Dubai Culture and Arts Authority announced the launch of the museums’ ‘Summer Virtual Camp’programme for school students from the 12^th of July to 31stAugust 2020. The initiative aims to benefit the largest possible number of students through interactive activities focused on enhancing their intellectual and creative abilities as well as through investing their time from home during their summer school holidays. Students will enjoy a bundle of interesting activities as part of the ‘Etihad Virtual Summer Club’ and ‘Certified Cultural Guide’programmes.

Using virtual communication platforms, the summer programme will provide school students with a unique virtual journey that combines cultural heritage with entertainment. The Eithad Virtual Summer Club programme will launch with a tour of Etihad Museum for participating students guided by Salama and Sultan. The students will visit different galleries of the museum and attend a digital drawing workshop through the use of geometric shapes. The students will then play an online drawing game together to develop their creative talents. As for the ‘2^ndof December’section, students will participate in a tour in a several areas of EtihadMuseum to delve deeper into its historical content and have the chance to play an online puzzle game that seeks to enhance their ability in critical thinking and problem solving.

In the Founding Fathers’ collections section, students will get acquainted with the history of the United Arab Emirates through the personal collections of its previous Rulers. Different collection pieces will be focused on daily, and the participants will have an opportunity to share and talk about their personal belongings that resemble those of the Founding Fathers’ through a short video, drawing, or photo. Students will also be able, through their tour in the Union Tree Garden, to learn more about the history behind the Union Tree that was planted by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in 2012 at Union House garden during the ‘Union Tree’ initiative on the occasion of UAE National Day. This tour will recount to students the importance of the Ghaftreeto the Emirati society and engage their natural curiosity in agriculture and gardening.

The programme concludes in the AchievementsSectionthat is dedicated to developing students ’writing skills. After an enjoyable tour of the section, the students will take inspiration from a certain collection display to visualise a newspaper that they will work on during the virtual camp. They will be required to name the newspaper, create a headline, add pictures from the museum, and research and write an article to be featured in it. At the end of the programme, each student will submit a five-page personal newspaper.

As for the ‘Certified Cultural Guide’ programme, which is hosted on the Dubai 360 website in cooperation with the Dubai College of Tourism, the students will acquire cultural tour guiding skills through theoretical exercises and practical tours of Etihad Museum and Al ShindaghaMuseum.Taking place over a period of five days, the programme will grant students skills to become Cultural Guides and enhance their experience in leading guided tours. After passing the practical evaluation, the students will be recognised as certified cultural guides. This programme contributes to developing the students’ leadership skills, self-confidence, and ability to communicate with others.

This virtual camp initiative comes within the framework of Dubai Culture’s commitment to stimulating creativity and innovation among the young generation, discovering and developing national talents, and fostering children’s relationship with Emirati cultural heritage. It also seeks to release their writing talents in a cultural atmosphere filled with fun and benefit and falls within the Authority’s endeavour to document the relationship of the younger generation with the history and heritage of the UAE, motivating them to draw inspiration from the story of its establishment in building the future and continuing its path of development and prosperity.

Those wishing to register can contact Dubai Culture through the e-mail:pvb@dubaiculture.ae or register through our website: www.dubaiculture.gov.ae