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What is Summer Camp?
- richeddins
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Summer camps are often associated with North American school holidays. Popular portrayals in film and television often present them as serene lakeside settings, where children participate in structured recreational activities and sleep in rustic cabins, guided by enthusiastic teenage counsellors.
However, it looks a bit different in the UK! So, what is summer camp? Let’s break down that basic mental image and introduce your children to a fantastic summer holiday experience that will stay with them for years.
Table of Contents
The Proper Definition of Summer Camp
Simply put, summer camp is where children go during the school holidays to do a supervised program of activities. The camps can either be day camps, where the children go home in the evenings and return the next morning, or residential camps where they sleep over for a week or two (also known as ‘sleepaway’ camps).
However, summer camp is much more than that. It’s a place for children to grow and explore, make new friends and try activities that spark their interest and perhaps even lifelong passions.
What Do Kids Do at Summer Camps in the UK?
Summer camps operate a program of activities themed around different topics. They may focus entirely on one subject or pursue multiple subjects. Generally speaking, the program will involve activities in the morning and afternoon, plus evening activities for residential summer camps.
Types of Summer Camp
There is so much to choose from, so here are the most common types of summer camps available to your children:
Creative camps: drama and theatre, music, art and design, dance
Multi-activity camps: Scouts or Guides, local activity providers
Academic camps: science, math, languages
Sports camps: football, tennis, multi-sport
Specialist camps: wellness, coding and game design, leadership, Special Educational Needs
What’s the Purpose of a Children’s Summer Camp?
The primary goal of a summer camp should be for everyone to have fun. However, different types of summer camp also come with other purposes, depending on the focus area. Some common purposes include:
Being Active - Adventure and Athletics
At adventure camps, participants engage with a range of exciting outdoor activities that boost confidence and independence
At athletic summer camps, participants concentrate on skill development in specific sports or multiple sports
These camps may be called ‘multi-activity’ summer camps
Personal Development
Children engage in activities that foster confidence, leadership, resilience and teamwork
Some examples include community volunteering, conservation projects, and peer-to-peer mentoring
Education
Children focus on academic topics and activities, which can supplement term-time education or provide an enrichment experience
What Does The Accommodation Look Like At Residential Summer Camps?
Accommodation options vary depending on the camp provider. Activity camps typically offer tents, bunkhouses or lodges, whereas academic camps are often located at or near educational institutions with dedicated student accommodations.
Do I Need To Provide My Child’s Food at Summer Camp?
It depends on the provider - day camps may ask you to pack lunch and/or snacks, but meals are often fully catered, and there is plenty available for children to stay well-fueled for their adventures. Summer camp providers will let you know if catering is included, but make sure to find out if you’re not sure.
If your child has any dietary requirements, contact the provider in advance and discuss the options so everyone is prepared and the camp staff can provide appropriate meals.
What Do Kids Like About Summer Camp?
It’s safe to say that children have a blast at summer camp. New friends, new adventures and new capabilities get them fired up for next year! Some things kids like about summer camps include:
The variety of activities
Hanging out with a bunch of new kids of a similar age
Being a bit more independent
What Do Parents Like About Summer Camps?
Parents also like summer camps, and not just because they get a bit of time to themselves! Some reasons that we’ve heard include:
It’s often the first time kids spend time away from home, which encourages independence and self-reliance
They get to hear about how their children discovered new friends and activities
The kids come back stuffed with happy memories and worn out from all the activities
Best of All Summer Camp Worlds
Brand new for 2025, Mendip’s Kids Adventure Summer Camps are 5 days of action-packed adventure for children and teenagers aged 8-15 years old. Residential Kids Adventure Summer Camps offer a program of activities that engage with the three purposes mentioned earlier:
Being Active - through various adventure activities, children are active throughout the entire camp, connecting with their bodies and movement in a healthy, proactive way that introduces them to physical activities beyond traditional sports
Personal development - meeting new people, engaging with team activities and managing themselves independently of the family all contribute to personal development in the forms of confidence, teamwork, independence and resilience (among many others)
Education - children gain a deeper connection and understanding of their relationship to nature and conservation through activities like nature walks
Best of all, Mendip’s Kids Adventure Summer Camps are conveniently located near Bristol and Bath, with fantastic facilities and professional staff that provide everything your child needs for a week of exciting adventures.
Kids Adventure Summer Camps at Mendip Activity Centre
Mendip Activity Centre has run popular school residential activity camps for decades, and they are experts at creating a spectacular camp experience. Mendip’s technology-free real adventures in unique destinations boost confidence, build resilience and help children reconnect with nature.
Great facilities
Exclusive Lodge accommodation with comfortable bunk rooms and hot showers
Full catering
Awesome activities
Rock Climbing, Paddling, Target Sports, Bushcraft, Disc Golf and ArcheryActive
Night hikes
Team games
Relaxed social time in nature with new friends
Amazing staff
Supportive, friendly and fun team that provides magical experiences
Fully qualified professional activity instructors
Excellent location
Near Bristol and Bath
Only a couple of hours from London
Book a Place on Mendip’s Kids Adventure Summer Camp
The next available camps are running Sunday 3rd August to Friday 8th August, and Sunday 10th August to Friday 15th August. Book now to secure your child’s place!
Sibling discounts are also available, so please email hello@mendip.co.uk to find out more. If you’d like to find out how to choose a summer camp for your child, check out our blog post on how to choose a summer camp.
Try a Family Summer Camp
Check out Mendip Basecamp and craft a magical family summer camp at a unique, award-winning campsite near Bristol and Bath. Children under 8 can come along, and you can fill up your adventure itinerary with adrenaline-pumping activities, glorious natural environments, great food and free entertainment. Pick your own pitch, check out when you want, and set the kids loose in the gorgeous camping field at the top of the hill with wide-ranging views of the Mendip Hills.
Themed Weekends at Mendip Basecamp
Embark on a weekend of discovery with Basecamp’s all-new Themed Weekends, happening throughout the summer and completely FREE when you book your campsite space. Get creative on the Craft Weekend, learn about the stars during Astronomy Weekend and go bat detecting during Nature Weekend - plus loads more activities for an immersive experience in the outdoors.
