NCC Environmental Summer Day Camp
The National Conservation Commission’s Environmental Summer Day Camp was stated on August 09, 2002. The Commission hosted camp for six (6) consecutive years at various venues namely, the Combermere Secondary School, the NCC’s Headquarters, the Lawrence T Gay Primary School and for the last two(2) years at the Sharon Church Hall.
Initially it was intended to be a joint venture with the Youth Development Programme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and the National Conservation Commission. However, this did not come to fruition and the Commission embarked on the venture solely, which involved the organization and coordination of the Camp.
The Camp was named “Camp Eco, the Environment and Me”. This symbolized its main focus, which was to educate children on the importance and knowledge of the Environment.
The first camp was intended to accommodate a small group of about sixty (60) children. However, the demand was so great that the limit was extended and over one hundred (100) children registered.
In keeping with the main focus of the environment, the Campers participated in tree planting and basic techniques in gardening. The timetable was designed to engage the children’s interest and it also included environmental and Educational lectures by the National Council on Substance Abuse, the Royal Barbados Police Force, the Fire Department, and the Barbados Water Authority. The Commission’s utilizes resource persons on staff to lecture in subject areas such as Water Safety, Marine Maintenance, and Beach Management. Activities also included tours of Nature Trails and to places such as Greenland Livestock Station, the Entomology Unit, Ministry of Agriculture and Envirotech. These tours commenced each week with a picnic to one of the Commission’s Parks.
The Commission was pleased that one of its Campers won the first Arbor Day Competition, which was introduced to the Schools. This achievement encouraged the organisation to place even more emphasis on its public education programmes to sensitize the youth on issues relating to the environment.
The National Conservation Commission’s Summer Camp starts each year during the month of July, and continues for a period of six (06) weeks.
