Archie’s Story: Breaking Boundaries at Fusion Camp
Archie, a 9-year-old boy, attended the Mallard Balby Fusion Holiday Camp during Summer 2024 for the very first time.
Initially hesitant, Archie’s mum Lauren had only booked him for one day to see how he would adjust. Archie typically spends most of his time at home and struggles with managing full days at school. Lauren mentioned, “You’ve done a really good job. Archie can’t always manage full days at school but he has here so I’m really happy!” By lunchtime, Archie had decided that he wanted to come back the next day and evaluate whether he’d stay for the rest of the week, a decision that showcased his growing confidence.
Why Fusion Camp?
As a child who spends much of his time at home, Archie doesn’t get a lot of physical exercise on a daily basis. Most of his days before camp would be spent playing games on his Switch, Xbox, or tablet. However, the variety of engaging activities offered at Fusion Camp piqued his interest, and after just one day, Archie was hooked, eager to return and enjoy more.
Archie’s Favourite Activities
Out of all the activities, Archie’s absolute favourite was benchball. He found it fun and different from anything he usually does at home. It offered him a fresh challenge and a way to engage in something outside his comfort zone. Archie also loved the nerf gun activity, which reminded him of some of the games he typically plays on his devices but with a physical twist, making it both fun and exciting for him. One of the most significant benefits Archie gained from his time at camp was learning teamwork during benchball. Archie had the opportunity to collaborate with new people, a skill that will be immensely beneficial when he returns to school and works with classmates. His experience interacting with children he had never met before helped boost his confidence and improve his social skills.
Emotional Impact
When asked how camp made him feel, Archie responded that he felt “happy.” He admitted that the warm weather made some of the activities a bit challenging, but overall, the fun and engaging nature of the camp made it worth it for him. Despite the heat, Archie stayed positive and participated fully in all activities. Archie had nothing but praise for the coaches at camp. He described them as fun, helpful, and easy to get along with. He particularly appreciated how friendly and attentive they were, which helped him feel comfortable and encouraged to participate in activities. The coaches, including Josh, Patrick, Dani, Luke, Aleksy, Ben, and Robyn, played a crucial role in making the camp experience enjoyable for Archie.
Coaches’ Observation
According to Josh, one of the Active Fusion coaches, Archie’s journey at camp was notable. At the beginning of the day, Archie was reluctant to engage with activities or other children. However, by the end of the camp day, he was fully involved in games like benchball, working well with teammates and showing good sportsmanship. Archie’s transformation over the course of the day, from hesitant to fully engaged, was a testament to the supportive environment at Fusion Camp.
Parent’s Perspective
Archie’s mum Lauren was thrilled with her son’s experience. Having initially been concerned about his ability to manage a full day due to sensory breaks at school, Lauren was amazed by Archie’s engagement and willingness to return to camp. She shared that she found out about Fusion Camps through their Family Support Worker and Counsellor, and after seeing the positive impact it had on Archie, she expressed a desire for him to return. In Lauren’s words, “They have been amazing,” highlighting the transformative impact Fusion Camp had on her son.
Active Fusion’s holiday camps are designed to keep the half-term fun, fit and healthy! We designed them to keep kids active, introduce them to new and exciting physical activities, and create a fun-filled experience they will remember forever. A bucket load of activities, every school holiday. With great value sports and creative arts to enjoy each half-term, we have plenty for your children to get stuck into in the school break!
Read more stories like Archie’s here or discover more about Fusion Camps here.