Youngsters have struck gold this summer with a Bermuda National Trust summer camp, proving that learning can be fun.

Treasure Seekers History Camp has been successful for eight years in teaching young people about the rich history on the Island.

Camp counsellor, Takara Dill, is a young Bermudian who believes it is important for locals to know where they come from. She said: "I think Bermuda is really starting to lose their sense of self. We know everything about everybody else, but not a lot of people know about Bermuda's history — and we have a rich history."

Miss Dill finds the Island's history exciting, and just as she learned from her grandfather, she has spent the past few weeks teaching young campers how to make traditional paper kites, using fennel sticks and a paste made from flour, water and pepper. She explained to the campers that these kites, simple as they may seem, are how their ancestors kept occupied.

According to Miss Dill, understanding the Island's history is important, she said: "I guess it just gives me a better appreciation of my Island. If tourists ask me a question I can answer and not be as lost as they are.

"I love the kids and what the camp is trying to do, educate the public on the history of Bermuda. And we educate them while they are young so that the Island becomes more real to them, instead of just a place where they live."

The Treasure Seekers History Camp has been successful because of it's hands-on approach to learning, including daily activities and fieldtrips planned by director Nicola O'leary.

The Royal Gazette talked with close to a dozen campers, between the ages of eight and 11, who were gushing to share their experiences. Deanae Hart, eight, said: "I like that we learn about history. I learned that Bermudez found Bermuda and I learned the history of transportation with the horse and carriage."

Budding historian, Jazz Sheil, nine, vividly remembered learning about Venturilla, the first black man to come to the Island and found it interesting that the governor's house roof was flat, in order to hide defending soldiers.

This year's camp theme is "The way we worked" and throughout the week the kids learned about Bermuda's heritage— how early houses were built, the traditions of farming and boating and early transportation by horse and carriage. Just last Thursday they learned how to pilot a boat, build a shelter, sew and cook— all while having fun with their peers.

The youngsters made their own tepees, explained Ashley De Sa, 11, who admitted this was the most challenging part of the week, so far. The tepees were "tested", meaning shaken, by the councillors to see if they could withstand a hurricane, and it wasn't until her third attempt that her tepee was deemed successful.

"We learned how challenging it was to create your own houses with nature and how challenging it was back then," said Miss De Sa.

Nadia Resendes, nine, believed the information would be useful in the next school year, and said: "It's all about our history and our culture, and I think I might get a head start on history when I go back to school."

While some of the children learned to sew quilts that day, others learned how to cook Johnny Bread in the kitchen, including Brandon Philips, eight, and Mustafa Ingham, 11.

The boys were happy with their slightly browned bread and admitted they would pass on the skills they learned at camp, "I can teach my children and grandchildren and pass it down from generation to generation," said Mr. Ingham.

According to counsellor Sharon Simmons, not only was it fun teaching the children how to cook, but they also had fun doing it. The campers had to do the measuring by themselves and separate the dry ingredients from the wet ingredients, she explained. "I didn't think it would come out as good as they did. Most of it ended up on the floor", she said with a laugh "but they did a good job."

Overall the camp was a huge success with the youngsters, including Cameron Neil,10, who said of his experience: "You learn a lot of stuff and it's fun at the same time, and you get to tell your parents everything you did and I get to show them what I do, my knots, and all that stuff."