Residential Summer Camps

Sending your child away to a summer camp for the first time is an important and very nerve-racking decision. It is often your child’s first time away from home, so it is a huge step in their development. However, a good camp experience will often provide your child with skills, attitude and values that will last a lifetime.

Not only will it take some of the strain off you during the summer holiday break but most children have a fantastic time, learn lots of new skills, develop their self-esteem and confidence and form lasting friendships. They develop new interests, explore new challenges, and gain a real sense of pride in what they can achieve. As well as sports and outdoor activities, many have a range of arts, crafts, circus skills, theatre and drama activities. Some even offer educational learning programmes that support the National Curriculum.

Once you have decided upon a residential summer camp, the next step is to look at what options are available to you and which one best suits both your and your child’s needs. Most activities for the under 10’s will not involve “outward bounds” events, in other words, they are relatively tame and will not pose an undue safety risk. However, safety is an important issue that it is worth checking out thoroughly before you make any decisions.

Questions to ask

- Is the Summer Camp registered with the Local Social Services?
- What qualifications, training and experience to the leaders have?
- What is the staff to children ratio (does this include admin staff or just the staff supervising the children)?
- Ask them to supply you with a comprehensive list of activities and also details of their “wet weather” programme.
- What safety equipment is used and does it conform to British Safety Standards?
- What is the age range of the children? What is the most popular age group?
- How are the children grouped together? Is it by age or other criteria?
- What age are the staff? What background do they have? Are the office staff also at the camp? Are the people you speak to the ones who actually spend time with the children?
- What is the company set up? How long has it been running?
- Can you look around first? (This may not be logistically possible).
- First aid/illness – how is this dealt with. Where is the nearest doctor/hospital. Do they have procedures in place.
- If children are taken off camp for activities, what vehicles are used, are these fitted with seatbelts and who will be driving?
- What is the camp’s attitude to discipline? How do they deal with bullying or other sensitive situations?
- Is the camp equipped to deal with children with allergies or special needs?
- Are you happy with the food choices? Is there sufficient healthy food and fresh fruit etc

Finally don’t be afraid to ask for contact with other parents whose children have stayed at that camp and call them. They will give you a first hand opinion.

Further information
3D Summer Camp Adventures, 0800 169 2606 – summer camp holidays for 7-16 year olds.
Barracudas, 0845 125 5299 – day camps for 5-16 years olds throughout the UK.
Camp Beaumont, 0845 608 1234 – residential camps in UK and France for 6-16 year olds.
ISIS (Independent Schools Information Service), 0207 798 1500 publish a brochure of more than 55 activity holidays in the UK for children from 7 years.
Marlborough College Summer School, 01672 892388 – families and children aged 3-17 years.
Peak Holidays, l 01620 822822 – fun and adventure camps with specialist staff and facilities for children suffering with severe asthma and eczema. Tel:
PGL Activity Holidays, 0500 749147 – Multi-activity holidays in UK and France.