By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: As part of its 10th anniversary, Avenues would be trying to bring young minds closer to nature during its upcoming annual avenues winter workshop.
This institution has tied up with Camp Fire Trails during the tenth edition of its winter workshop which would provide young children with the real feeling of adventure camps, nature walks and also learn lessons on the need to preserve and protect the environment.
“This year we are attempting to do something different with our annual winter workshop. We would like to bring young children a better understanding about nature by participating in the adventure camps and nature walks,” Avenues Managing Director Mark Stone Laitphlang informed while addressing a press conference here on Wednesday.
Laitphlang informed that they have decided to team up with Camp Fire Trails for this programme, to ensure that the experience is a safe and memorable one.
“Everyone is aware that Camp Fire Trails is a name synonymous with outdoors,” he said.
Meanwhile, Avenues managing director informed that they would also have special sessions in Sign Language and Braille to celebrate diversity and teach respect regarding human dignity, allowing participants to learn how to communicate with people with disabilities.
“We are holding this exercise to strengthen our commitment to mainstreaming communication for the disabled in partnership with Bethany Society,” Laitphlang said.
He also informed that the Avenues Youth Icon for 2012 will inspire and encourage our workshop participants to travel the road less travelled and make a difference through their motivational talks and lessons.
“All these activities are going to take against the backdrop of Avenues’ proven curriculum in effective communication and personal development,” Avenues managing director said.
While stating that friendships have been the hallmark of our Winter Workshops for young people, he also said that during this annual event, there has been a tradition of bringing children and teenagers together during the winter holidays to allow participants to come in to their own, with engaging sessions in command body language.
“Some of our participants from our very first group are still, the best of friends,” Laitphlang informed. Meanwhile, he informed that the institute sponsors the less fortunate children to attend the workshop every year.
“We are planning to sponsor about 25 children this year. Being the Year of the Youth, we also hope the State Government to chip in sponsoring some children to attend the workshop. It would be good if private sponsors come in to sponsor some underprivileged children for the programme,” Avenues managing director said.
He however informed that brochures will be made available to select schools for the workshop along with the detachable pre-admission enquiry slip.
“Once they fill up the form, the interested participants may submit their forms at their school office,” Laitphlang while also informing that the workshop is likely to be held sometime in December and January next year.