This year the mathematics and recreation camp in Zakopane took place from 29^th of July to 7^th of August at the Dafne II resort. Participants are the winners of the international mathematical Kangaroo contest and came from various countries (even continents): China, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Turkey and United States of America. We welcomed also Poles from Lithuania and Ukraine. English was the official language for all activities organized for youth.

Pupils participated in mathematical workshops and competitions, tourist program, sports contests and integration games.

Mathematics

The mathematical program includes several activities.

Math workshops

Because of age diversity the math classes took part in three groups: group A for younger pupils and B1, B2 for the older ones. Lectures was given by members of the math team of the camp.

Group A

• Agnieszka Krause, How to construct a triangle?
• Łucja Mentzen, Speed, distance and time.
• Magdalena Wysokińska-Pliszka, On prime numbers.

Group B

• Paweł Gołębiewski, Polynomials in practice.
• Witold Kraśkiewicz, Geometry of paper folding.
• Mieczysław K. Mentzen, Strange, bizarre and quite ordinary lines. Curves on a plane.
• Andrzej Sendlewski, The Wallace-Bolyai-Gerwien theorem and the art of cutting and arranging polygons.

Each of the topics was discussed during three lessons. Additionally, students had the possibility to participate in one-time event, the main idea of which was to show the artistic and recreational face of mathematics. These workshops were also led in groups.

• Witold Kraśkiewicz, Not-so-magic magic squares (grupa B1).
• Mieczysław K. Mentzen, Mathematical illusions. 1/2=1/3=1/4 (grupa B2).
• Magdalena Wysokińska-Pliszka, Tessellations (grupa A).

Math competitions

.There were two contests during the camp. The first one was a team competition and was called Problem of the Day. Each day students received a problem to solve within national groups. Moreover, after the finishing of workshops the individual Main competition was organized. It related to the subject area from lessons and was carried out in age groups. The tasks from both contests were discussed by teachers in the last-but-one day of the camp.

Funny mathematics

Sunday meeting with funny mathematics has already become a tradition. Following past years, it was organized by Piotr Nodzyński. During this event students had possibility to play with educational toys and logical games, solve brain teasers, assemble a puzzle and create buildings from regular polygon blocks. In this way they improved perceptiveness, logical thinking as well as spatial awareness.

Closing lecture

The last point of mathematical program was a closing lecture. This year it was titled Who shaves the barber? On troubles with negation — Sophism and was presented by Mieczysław K. Mentzen.

Tourism and leisure

Obviously the Zakopane camp means not only learning but also a diverse program of tourism and leisure activities.

Mountain hiking and sightseeing

Tourist program realisation is an important part of the camp. It gives the possibility to spend time actively during trips, get to know the regional folklore and explore two pearls of polish history and culture – salt mine in Wieliczka and worldwide known city of Kraków.

Students with their counsellors reached the top of Nosal, walked to Gubałówka and covered a route to Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy. It was the chance to healthy effort, admiring beauty of polish Tatra mountains and discovering local traditions.

During the first bus tour youth visited the worldwide known monument – beautiful salt mine in Wieliczka, which is on the world heritage list UNESCO since 1978. Walking in salt tunnels students admired picturesque underground scenery and beautiful products of human hands such that Saint Kinga chapel and got to know the history of this amazing place.

The destination of the second all-day trip was one of the most important for polish culture and history town – Kraków. Royal hill Wawel with figure of the legendary dragon, beautiful Old Town with Saint Mary Basilica were the most important points of sightseeing.

Sports program

As in previous years, among proposed activities were also sports matches in two disciplines. One of them is (popular among mathematicians) chess, the second table tennis. The regular feature of the camp is also visit in the complex of swimming pools called Termy Zakopiańskie. In this way fun, sport and break from the summer heat were joined.

Team-building activities

The important element of international events is integration that is why there were team-building games organized. After the closing ceremony the dancing party in the Just Dance formula took place.

Young Talents Competition

On the last day, each country team presented the performance during which young people showed various skills and talents.