21 April,2011 08:07 AM IST | | The Trip Team
Waking up at noon and playing hide-and-seek all day can be fun. But how about introducing your kids to life skills or honing untapped talent? The Trip hand picks three of the most diverse campsites
Empower activity camps
There's a lot to be done at these camps, run by ex-Army men (no boot camp in disguise). At MAD's (Making A Difference) camps, your kids will develop a taste for adventure with adrenaline-pumping experiences including rappelling, raft building and racing, flying fox, Burma bridge, trekking and night trekking. This apart, there's also tent pitching, backpacking, treasure hunt, navigation, jungle cooking, kitchen gardening, hut making, star gazing, collage making as well as taking a village tour.
At Empower Activity Camps, off Kolad on Mumbai-Goa Highway (140 km from Mumbai and 100 km from Pune); On May 1 to 5; May 16 to 20;
Call 02194 255105 / 9423093607;
Cost Rs 7,000 per head;
Log on tou00a0www.empowercamp.com
The balancing act takes a new meaning on the Burma bridge
at Empower
Insearch outdoors
If your children are bursting with energy to explore new places, Insearch Outdoors might have the answers. Their camps will help kids to explore the wilderness or befriend with gigantic mountains. You can choose from Mahabaleshwar (activities include nature trails, games, bird watching, group games), Kundalika (valley crossing, kayaking, mountain biking), Koyna backwaters (jungle trek, kayaking), Durshet (rappelling, trekking, valley crossing) and Karjat (fishing, face painting, farm visits). If you prefer a Himalayan adventure, their trip to Manali (trekking, sight seeing, playing in snow, rock climbing) is a must-do.
On Through April and May;
Call (020) 25443096/ 97 / 09850826431;
Log on tou00a0insearchoutdoors.com
Kshitij
Your kids will not only return with the red earth on their clothes and shoes but also with a whole bunch of stories to tell. Kshitij, an initiative by a group of friends, who decided to break away from the monotony of a typical life to create a dichotomy between work and play, has organised trips to Matheran for kids (6-9 years). Apart from enjoying fun activities including landscape painting, nature art and craft, story telling, dramatics, horse riding, map reading, magic show, games, treasure hunt and trekking, tiny tots will also get to explore local gems like Louisa Point, Echo Point and Charlotte Lake. If you hate to leave your kid alone, there are mother-n-child camps in the last week of May.
On April 26 to 28; May 23 to 25;
Call 9833313108 / 9324186499;
Cost Rs 4,150 per head;
Log on tou00a0www.kshitijworld.com
