Combining the fun of sunny, summer activities with the discipline of drama is the aim of one summer camp coming to a close this week.

Amanda Ingham and Nicole Correia, both primary teachers at Warwick Academy, and Year 11 student Katrina Hassell, have been offering their young charges instruction in fine art and performing arts in the school drama studio for two weeks.

During the first week activities centred around the theme of princesses, knights and castles, while the campers during the second week leapt forward several centuries to 19th century France, examining the painting techniques of Claude Monet and the engineering feat of Gustav Eiffel.

The young campers ranged in age from five to 11 years and spent the mornings completing crafts, like designing their own papier-mâché shields, or exploring decoupage and different brush strokes as they re-interpreted Monet's 'Bridge at Giverny'. They also participated in drama games designed to develop confidence, concentration and team work.

Afternoons were dedicated to more physical activities, rehearsing one-act plays and splashing in the school pool.

There has been a sweeter side to everything as well: Frog and Princess cupcakes baked and decorated in week one, and crêpes consumed in week two. And best of all, according to 11-year-old Caleb Jones, "They give you popsicles at the end of the day!"

Caleb acknowledged that that wasn't the only attraction: "You have people from your school, so you meet some of your friends over the summer."

Alex Mason agreed, adding, "It's quite interesting because we play all these different games which are quite fun."

For Finn Wilson, whose parents are busy and whose two brothers are currently aboard Spirit of Bermuda in Canadian waters, "There are lots of different things to do. Lots of games, one with a parachute, football, volleyball at lunchtime, construction activities with Lego and other construction material."

Each week has concluded with the production of one-act plays, performed for friends and family: Dragons in the Mix and the fables of La Fontaine.

In addition to learning the lines and interpreting the roles, the campers have helped with the props and set.

Eight-year-old Kylah Hall gave her assessment: "It's really fun.

"You get to do really fun plays," but, she concluded, "the best thing is having a good time playing with other people and getting to meet new people."