Circus tricks in the morning and bee keeping in the afternoon - that's what was in store for a group of young people from across the Hunter who took part in Vision Australia's school holiday program on Tuesday.
Avalon Circus Academy had the kids and teenagers with blindness or vision impairments - and their siblings - learning the art of hula hooping, juggling and stilt walking before a visit to Newcastle honey-makers Urban Hum where they took part in an interactive a bee keeping workshop at Mayfield.
There, Urban Hum bee keeper Kelly Lees talked the group through the life cycle of bees, how bee colonies work and how honey is made.
Madison Atkins, a 13-year-old from Raymond Terrace, told the Newcastle Herald after the workshop she particularly enjoyed touching the honeycomb - they were encouraged to break it with their hands to get a feel for it.
"That was pretty cool," she said. "I didn't squish it, I wasn't game enough - it felt hard but very sticky."
Vision Australia volunteer coordinator Jordan Ashby said the school holiday program was "very popular".
"We invite them along to do an activity that's a bit of fun and builds a capability - hand-eye coordination, getting around the local area, things like that," Mr Ashby said.
"We get them trying new things.
"We take them out, show them a good day and get everyone involved and they build those friendships."
Vision Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that provides services to more than 25,000 people who live with blindness or low vision across the country, with 35 centres around Australia.
