Back to nature

Aspects of the five elements were taught to children through interactive sessions, at a spring school holiday camp

By DINESH RAMANAN

Spring is the season for nature’s manifestation to be seen at its best. To celebrate the season of spring, the Global Organisation for Divinity (GOD) organised a holiday camp with the central theme of ‘Five elements of nature’. Held on October 2-3 at the Crestwood community centre in Baulkham Hills, about 35 primary school children from in and around Sydney attended.

The aims of the camp were twofold: firstly to re-introduce nature to children and educate them at a broad level regarding the powers of the five elements and how they work in an integrated manner, and secondly, to bring home the responsibility on all of us as end-users of these elements, in maintaining natural balance and doing our part for the environment.

The bigger picture about nature and the five elements was presented to the children by a visual compilation of video clippings systematically unfolding of the qualities and greatness of each. Chiranth Wodeyar of Vishwas Productions created the presentation in an interactive manner, inviting enthusiastic participation, followed by a Q&A session.

Children were also taught that what is outside is inside us, and about the importance of being in touch with the divinity within each of us. A yoga session by Petra Maul and a simple meditation session were conducted to help the children see the body and mind connection. In the meditation session, children were taught the habit of praying for a short time daily by chanting the divine names of God. As repetitive exercises in a gym help keep our body fit, repeating the divine names of God is a good daily habit to keep our mind healthy and at peace. In today’s technology dominated world, we often tend to miss out on appreciating the simpler aspects of nature. The camp aimed at instilling curiosity and awareness of the physical and natural laws and order that are continuously operating.

Representatives from NSW

Fire & Rescue and the Hills Shire Council presented special sessions on fire safety, wastage and recycling. The children were excited to see a fire engine arrive at the centre, and they were given a demonstration on fire safety, while being allowed to view the equipment. Their intriguing questions were patiently answered by the four crew manning the vehicle. They even tried out the hose used to contain fires.

Shaun Hunt, Resources Recovery Officer from the Hills Shire Council presented an informative session on wastage disposal and the concept of recycling. The children were amazed to learn that a white plastic bar was actually recycled coke bottles. Shaun explained how this bar is recycled into pellets and baby bottles, from which bottles of different sizes and shapes are made. The children participated in an activity called ‘Do the right bin’, in which they had to drop a waste item from a bag in the correct bin. This fun way helped them learn and understand the ways of disposing waste and how recycling helps the environment.

To consolidate their understanding, they were then asked to weave a ‘web of understanding’ by sharing what they had learned. The children also participated in ‘Lord Ganesha’ craftwork, and outdoor cricket and games. They were taught an English song on the five elements of nature which they absolutely loved.

As October 2 was the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, Chiranth showed children a presentation on his life. As usual, many youth from the GOD team assisted with various activities. Children were provided morning and afternoon tea and vegetarian lunch.

On the second day, a special presentation had been organised for parents with the children performing two skits. The first skit was the ‘Battle of the Forces’ in which each element claims itself to be the greatest and Time comes in and explains that their individual powers are unique and their combined power is what makes them great. In the second skit, “Save Mother

Earth”, kids showed how certain acts of humans are not only harmful to the environment but to themselves. Many children walked to stage at the end of the skit and expressed what they would do in future on their part to protect nature and save earth (e.g have shorter showers, use public transport, walk than drive where you can etc).

Together, they presented a song on the five elements, with Chiranth accompanying them on his guitar.

Many parents offered good

The camp aimed to bring home the responsibility on all of us as end-users of these elements, in maintaining natural balance and doing our part for the environment feedback on the structure of the camp and expressed their happiness at how GOD camps are run. One parent stated her satisfaction at how the camps integrate science and God, while presenting concepts in a simple manner to which children can understand and relate. Attendees to these camps have been steadily increasing, since GOD began conducting holiday camps biannually since 2010. When leaving, a few children told the organisers that they would meet again next year in the autumn holiday camp.

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