On target

At Insight Rifle Club on Avinashi Road, summer is not just about play; it is about poise, precision, and personal growth. Their shooting summer camp, running from May 3 to 9, welcomes children aged nine and above into the world of air rifle shooting with a clear focus on safety, discipline, and individual development.

“When we first started, we had just four or five enrolments,” recalls Sindhu Parthasarathy, Chairperson of the club. “Today, we receive about 30 to 40 kids each summer, and most of our batches are definitely occupied.”

The camp is led by experienced professionals, including Sindhu herself — a multiple-time national shooter — and a senior coach who also trains the Indian junior team. Under their guidance, children begin with open sight air rifles, practising over 10 metres with large paper targets designed for beginners.

Safety, Sindhu emphasises, is paramount: “We teach safety measures from day one, both theoretical and practical. The rifles we use also have built-in child locks. Only when they’re ready do we switch them to firing mode.”

The benefits go beyond the target. “Shooting improves focus, composure, and bodily coordination,” she explains. “Children learn to synchronise their breathing, maintain balance, and handle the weapon with care and maturity. It helps them understand the importance of a routine — what they eat, how they sleep — all starts to matter.”

Parents often arrive with questions shaped by film or media, but the camp offers clarity. “We had a parent ask if we train with snipers,” she laughs. “They meant the peep-sight rifle, which is advanced but used in sports.”

Many young shooters from these camps go on to join regular classes and even compete nationally. “The camp helps gauge interest and commitment. At least 30% of our regulars started with summer camps.”

From May 3 to 9 at Insight Rifle Club, Avinashi Road. Fees: ₹5000. Contact: 8015598029 or 9043011116.

Making sci-fi real

At Big Bodhi Academy’s robotics summer workshop in Coimbatore, children build, code, and innovate. Designed for ages 7 to 16, this two-week, STEM-powered camp blends robotics, drones, and 3D printing into a hands-on, exploratory experience.

“Our summer workshop focuses on integrating robotics into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM),” says Santha Kumar, Director of Marketing. “We achieve this through robotics, drones, and 3D printing, employing a completely enhanced, hands-on learning methodology.”

Big Bodhi Academy
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Special Arrangement

Each day begins with a quick concept briefing, after which children get building; whether it is robots that detect obstacles or high-tech catapults. “Once the mechanical design is complete, they add electronic components, then move to coding. If the robot doesn’t solve the mission, they identify the issues — be it speed, design or sensor feedback — and try again,” explains Santha Kumar..

Even coding is made fun and accessible. Young children begin with flashcards instead of screens. “They arrange a forward block, a right turn block and scan it. If something’s off, they tweak the flashcards. This builds confidence before they transition to Scratch or Python.”

One standout project involves a braking system. “The robot uses an ultrasonic sensor to detect obstacles. If one is too close, it stops. When the path clears, it moves again,” says Santha Kumar. Children also learn how 45-degree angles create ideal parabolic arcs while launching objects with catapults.

But it is not just about tech. “We don’t have note-taking sessions. It’s all action. Parents tell us their kids are engaged for two and a half hours without screens. That’s the real win.”

Workshops run April to May in Nehru Nagar, Ramanathapuram, and Gandhipuram. Fees: ₹6000. Contact: 8300230194 (Nehru Nagar), 9080715825 (Ramanathapuram), 9095415393 (Gandhipuram).

Science and Nature, the fun way

Aatrral Learning Centre’s summer camp brings together children, parents and grandparents. The centre, that has been around since 2014, has been working towards encouraging social entrepreneurship and impact among individuals and families. Their Kalam summer camp, spread across seven weeks, has at its core art, philosophy, science, and organic farming.

At Aatrral’s summer camp
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Special arrangement

“Children, their parents and grandparents can stay at our farm and learn firsthand about agriculture and organic farming,” says ‘Aatrral’ Bala, the founder. “Learning is play-based and the whole family is in it together.” Each week of the summer camp is based on diverse themes. There will be outdoor adventures, fun challenges, and hands-on experiments, games that make one move, think, and laugh and more within a sprawling farm with home-cooked meals.

Themes include ‘Bio-sketch’ through which participants can understand how even the smallest things around us are driven by a life-force. They can sketch animals and vehicles, understand their character traits, and discover how human innovations happen through solutions in Nature.

In the ‘Creation’ themed-week, parents and children will learn about building, plumbing, electricals, and mechanics. They will also be taught how electrical circuits work, the nuts and bolts of wiring, automobile basics and maintenance. ‘Play Farming’ will inculcate a love for the natural world by teaching participants about seeds, nutrients, the soil ecosystem and more. Aatral is also involved in organic farming consulting and has helped create 200 acres of farmlands across Tamil Nadu.

Kalam is on at Iyal Farms, Sethumadai, till June 1. For details, visit aatrral_edu on Instagram, call 9597379545.

Be body aware

Join P V Harikrishnan, an expert in Krav Maga, a martial art form that has its origins in Israel, to learn a few kicks and punches. “What sets apart Krav Maga from traditional martial arts is that, here, you can do anything for your safety,” says Harikrishnan. “You can use everyday objects around you to defend yourself. This can be a keychain, a chair… Anything goes in order to escape from a dangerous situation and go home safe.”

Harikrishnan, who has completed instructor courses from Delhi, Chennai, Australia and Germany for civilians and children, will tailor the martial art for children such that there is no violence involved. “I will teach them how to protect themselves, how to escape harm and prevent someone from hitting them,” he says, “The focus will be on defending, rather than striking.” For adults, however, trainers will ensure they are prepared to protect themselves and people around them at any cost.

Harikrishnan explains that the summer bootcamp will introduce children to the basics of Krav Maga. “If they are interested in taking it forward, they can enroll for further classes,” he adds. Harikrishnan has been associated with Krav Maga for more than a decade. He trained with the International Krav Maga Federation and has been conducting workshops for adults and children for over ten years in Chennai.

The Krav Maga summer bootcamp is open for children aged nine to 14 years. It is on from April 28 to May 2, 5.30pm to 6.30pm, at Ananda, Race Course Scheme Road. Call 9790919600 for details.