The Bermuda National Trust’s Spring Traditions camp took campers from one end of the Island to the other, and through the 18th to 20th centuries as they explored a wide range of the Island’s natural and cultural heritage.The first of the two weeks, though a day shorter because of Good Friday, had an extra element as six students ages 14 to 16 attended as “Junior Camp Counsellors in Training”. While Education Officer Abbie Caldas looked after the young campers, Cindy Corday, the Trust’s Director of Education implemented the training and supervision of the Junior Counsellors. Once the students completed the training they will be able to work at one of the Trust’s camps offered in July or in December to fulfil their community service hours.Following the successful first week, there was a second week, of equally adventure-filled days. Though they started each day at the Axis Education Centre at Waterville, under the supervision of Ms Caldas, the group visited a nature reserve or one of the Trust’s historic homes.An appreciation of our natural heritage was encouraged with trips to Spittal Pond and the Gladys Morrell Nature Reserve in Sandys, and the Dennis Sherwin Nature Reserve around Warwick Pond.Cultural heritage was explored through trips to Tucker House and Verdmont, and through craft activities like making kites, constructing blue-bird boxes and crafting mobiles incorporating natural materials.As Government students were back in school for the second week, the group was somewhat smaller, but that was not bad thing for some of the campers. Brandon Tully, who has been to numerous BNT camps, observed, “It’s good there’s not a lot of people to look after so it’s easier for the counsellor.”For Brandon, a highlight was a trip to the Botanical Gardens. “There were all these flowers and different smells good smells,” he explained, “and you could sit and relax in the fields.”Nine-year-old Yassine Chentouf, who attends Somersfield Academy, learned to have a much better appreciation of nature by going to the Botanical Gardens. “I never really stopped to enjoy the scenery,’ he noted.“We went to Spittal Pond, yesterday,” he continued, “and it was really beautiful. We saw white herons. The cows were pretty cool. I’ve never been up-close to a cow before.”For Makayla Tucker, who also attends Somersfield, it’s the flexibility of the camp that is most appealing. “I like to get to choose what you do instead of having a set schedule,” she stated. She also enjoyed the craft activities, such as the nature mobile, because, she said, “I like art, so its fun for me.” Also “fun” was the fact that “you get to go places that some people haven’t been before.”The new and different was also appealing to Rylee Gardner, even though she has been to three earlier BNT camps. “I like nature and I like learning,” she explained. “Some things I know, but then I learn more. Brandon showed us this plant in the Botanical Gardens that closes by itself when you touch it. At Spittal Pond there’s a chequerboard and I learned how it is made with waves and hurricanes.”“It’s lots of fun and you’ll make lots of new friends,” the 11-year-old concluded.