Swaffham Prior Summer Playscheme 2004
Take 85 children from 10 different schools, 60 helpers from 50 families, a handful of teenagers, a dozen pre-school children in the creche, 81 sessions of wide-ranging activities, a week of dry weather and you have the perfect recipe for Playscheme 2004!
As we are now handing over the reins after five years, we would like to say a big thank you to everyone involved this year; it was the most enjoyable and least stressful week we have experienced! Thank you to all the parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, and friends who provided sessions or helped with activities; we worked out that over three-quarters of the sessions were put on by home-grown talent and only one-quarter were bought-in specialist activities. Among the "locally produced" activities were woodwork, football, sketching, kitchen chemistry, dance, drama, storytelling, farm trip, cookery (including a cooking and trampolining session combined!), brass rubbing, pony rides, scavenger hunt, basketball, crazy golf, archaeology, video-making, fishing, and the cycling adventure. Externally provided sessions included archery, gymnastics, first aid, wiggle karts and singing. In addition, in the craft room the children could try felt-making, calligraphy, mosaic tiling, leather work, candlemaking and many other crafts.
Special thanks to the "green shirts" who took on particular areas of responsibility: Liz Tabecka whose expertise in the craft room made it a very enjoyable, and surprisingly calm, week; Jenny MacMahon who ran a wonderful creche; Mark Lewinski who took photos to record the week, oversaw registration and dealt with money matters; and Kathy Judge who tackled special needs and first aid. But there were so many other people who willingly took on tasks behind the scenes or during the week; particular thanks to those who helped to clear away on Friday!
Thanks also to Jo Lakey and the school for providing premises and resources. The craft room worked on decorating three planters (kindly made by Dickie Doe) as a gift from Playscheme to the school and when the weather and soil conditions are right we will be planting a tree in the grounds.
We have had a great time putting Playscheme together, but now it is time to hand over to a new team. We will hold a meeting in late January for anyone interested in taking this on. Please come along!