Reports from past events

In May 2017, a five-day workshop for gifted students aged 13 to 19 took place, aimed at improving their knowledge in the field of science and technology, at the support of logical thinking, independent creativity and motivation towards the study of such subjects. The participants listened to the lectures of experts, visited the Educational and Research Centre in Transport at the Jan Perner Transport Faculty of the University of Pardubice, as well as the racecourse in Pardubice. Last but not least, they met similarly gifted students from all over the Czech Republic. 

In September 2016, a 5-day workshop took place for gifted students aged 13-19, aimed at improving their knowledge in the scientific and technical disciplines, as well as on the development of logical thinking, creativity, and motivation for further study of these specialties.  Participants listened to expert lectures, undertook an excursion to the premises of VSB - Technical University Ostrava, where they were shown physics and nanotechnology laboratories and a supercomputer. They also visited the Landek Mine, and the Science and Technological Centre in Vítkovice.  Of course, another valuable effect of the workshop was meeting students with a similar disposition, from all over the Czech Republic.

As all our children love games, registering for a Mensa camp seemed to be a good idea. The experience, however, was not really according to our expectations – the idea was not good, it was excellent! Read for yourselves the oldest boy’s reaction...

Dana Havlová has developed a good habit of organizing a one-week summer camp for gifted children, under the auspices of Mensa CR. This year was no exception – the 7th year was hosted from 16th to 23rd July by hotel Renospond, in Zderaz, near Skuteč.

In May 2016, a five-day workshop for gifted students aged 12-18 took place in Zbraslavice. It was aimed at improving students’ knowledge in the scientific and technical disciplines, as well as on development of logical thinking, creativity, and motivation for further study of these specialties. The participants listened to expert lectures, visited a car factory, competed in several contests for teams as well as for individuals, visited Kutná Hora, its historical centre, and the silver mines, and met similarly oriented students from all over the Czech Republic.

The participation was a reward for our children for a good term report. Our first Mensa event started with a minor adventure – as I am not a car owner, my nephew offered to take us there, and we travelled 150km instead of the expected 75km. Our not completely intentional excursion to the countryside surrounding the venue included a couple of information centres – fortunately, the kids are collectors of tourist stamps, and they did not object too much.

As a manager of a Mensa-co-operating kindergarten utilizing the NTC Learning System, I, together with my eight-year-old daughter Julie, set out for a weekend organized by Mensa CR – a meeting of members and supporters of Children’s Mensa.

In September, a five-day seminar for gifted students aged 12–19 was held, focusing on the development of knowledge in the field of natural and technical sciences, the support of logical thinking, independent creativity, and motivation to further study these disciplines. The participants were lectured by experts, were taken on an excursion to a machine shop, competed in several competitions both for teams and individuals, visited the science centre “Fortress of Knowledge” in Olomouc, and met similarly oriented students from all over the country.

Although it seems only yesterday, it is really more than six years since we decided for the first time to organize a summer camp that would be different from most other camps. Some had warned us off, saying it was foolish to undertake something with no previous experience of similar events whatsoever, however our enthusiasm carried us forward, and it was so great that we did not heed their words.

On Friday April 25th, we headed out of Prague to Hotel Podlesí, which is located in the beautiful Czech-Moravian Highlands, in the Žďárské vrchy Protected Landscape Area, near its highest point, Devět Skal. The only disadvantage of that place is that the fastest way leads here along the reconstructed D1 motorway. We eliminated this disadvantage quite successfully by going out a moment before the main wave of Praguers, so we managed the journey without much delay.

On September 28th, 2013, I participated for the first time in a joint weekend meeting of members and supporters of Children’s Mensa in Sokolov, near Karlovy Vary.

A suburban camp differs from a traditional summer camp in many aspects. We do not go to sleep in one room, which would give us some time for talking in bed, and we do not wake up in the mornings seeing those with whom we have fallen asleep. This however does not necessarily diminish the fun we can have together – and which we certainly had this year!

The Hejny Method is based on the formation of schemes and environments which the pupil can work with, and which allow him to realize the mathematical context. The teacher does not lecture the pupils to memorize facts, but rather leads them to discover mathematics in the real world on their own. This supports children to develop independent thinking, and helps them adopt and remember the findings much more easily.

For the second time, we participated in a meeting of families with gifted children (the first time was in autumn, 2010) and after the last year’s experience, the entire family was looking forward to it. The Havel husband-wife team prepared another perfectly organized weekend, full of non-traditional games and contests, as well as lectures for parents, and other interesting activities, with the highpoint being Saturday’s cipher game.