On Monday, we met with children in the Silver House at the Documentary Film Center and got to know both the course of the camp and each other. Right after that, we took the train to the first excursion destination in Petrkov, to the castle of the Reynek family. Thanks to the kind staff of the Museum of Czech Literature, we toured the interior of the castle and then created in the garden under the shelter they prepared for us. The hot tea also made us happy, because the first half of the day was quite cold. From Petrkov, we went along the Bohuslav Reynek Educational Trail to Havlíčkův Brod to the train station, so we warmed up nicely. So much so that in Havlíčkův Brod we rewared themself with ice cream.
On Tuesday, we met at the bus station and went to Prague. In the morning we visited the Museum of Ethnography in Smíchov and in the afternoon The Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague. At the Musaion, the children learned about the traditions that took place during the summer and created a handkerchief with their own print. In the Museum of Decorative Arts they undertook a search game that familiarized them with the exhibited works and the general focus of the museum. The advantage of both institutions was the area of the garden with tall trees, which ensured pleasant coolness while resting. The underground ride, lunch at a pizzeria, the story of actress Hana Kvapilová and David Černý's butterflies on Národní třída were also an experience in Prague.
On Wednesday, we were welcomed at the Třebíč museum by the servant Josefína (a fellow educator), who showed the children around the residence of the Valdštejn family. During the tour, they created and completed various tasks related to the history of the place. Subsequently, we moved to the Basilica of St. Prokop, where we viewed the interiors, the chapel and the crypt. From the monastery garden, we went straight to the restaurant through the Jewish town. The children were promised ice cream every day, so we ended the program in Třebíč on a sweet note. And then straight to the train station in the direction of Jihlava.
On Thursday we took a bus to Žďár nad Sázavou. The children led us from the train station to the castle, just like the previous day in Třebíč. They used the picture map we prepared for them. From the castle, we went straight to Zelená hora to the pilgrimage church of St. John of Nepomuk. Here the children completed quiz questions, created art, read a letter from Santini, lit candles and looked forward to lunch in the convent of the castle. It was followed by a movement program focused on symmetry in architecture and creating a print design for their own bag. We couldn't manage the ice cream this time because it was raining and moving to the cafe would have complicated our return journey.
We enjoyed the last camp day in the Silver House. The children were finishing up what they hadn't done during the week, and we were getting ready for the final event. This time it took the form of a presentation. Colleague Jana prepared photos for us, which the children first looked at and approved. Then they split into pairs and prepared their own commentary on them. After lunch and ice cream, they prepared themed refreshments as well as their works, which were created during the past four days. Parents and relatives filled all the seats at the final event and supported the children during the presentation. It was a nice end to our non-traditional travel camp, which gave us the impetus and energy to prepare another similar one next year. We are already looking forward to it!
Pavlína Pitrová, August 2024
