Frajda // Info

Our place is situated in the remote area by the Odra Delta - wide shallows, green forests and meadows which are nature reserves of European Union for Coastal Conservation. Its location at the end of the road provoked to create a place where without any limits we could make outdoor and training programs for children and teenagers. During 8 years of our activity our programs are still evaluating, and in cooperation with schools and organizations we introduce new activities.

Our idea is to create an educational centre basing on our house (old-fashioned school building with 100 beds), sport and tourist equipment (50 bikes, 20 windsurfing boards, 3 sailing boats, 10 one-person dingh-ies, 20 kayaks, climbing wall, sports fields, etc.) and local natural resources, like clean water, unspoiled nature, and what is the most important - experienced and enthu- siastic staff.

For children 7-14 years old we have programs adjusted to their age and abilities. They learn skills they would not have a chance to learn in the city:

Kayak handling: I am not afraid of water, I know how to handle kayak or boat.
Little sailor: I know 3 knots, I know what is bow and starboard, I am not afraid of least.
Marine: I am not afraid of heights and night, I walked on a rope bridge.
Indian: I made a bow and arrows, I saw sunrise, I can make a fire.
Cook: I made a dish and backed bread in a brick stove.
Potter: I know how to make a clay pot.
Engineer: I made a machine propelled natural way and it works.
Forester: I know names of trees, I made a herbal book, I know animals trails.
Geographer: I made a map of terra incognita.
Photographer: I took pictures and organized an exhibition.
Painter: I painted and framed a picture.
Castaway: I built a raft and shelter, catch a fish.

During a two-weeks camp children must learn at least 3 skills.

Another programs for youngsters 12-18 years olds are sailing and windsurfing courses ending with examination and official certificates.

For teenagers 14-18 years old we have programs of Outdoor Adventure Camps. During the two-weeks pro- gram participants cover a distance of about 300 km on foot, by bike, and kayaking. They sleep under the tents, cook for themselves. The aim of the camp is deve- loping tolerance, patience, endurance and cooperation in a group as well as learning skills like orientating, kayaking, camping. Youngsters face new situations and by overcoming them they come home stronger, self-confident, more prepared to face unpredictable future risks.

Depending on the age and program we adjust following methods of conducting the programs. Courses and train- ings are conducted traditional way and they consist of lectu- res (2 hrs a day) and practical lessons (boat handling 6 hrs a day). In a boat there is one instructor for 6-10 persons and lectures are in a class of max. 20 participants. Windsur- fing groups are max. 10 persons and 2 instructors are invol- ved in training process. In video sessions surfers analyse mistakes they make. Both programs are enriched with other activities involving our equipment.

Children learn skills in groups of 10-15 persons accompanied with 2 leaders. They learn through fun and completing tasks (drawing maps, painting, etc)

It is more difficult to work with teenagers who very often expect extreme adventure and they are not ready to cope with simple tasks and skills. After their arrival they are informed about the detailed program of the camp, we make them positive about their abilities and the ambition of all group is to complete the task. The special emphasis is placed on relationships in a group and its existence as a group, tolerance, care of the younger and weaker ones, cooperation and making decisions about further steps. Tasks are set and they must be gained. The leader's role is to advice and correct inappropriate behaviour of the group.

Short season. We work intensively during the summer sea- son from May until October.

Finance. Short season, no support from the government and lack of cooperation with local authorities make our place difficult to balance financially and develop.

Staff training. Working with children in a camp system when 24-hours standby is necessary makes the job exhausting and requires still new, fresh and enthusiastic leaders to meet the requirements of the program. We cooperate with univer- sities, physical academies, non-governmental organizations, etc. We take students and members of mentioned organiza- tions to train our staff. It is difficult to find a person with wide range of interests which is happy to work with children and teenagers.