Time to get down and dirty
Ever feel like your kids need to get out of the house more? Does it bother you when your kids think their food comes from an air-conditioned supermarket rather than out of the ground? And really – when was the last time you saw your kids have a mud fight?
If the answers to these questions leave you thinking, then maybe it’s time to get back to basics with a visit to Green Camp Bali.
We recently took the tribe up there for the weekend and our verdict? Absolutely fantastic.
The first day began with some orientation and dinner before we faced the real work. Our first task: set up camp in our Yurts. Although basic, these bunk bed style grass huts were surprisingly comfortable and cool, with each family getting one to themselves. Private outdoor showers are also a treat.
The next morning we were up with the sun, and went straight into a session of Laughing Yoga. Don’t knock it till you try it; it certainly readied us for an action-packed day of adventure.
The kids next mastered the fine art of making their own chocolate. We’re not talking about melting some Dairy Milk into a mould; we’re talking the full monty. They went out, picked cocoa fruit, broke it open, pulled out the seeds, crushed them up with a mortar and pestle etc.
There were family challenges constantly thrown at us, like being handed an egg which we had to protect. We designed a container of only what we could find on the forest floor then dropped it out of a tree from 3meters up to see if it survived. In true Honeycombers style, we’re proud to to say we all passed with flying colours!
As it got dark we were taught to make our own wood-fired pizzas before we started on our night safari, led by resident wildlife expert, Mr Cobra. The guy can sniff out wildlife in the dark like you can’t imagine. We would be wandering down the path when suddenly he’d spring to action, run into a bush, and pull out a tree snake. The kids and some of the less ophidiophobic adults got to handle a pet reticulated python while we were educated on these and other local critters.
The real highlight for us was the mud fight. Although a few were hesitant at first, it wasn’t long before mud was being slung and rolled in by everyone. Kids and parents alike were having a ball.
The whole programme was absolutely fantastic, and no one left unhappy. Gucci and iPads aren’t welcome, but if you think it’s about time you and the fam got back to basics and your hands a little (or a lot) dirty, you’re in for a real treat. For those who aren’t biting, they also do kids only camps so you can stay poolside, cocktail-equipped, while the kids get amongst it. Check out their Junior Explorer Camps for ages 5-8 and Discovery Camps for 9-12 year-olds.
Visit the Green School for more information, check out the Green Camp Facebook page, or get busy and register for the next camp!