Cognitive Skills
- Problem solving skills
- Logic / critical thinking
- Creative thinking skills
- CAPS aligned curriculum best taught in an outdoor educational space
- Environmental awareness skills
what we do
The programme
Our purpose is to provide enriching educational camp experiences for children from under-resourced communities, where they develop values and life skills that will positively impact their lives.
the programme
what we do
Through sponsorship, we offer fully-funded Grade 5, 6 and 7 camps to a growing network of 15 partner schools from under-resourced communities in the Western Cape.
Learners experience a 3 day, 2 night, action-packed programme, returning 3 years in a row for Grade 5, 6 and 7. This allows us to develop long-term working relationships with the school management teams, educators and learners, who are able to progress in their development each returning year.
the venue
where Are We
Our venue, Bridges Retreat Centre is nestled in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley. The 12.5 acre campus has a large swimming pool, a basketball court, a fire pit, established fruit trees, a running trail and full-sized soccer field, all set in a well-maintained garden. The property is surrounded by awe-inspiring vineyard and mountain views.
Experiences
Inspiring Dreams
For some of our learners, staying at Bridges is the first time they sleep in their own bed, or experience basic amenities, such as warm showers. At Bridges, our learners are fed three nutritious meals a day and can play in a clean and safe environment – another first for many.
Bridges is a place where every year, thousands of children, most in need of transformational experiences, are able to leave the realities of life for a few days and engage in learning and growing emotionally, mentally, relationally and spiritually in the beauty of creation. We believe that these horizon-broadening experiences, positive memories and significant moments have the potential to positively impact the trajectory of young lives.
“For many of our learners, coming to Bridges is like a trip overseas - many of them have never left their own community.”
Principal from One of Our Partner Schools
about the programme
We run a carefully designed values-based outdoor team-building education programme based on best practice from around the world, adapted for our local community schools.
Each session has key objectives and outcomes. The programme facilitates the holistic development of each learner, focusing on the following life skills within each targeted grade:
Social Emotional Skills
How children understand who they are, what they are feeling and what to expect when interacting with others.
- Communication skills
- Teamwork and collaboration skills
- Personal development skills
- Social awareness, relationship building
- Leadership skills
Physical Gross Motor Skills
Learners are given the opportunity to try exciting new outdoor adventure activities and develop the following skills:
- Physical fitness skills
- Gross motor skills
- Fine motor skills
- Co-ordination skills
- Outdoor adventure skills
Our core values
Our core values are threaded throughout the programme –
courage, respect, trust, commitment, teamwork.
Learners are introduced to our five core values when they arrive at Bridges. These values are explored and reinforced through all the activities on camp and then reflected on in small groups at the end of each session.
Camp is not only about learning skills – it’s also about having fun and creating joyful, lasting memories. For children growing up in poverty and often stressful environments, these positive experiences are especially important. Camp exposes them to new adventures that broaden their horizons and inspire them to dream bigger for their future.
At camp, new talents are uncovered, emerging leaders shine,
and fresh hopes are sparked.
courage
respect
trust
commitment
teamwork
Outcomes
3 year programme
Research shows that children with social-emotional challenges often struggle with numeracy and literacy.
By focusing on holistic development, especially supporting social emotional development on camp, we believe learners return to school better equipped to learn and progress back in the classroom.
Our programme has been developed toward the
following outcomes for each year:
Year 1
self-awareness
Grade 5 learners are introduced to the values and skills taught at camp, with an emphasis on improving in the area of self-awareness. This includes identifying and expressing emotions and understanding their own strengths and developmental areas.
Year 2
social awareness
Grade 6 learners return with a better understanding of self and are now able to develop in their social awareness skills and their role in the group setting. This includes building emotional resilience, demonstrating values like good sportsmanship, respect, courage and trust, and practicing prosocial behaviour.
Year 3
Self-Management & Leadership Skills
Grade 7 learners are coached toward developing in their self-management and leadership skills. This includes good decision-making capabilities; being confident, assertive, and resilient; demonstrating leadership qualities and being a responsible citizen at school and in their community.
The costs
Bridges Retreat Centre is a registered Public Benefit Organisation with Section 18A status. This means that all donations are tax deductible (we will issue you with a Section 18A certificate).
Partner with us in saying ‘yes’ to the continued transformational impact of learner’s from under-resourced communities. We are taking a 100-year view on this venture and are excited about continuing to see many thousands of stories of changed lives in the decades to come.
| Per Learner Per Night | Per Learner Per Camp (2 nights & 3 days) | |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | R 215 | R 430 |
| Food (3 meals & snacks) | R 230 | R 460 |
| Training & Curriculum | R 255 | R 510 |
| Transport | R 75 | R 150 |
| TOTAL | R 775 | R 1550 |
Donate
Help Empower a Child to Dream Bigger
Contribute to memorable life experiences that have a lasting positive impact on the developing minds and hearts of the young people who attend our camps. Contribute to shaping a better society, for generations to come.
BANK DETAILS
Bank: FNB Account Name: Bridges
Current Account Number: 62864303278
Account Type: Platinum BusinessAccount
Branch Code: 250 655
Reference: Ed Prog Sponsorship
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