School Holiday Programme : more fun and excitement

The holidays are here. Do not just spend lazy days at home, go out and have some fun with your family and friends. Here are some exciting activities waiting for you.

Winter School Holidays Program by the Ministry of Youth and Sports

The Ministry of Youth and Sports is organising this winter holidays fun and educational programmes for children. The activities will start as from 15 July and will end on 3 August. Note that officers of the Ministry will supervise all the activities and all measures will be taken for the security of the participants. Transport facilities will also be provided to participants. Those interested will have to register at Youth Centres. For more information, contact on 2403558. The programme is as follows:

Sports Camp

Date: Tuesday 25 to Thursday 27 (Youth Centres)

Objective: Initiate young people to sports activities

Will be organised in collaboration with the Mauritius Sports Council

Activities will be held in Youth Centres

Leisure Festival at La Vanille Nature Park

Get ready to spend a great day at La Vanille Nature Park this holiday. Feeding the Aldabra tortoise, meeting with the playful lemurs and have chills watching the forceful crocodile feasting on their lunch are some of the exciting activities available at the park. Enjoy the special holiday rates which will be offered until 13 August: Adults at Rs 235 and Children (3 to 12 years) at Rs 110. Note that for each adult ticket bought, a free kid’s ticket is offered. Furthermore, do not miss the Leisure Festival taking place in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism on Sunday 30 July from 8.30am to 5pm. On the programme: Animation, Treasure Hunt, Games, Activity zones for kids, gifts including a cash prize of Rs 5,000, offers on restaurant, concert by Gary Victor, Caroline Jodun and Nas T Black. On that day, ticket prices will be as follows: Rs 100 for adults and Rs 50 for children (3 – 12 years old).

Exciting adventures at La Vallée des Couleurs Nature Park

Spend a wonderful day and enjoy the most beautiful views of Mauritius at La Vallée des Couleurs Nature Park. Enjoy the special holiday packages. The park is offering three different packages to suit all.  At Rs 425 only, enjoy the thrill of the 290-metre-long zip-line, a free 180-metre zip-line ride and a mini-lunch. The price includes the park entrance fee and visit. The second package, at Rs 850 includes a “mocktail” at the reception, a visit of the park, a 500-metre-long zip-line and cross over the 350-metre long suspension bridge. The third package, Rs 1025, includes a visit to the park, lunch and 30-minute quad bike ride. Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance. Note that this offer is valid until the end of August. For more information contact on: 52928841, 58697777, 54718666. Email: info@lavalléedescouleurs.com

Discover facets of Mauritius at L’Aventure du Sucre

Come with your family and friends at L’Aventure du Sucre, Pamplemousses to discover the historic treasures of Mauritius. Besides a visit to the museum, you will have the opportunity to taste the natural brown sugars, take pictures in amusing backgrounds and enjoy local delicious flavours at Le Fangourin restaurant. During your visit, do not miss the temporary exhibition where you will discover the Mauritian culture through virtual reality. Enjoy the promotional rates until 20 August: Rs 100 for adults and Rs 75 children. Entrance is free for kids under six years old. L’Aventure du Sucre and Le Fangourin restaurant have been awarded the 2017 TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence. Also, save the date for the upcoming events at L’Aventure du Sucre: Dreamers on September 1st, Gastronomy Festival on 22, 23 and 24 September, screenings of Festival Ile Courts on 11 October, The week of Taste from 9 to 15 October and the Kaz'Out Festival on 4 November.

Drawing workshop by the IFM

L’Institut Français de Maurice (IFM) invites parents to enrol their children in a drawing in augmented reality workshop taking place on  Friday 21 July from 3 pm to 4 pm. Children aged between 6 and 11 years old will discover the drawing applications, in augmented reality with the media team of at the IFM. After having coloured their drawing on paper, the children will be able to animate it through the application on the tablet.

Also on Wednesday 2nd August, from 3pm to 4pm, another workshop awaits children. This time the event will be dedicated to animated stories in augmented reality. This workshop is a dive in the heart of a new reading experience where the book and the screen complement each other. Librarians will use two augmented reality books published by Albin Michel: Chouette by Léna Mazilu et Peur du noir, moi de Magali Le Huche. Enrol for the workshops by calling on 4655222 or at mediatheque@ifmaurice.org. Only six children per session.

Robot Construction Workshop

For parents who want their children to engage in more educational activities, STEM is offering robot building workshops from 17 July 4 August  at the British Council, Rose Hill and Grand Bay and from 7 to 11 August at the Tamarin Art Centre in Black River. During these workshops, children will be required to work on the same project, maths and technology or maths, science and technology. STEM focuses on applying knowledge to real-life situations. The children will have to construct Legos equip them with motion sensors, motors and a CPU called Smarthub. The robot is then connected via the Smarthub to an iPad. An Arts component is also included in the program to stimulate creativity, which is a necessary requirement for coding and programming. The workshop is aimed at children aged between seven and 12 years. The cost for five days is Rs 3,750 per child, Rs 950 for one day and Rs 850 per day for two to four days workshop. More information is available at 54222164 or at 59346944.