Monday, December 20, until Thursday, December 23. The Tiny , Y programme, for 5 to 8-year-olds, will be based at the Christchurch Y.M.C.A., 12 Hereford Street. Four days of fun and excitement will be had by those attending the Tiny Y programme. Each day starts off with story time, then other activities follow which include a morning at Ferrymead where the children can, go for a tram dr train ride and see the displays at the colonial township, a sandcastle competition at Sumner, swimming at Q.E. II pool, a day at Omaka Scout Camp with a barbecue lunch. Traditionally, on the last day of the Tiny Y programme, the children have a Party Day at the Y.M.C.A. with fancy dress where the children can dress up and have great fun; The cost for this programme is $l9 with a $2 concession fee for Y.M.C.A. members or if there are two or more enrolments from the same family. For the 7 to 14-year-olds, the Y.M.C.A. has the following programmes at: 1. City-Y.M.C.A., 12 Here-

ford Street. 2. Christchurch South Hoon Hay, Christchurch South Intermediate School, Manning Intermediate School. 3. Christchurch South East, Sumner, Redcliffs and Woolston Schools, also Mt Pleasant and Heathcote Community Centres. 4. Hornby-Riccarton, Branston Intermediate School, Riccarton Primary School. 5. Shirley-Brighton, Shirley Intermediate School, Central New Brighton School. The Y.M.C.A. has combined the Shirley and New Brighton programmes into one and also the Christchurch South and Hoon Hay programmes have also been combined so they can still offer programmes, at all of their convenient locations. The five days before Christmas can be very frus-

trating for children excited about what presents they are going to receive but finding the wait almost unbearable, will find time goes very quickly when they are having fun which is what a Y.M.C.A. programme is all about. Some of the fun activities which have been regular features of Y.M.C.A. holiday programmes which are still with us are rollerskating at Skateways, Hornby, Y.M.C.A. visits with games, trampolines, swimming, shooting, squash, barbecues at Omaka Scout Camp, a movie morning at one of the Masters Theatres, swimming and hydrosliding, visit to Willowbank Game Farm, visits to some of Christchurch’s parks and the Godley Heads hike finishing at Taylors Mistake. Some recent additions to the list of activities include grass ski-ing at Banks Peninsula Grass Ski-ing Club. Grass ski-ing was held for the first time in May, 1982, and was a great success with everyone having a good time. Ferrymead will be visited by a couple of the programmes and they will be treated with a tram ride and be -able to see the Hall of Wheels, fire museum and the colonial township. Now that Quail Island has been opened up to the public we can go and have a day there and see sights like the ship's graveyard. Brochures for all of the above activities are available now at the Y.M.C.A., phone 60-689. However, it is wise to be in early as there are limits on numbers and most programmes do fill.