Moon Palace Foundation Summer Art Camp readies kids for high school

The annual Moon Palace Foundation Summer Art Camp that ended recently at Moon Palace Jamaica in Ocho Rios provided more than just fun for the children of employees at the hotel.

Manager of the foundation, Natalie Boreland, declared the annual camp a success for yet another year as dozens of children benefited.

For several of the participants who will begin high school this September, the week of activities provided them with an insight into life in high school.

Educational trips to places such as the National Art Gallery, Gordon House, Little Theatre, among others, and in-house activities that included visual arts, music, dance and drama were well received by the children.

Tyreca McIntosh, who begins life at St Hilda’s Diocesan High School in Brown’s Town this month, while totally enjoying herself participating in several of the activities, used the experience to ready for school.

“The camp was nice, I really enjoyed it,” Tyreca said as she chatted with Hospitality Jamaica in the company of her mom, Tafrica Jenkins.

“I did music, dance, drama and visual arts; in visual arts, we made flowers, lilies, using paper. I think the entire experience will benefit me a lot as I start high school.”

Her mom was glad she took the first-timer to the camp.

“The camp was quite educational for her,” Jenkins admitted. “She got to meet a lot of interesting people, she went to places she hadn’t been before. She got the exposure and the experience. The art camp was a wow factor for me, personally. Palace Foundation has been doing a lot of stuff for the kids, educational wise. Next year, again, it’s a must.”

Meanwhile, for Calcia Peart-Peters, who works with Moon Palace Foundation, it was even more of a family affair as she and her son seven-year-old Joshua, were joined at the camp by husband and dad, Elroy.

Peart-Peters said that apart from the great benefits of the camp, it was good for staff members to take their children so they could see where their parents work.

“It’s very good for us because coming to work, you can just bring the children with you for them to see where you work and enjoy part of what Palace does for the staff and children,” she explained.

Elroy Peart was happy he was able to accompany his son to the camp and he, too, praised the work of the foundation.

For young Joshua, who was camping for the third year, it was an enjoyable event.

“It was so nice. I enjoyed myself,” he stated.