The ☃︎ Winter camps ☃︎ from the 2 to 6 February and the 9 to 13 February were two pretty fun weeks, with two different groups, two different vibes, two different dynamics. It was really interesting to see how each group had its own energy and personality. I shared a lot of games inspired by my childhood. Simple things, sometimes a bit improvised, but the kind of games that always work like circle games, running games or group challenges.
With Olga’s advice, I also included some games that are well known and loved by Polish children. That really helped me understand their references and habits better. It created a nice balance between something new and something familiar. They were attentive, but also completely spontaneous and sometimes a little wild in their own funny ways. ⋆⭒˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*⋆ We also did small activities to learn some basics in French. Nothing too academic, just simple words, colors, short phrases, always through movement or play. I played some French songs that are close to my heart during certain games and moments together. Music helped create a quiet atmosphere and share a small piece of where I come from. On my side, I tried to practice Polish with them. It definitely wasn’t perfect, but it created a connection at least. I also introduced calmer moments, with a bit of yoga. At first, it wasn’t always easy to get everyone to slow down, but little by little they understood that it was a space to breathe and listen to their bodies. Some of the more reserved kids at the beginning slowly found their place, which was really nice to witness.
I also proposed a participatory art activity! The idea was to create an ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ evolving sculpture ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ together, using a large wire mesh structure placed on the floor. The children could attach different objects and materials, compose freely, and watch how the whole piece transformed over time. I stayed nearby to explain and encourage, but mostly I let them decide and experiment. When the structure is finally lifted and suspended, it’s always a special moment. Everything shifts, objects fall differently, and the shape becomes almost alive. The children were laughing a lot and really proud of what we created together. It wasn’t perfect. Sometimes it was a bit chaotic. But it was alive, real, and full of energy! 𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋
AZA
