For whom?

Schatgraven is a children's holiday week that lasts four afternoons, in the second week of the summer vacation. It is for children who will be going to groups 3 through 8 after the summer. Is your child 12 years or older? Then they can participate in Schatgraven as a staff member. The children can form their own group, with whom they will spend the week. Each group has two fixed and very enthusiastic leaders. This creates a fun bond within the group!

The program

At 12:30 PM, the Schatgraven program begins. We start the day with our Schatgraven band and sing cheerful songs. The children are welcome to sing along, clap, and dance.

Next, there is a play in which the theme is incorporated. After the play, the children go to their self-chosen groups. The program then includes sports & games, creativity, workshops, and a fox hunt. If the weather is nice, we will also have water games; if the weather is bad, we will provide an indoor program. At 5:00 PM, the program ends, and you can come pick up your child(ren).

Closing night

On Thursday, the children will stay for dinner, and as parents, you are welcome to come at 6:45 PM to see what the children have done and experienced during Schatgraven.

We will ensure a fun closing evening!

Costs

To make it possible for every child to attend Schatgraven, the cost is only 10,00 euros for the 4 days. This can be paid in cash on the first day of Schatgraven. Staff members can participate in Schatgraven for free.

Parelzoekersmiddag (Pearl finding afternoon)

It all started in 1990. Two couples (Theo & Irene + Gre & Henk) had a plan to organise something for kids with sport, games and crafts. They also wanted to pass along faith in a relaxed way. That is how they started! It started with the "Parelzoekersmiddag" in community center d’n Blok. About 30 kids came to this afternoon and enjoyed themselves a lot.

Schatgraven was born

Theo had a dream in 1993: to hold a week-long "Parelzoekersmiddag". The others were immediately enthusiastic! Volunteers came to help, and the children's week gradually expanded. We chose a new name: Schatgraven (Treasure Digging).

Theo worked tirelessly—hammering, running, and toiling away. Irene put together the program: each day included a small craft project, a beautiful story, theater performances, a scavenger hunt, water games, and a special visit to the nursing home to surprise the residents with singing and music.

At first, the weather wasn’t in our favor. With pounding hearts, we started Schatgraven in drizzly rain. During the water games, it suddenly poured down, but the children still came! An average of 60 children per day participated. There was tremendous enthusiasm and unity among the 25 volunteers. The children were thrilled, and we received great feedback from parents.

Big success

And so, Schatgraven was born—held every year in the second week of the summer school holiday. In 1993 and 1994, it took place in the community center D’n Blok (which burned down at the end of 1994). After that, it was hosted for many years at the Veghel Music School, across from the hospital. However, as the Music School became too small, we moved in 2002 to the vacant old Sacred Heart Church on Sluisstraat.

We had found a winning formula. Schatgraven earned its place among Veghel's children's holiday programs—a celebration for kids filled with singing, music, crafts, sports, games, and a touch of Christian faith in a fun way. And every year, more children joined. While 60 children participated in 1993, years later, as many as 300 children from Veghel and surrounding areas found their way to Schatgraven!

In 2006, we moved to a new location: Zwijsen College. This was because the Sacred Heart Church was demolished. After a year, most children had found their way to the new location, and in 2007, we welcomed 250 children there.

From 2008 onwards, we were hosted at Community Center "De Magneet" in De Leest, Veghel. The upcoming Schatgraven week will also be held at De Magneet. Since 2016, Schatgraven has been an independent organization and is no longer dependent on the Christian Community of Veghel.