The blue tents, aligned allée des Iris, are unanimous. The learning camp will not have made anyone progress in maths. "But what does it feel like talking to people!" »Exclaims Emma, future student of 3rd. Her comrade is not likely to contradict her, she who has "not slept all night", "too happy" to have won the cup: the 06 of Elvis, the handsome neighbor who makes the girls talk, at the campsite municipality of Graye-sur-Mer (Calvados).
Malo, arrived with a friend, will return with two: he never leaves Charles. And Delphine Fievez says to herself that her mission is fulfilled. “We did a good job: the conditions were not easy, and yet we managed to offer something quality to the children. We are proud of what we have done, ”confides the director of Francas du Calvados.
Tents do not display full
It's been four days since the mini-camp of this historic popular education association settled in this two-star campsite next to the landing beaches, where the scent of merguez and grilled sardines floats. An unusual site for the Francas, more accustomed to lodges in the heart of nature, in which groups of young people already united find the culmination of a project set up for months. But this season, the organization has changed its footing to respond urgently to "learning holidays", this device created by the government to offer a breath of fresh air to children in rural and peri-urban areas most affected by confinement.
The stay in Graye-sur-Mer was financed 100% by the State. The families of Lilou, Yanis or Anna paid only 15 euros - membership in the association. But, despite this attractive price and an attractive program, the tents are not fully booked. According to professionals in the sector, the national target of 250,000 departures in the summer will not be reached. In Paris, for example, of the 3,400 places funded in learning camps, only 1978 were filled.
"To send away even a child is useful"
It must be said that the information had difficulty in passing. "I learned of the existence of the device at the end of July, at an aperitif with a friend ... With the city council, we ran everywhere for two days to organize everything but it was worth it: to send off even just that. a child is useful ”, estimates Philippe Gautier, first assistant of Audrieu (Calvados). Of the 200 children in his village, 23 got into the Francas bus.
Parents also had to be reassured about the health security of the stays. At the Graye-sur-Mer campsite, the young people sleep together in three-person tents, head to tail. At the picnic, the hands no longer draw from the same packet of chips. “The first week we disinfect each felt after use, and Kapla one by one! »Says Malice, an animator.
By the start of the school year, the Francas du Calvados will have sent 180 young people to summer camp, against 300 last year. "But we were able to engage a new audience, and allow some to leave several times," notes Pauline Bigourie, director of the mini-camp. So Yanis, who will have spent five weeks in the green before meeting his host family for the start of the school year. “He has made great progress in taking responsibility and interacting with adults and other children…” greets Pauline.
General culture enriched
The ecological theme of the stay will also have enriched the general culture of small campers ... But there is no "remobilization of knowledge after the period of confinement", as the government had sold on its press kit. “Every year, we discover things in summer camp! It's exactly the same as usual, ”reframes Anna, 12, a regular at vigils.
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Here she leaves, recorder in hand, for an ecological micro-sidewalk between the mobile homes. “Do you think there is garbage in space? »Teenagers ask holidaymakers, at nap time. The answer is yes, and Nadège, interviewed in front of her caravan, cannot believe it. “Well we,” she exclaims, “we will have learned about it during these holidays! "