Summer Camps For Children
Stockist:Helbent Designswww.helbentdesigns.co.uk0208 133 1795
Adventure and Computer Holidays
(01306 881299, www.holiday-adventure.com):
based at a prep school in Surrey, with a wide range of outdoor activity
holidays – camp-building, a rope course, fishing, pedal go-karts, a heated pool
– and the option of computing skills. Camp Beaumont (01603 660333, www.campbeaumont.com).
Having operated for the past 27 years, they are the undisputed King of Summer
Camps. However, a week in Beaumont village, recommended for the younger 7 to 10
group, does not come cheap at £450. The Village opens from Easter, is located
in the Midlands and has everything from Fencing salons to computer labs and
Laser zones, with circus skills and 'Who Wants to Be a Billionaire' quizzes for
evening activities. Of the four camps nationwide, Pinewood in Norfolk also
takes the younger age group in the Summer, and some parents may see the
existence of the older crew, age groups go up to 15 to 17 year olds a
disadvantage. Do it 4 real (0870 118 8018, www.doit4real.co.uk): a
branch of the Youth Hostel Association, with kids-only weeks at 23 sites across
the country. EAC Activity Camps
(0845 113 0022, www.eacworld.com):
two residential centres, in Kent and Surrey, with more than 40 sports and
adventure activities. Exsportise (01444 444777, www.exsportise.co.uk):
specialist sports holidays in West Sussex and Dorset, providing coaching in
tennis, football, rugby, golf, hockey, basketball, dance, swimming and riding. Jocky Sanderson,a paragliding expert. (www.keswickoutdoors.com or email jocky_sanderson@hotmail.com for
prices). Based in Borrowdale in Cumbria, Jocky has set up three one-week summer
camps for 11 to 16 year-olds, where participants are encouraged to try out
old-fashioned outdoor activities such as climbing, abseiling, gorge scrambling
and paragliding with a tandem flight (the only summer camp offering this).
During the week children learn first aid, mountain rescue and how to recognise
fungus, with lectures from the National Trust, and finish the week with a
two-day camp in the mountains. Kids Klub (01449 742700, www.kidsklub.co.uk): three
residential centres in Suffolk and one in Nottinghamshire. Split into two age
groups, 6-11 and 12-16, with a choice of activities each morning and afternoon.
PGL Adventure Holidays (08700 507 507, www.pgl.co.uk)
come in a little cheaper, and offer similar fare, except in more locations. The
West Country, Herefordshire and Wales, as well as Scotland, are popular locations
for these outdoor holidays. The Venture Centre
(01624 814240, www.adventure-centre.co.uk):
near Ramsay, on the Isle of Man. A wide range of activities, with an emphasis
on watersports tuition. Wickedly Wonderful (0794
123 1168, www.wickedlywonderful.com):
two tented camps in West Sussex. Multi-activity, as well as pony camps, sailing
camps and winter ski trips. “Enid Blytonesque values of hearty exercise, simple
food and lungfulls of fresh air” XUK (020 8922 9739, www.campsforkids.co.uk):
Norfolk camp split into three age groups – this year offering a “Teen Camp” for
13-to 17-year-olds, with greater independence and more trips. Source: The Sunday Times and The Week Useful links: http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/holiday_type/family/article1714213.ece
http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/holiday_type/family/article1443420.ece
|