1. Fly a falcon
Learn how to fly your own falcon at Banyan Tree Al Wadi, Ras Al Khaimah on a tailor-made beginner’s course. Learn about the history, species, housing, husbandry, equipment, diseases and food preparation for the birds of prey. Basic practical training includes handling, hooding, weight management, creance-work (tethering a flying falcon with a cord) and radio tracking.
The course suits those who want to know more about falcons, giving them an outline, but it doesn’t mean they graduate as a qualified falconer, says course operator Michell Oliver, Falconer, Royal Shaheen Events. There’s more studying for that.
Course date: Two-day course held throughout the year, at Banyan Tree Al Wadi’s The Mews. Cost: Dh4,510 net per person. Call: 04 435 6550 or email info@royalshaheen.ae
2. Fence
On guard. Ready? Fence! These words will resound through the first-floor gym of Raffles World Academy in Dubai at the MK Fencing Academy Junior Summer Camp. The main objective is to encourage physical and mental development, technique, and problem-solving for beginner, intermediate and elite junior fencers aged between 7 and 15 years. Foils and other necessary equipment will be provided.
Course date: August 17-21 and August 24-28. Cost: Dh800 per person for the week
Timing: beginners 9am to 11am; intermediate/elite 11am to 2pm. Call: 050 794 4190 or email fence@mkfencingacademy.com
3. Conquer fear
Conquer the fear of flying with the help of British Airways Captain Steve Allright, a pilot for 24 years with more than 11,000 flying hours. The company is offering a one-day ground-based Flying with Confidence course in Dubai this October at the Capital Club in Dubai International Financial Centre for those 16 years old and above.
The captain will share tips on the psychology and physiology of fear including how to handle turbulence in the air, claustrophobia as well as the technical aspects of flying. More than 45,000 flyers have taken these courses, according to www.flyingwithconfidence.com
Course date: October 20. Cost: Dh1,995 including lunch. Timing: 10am to 3pm.
Call: +441252 793250 or email flywithconfidence@gmail.com
4. Yoga for health
A sedentary lifestyle is hurtling children towards health conditions including diabetes, heart disease, backache and poor posture. But hope is at hand.
Lifestyle Yoga is running a Yoga Summer Camp for children in the age group of four and ten or ten and 16 at Mai Tower in Al Nahda 1, where they will receive a tailored yoga workout and a nutrition programme that fits their needs along with games, storytelling, concentration training, meditation and painting.
Course date: runs until August 10 on Saturdays to Wednesdays. Cost: On application. Timing: 9.30am to 11.30am and 3pm to 5pm. Call: Sumit Manav on
056 624 1002 or email lifestyleyogadubai@gmail.com
5. Tackle bad hair days
Salon Educators usually offers a range of internationally recognised City & Guilds courses in hairdressing and beauty, but during this holiday season, it has a summer hair camp to show youngsters from 14 to 18 years what the world of professional hairdressing is all about.
At Tiffany Towers in Jumeirah Lake Towers, there will be fun courses, workshops and events revolving around all that hair. No qualifications or prior experience are required, and you can book a course lasting just a day or a week.
Course date: Until September 5. Cost: Dh200 a day; Dh950 per week or Dh3,500 per month. Timing: 10am to 3pm. Call: 04 452 8433 or email salon@saloneducators.com
6. Horse around
Children aged from five to 12 years have a host of equine-related activities to tackle at the HoofbeatZ Summer horse camp held at the HoofbeatZ Equestrian Club located inside Qalaat Al Remaal on Al Ain road (opposite Dubai Outlet Mall).
Course date: Until August 28 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Cost: Dh275 per day or Dh750 for three days. Timing: 9am to 11.30am. Call: 056 942 4551 or email info@hoofbeatz.com
7. Bouldering
Bouldering, or climbing, walls up to four and a half metres high without a rope or safety harness is an activity for rock climbers to train and develop their climbing techniques, while building their strength. It is also a unique way of maintaining fitness levels.
Rock Republic is a highly specialised sports facility in a warehouse in Dubai Investment Park that was developed by Pete Aldwinckle, owner of Global Climbing.
He says, “It’s a training facility for reasonably fit people who are prepared to challenge themselves.”
Course date: Two courses are available throughout the summer on Monday nights — an introduction to bouldering and basic belaying (securing a climber with a rope). Cost: Open for all ages on a membership basis only; ten visits for Dh500. Timing: Open from 5.30pm to 9.30pm on weekdays (closed on Sundays) and on weekends from 1pm to 8pm. The same hours apply in Ramadan. Call: 04 882 9361 or visit Facebook.com/rock.republic.dubai
