NDMC plans hi-technology summer camps for kids

NEW DELHI: Gone are those days when singing and dancing were the only engagements at summer camps. In the new digital India, New Delhi Municipal Council is soon to bring in changes in its summer camp curriculum and include IT training, commercial art designing and animation.
At these workshops, school students can learn web-designing, computer programming, coding, application-making and online bookcover designing. Such activities, an official said, will help them prepare for the future employment. It’s NDMC’s new mantra to “catch them young”.
“Last year, no summer camp was organised due to extra classes being held under project Buniyaad to help students improve writing, reading and learning capacity. But now, that our students’ performance has improved, from May 15, we will organise the summer camp for children above 11 years. Students from any school can participate provided they enroll themselves by May 10,” said a senior NDMC official.
To help maximum access to these workshops, NDMC has finalised eight centres at different locations, including Women Technical Institute at Netaji Nagar, Navyug School at Sarojini Nagar and Lodhi Road.
“We will call experts to train students in various fields. They will begin with teaching basics of advertisement designing, video making and app designing. Later, the students will be asked to make these videos themselves,” said the official.
Using fun and educational technology kits will move curious minds beyond mobile and computer gaming, and provide them hands-on experience in programming and hardware, the official explained.
“With an emphasis on bringing ideas to reality, the programme guides students to deepen their understanding on current topics in technology, including privacy, security and social networking,” he added.
The civic agency has arranged for workshops in other regular courses as well such as photography, 3D painting, yoga and aerobics, various styles of dance, pottery and sculpture-making. It will charge a nominal fee of Rs 100 per course for the classes, which will be held from 8am to11am.