Do you want your child to have an amazing summer holiday they’ll remember for a long time to come? Many parents have discovered the solution to filling the summer holidays with summer camps. Choosing the right one is important because you’re selecting an environment that will shape how your child spends their summer.
What is a Summer Camp?
Sometimes the term “summer camp” can get applied to almost anything from events at the local leisure centre to a full week-long residential adventure. A genuine residential summer camp is exactly that: residential. Your child stays there, sleeps there, eats there, and spends their days fully immersed in the experience. Summer camps have evening activities, campfires, talent shows, and games after dark, which are all part of what makes it a different experience from anything closer to home. On a summer camp, much like our PGL Kids Camps, every day brings a fresh programme of activities led by trained instructors, and every evening is another chance to bond with the friends they’ve been making all day. Keep reading for our top tips on how to choose the best summer camp for your child.
Start With Your Child
Sometimes leading with logistics isn’t always the best way to make sure this summer camp is the best for your child. Location, dates, availability — thinking about this first could leave a mix of options that your child might not be super interested in, so why not take an alternative approach and filter by their interests first? Are they the type that thrives trying ten different things in a day, or do they prefer to get stuck into something they love? Are they naturally sociable, or do they take a little bit of time to warm up? These questions matter because the best summer camp for your child might look completely different to the one for their best friend.
For example, a child who’s mad about horses might get the most enjoyment from something like a specialist pony riding camp. Whereas a first-timer who isn’t sure about what they enjoy yet might prefer a camp that gives them a taste of everything. Start with your child, and let everything else follow!
Find a Summer Camp That Takes Safety Seriously
At PGL, we hold 15+ governing body and safety accreditations alongside BSI Kitemark recognition, including:
- Ofsted-registered, meaning the locations have been independently inspected against national standards.
- BAPA (the British Activity Providers Association) registration highlights a commitment to industry-specific standards for providers working with young people.
You can also look at other accreditations from governing bodies. If you’re concerned about their processes and procedures, just ask. What does 24/7 supervision actually look like? How do they manage when a child is sick (or homesick), and can parents reach the camp whenever they need to?
Do Their Values Align With What You Want Your Child to Gain?
Behind every summer camp is an organisation with a set of beliefs about young people and what they’re there to do. These shape pretty much everything, including what the camp believes success looks like. Why not look for summer camps where the emphasis is on participation rather than performance, and personal growth over competition? We believe that the best summer holiday camps celebrate the child who overcame their fear of heights just as enthusiastically as the one who conquered every challenge for the first time.
For a deeper understanding of why camps do what they do, you might want to consider heritage. At PGL, we were founded in 1957 by Peter Gordon Lawrence, who was a young engineer so inspired by a canoe trip down the River Danube that he set about sharing the power of adventure with others. Nearly 70 years later, we’re proud that the founding purpose of enriching young lives through adventure remains unchanged
Ask All The Questions You Need
We know that you have plenty of questions about summer camps, and before choosing where your child goes over the school break, you can get answers to whatever you need to give you peace of mind while they’re away. You might be able to get some of your answers from FAQ sections, like ours — but if not, then getting in touch over the phone means you can get a response to all of your questions.
Trust Your Gut, and Theirs!
Once you’ve done the research, checked the accreditations, and weighed up the options, you could do one more thing. Show your child what you’ve found and watch their reaction. Let them see the activities, share the opportunities they’ll have, show them photos, and ask which bits sound exciting. You might then be able to make a decision based on what gets them enthusiastic about their summer camp.
The Real Benefits of Summer Camp
The benefits of summer camp are endless, and of course, they’re great for getting your child out in the fresh air and making friends, but they’re also a lot more than that. It’s about independence, confidence, and resilience. For many children aged 8–16, a residential summer camp is the first time they’ve been truly away from their parents in an environment that isn’t their friends’ or grandparents’ house. At summer camp, they’ll have the opportunity to try so many things they haven’t done before!
Not only that, but there’s also the confidence that comes from trying something out of their comfort zone! Inching across a high ropes course, paddling a kayak for the first time, or standing up at a talent show in front of a group of strangers. The type of confidence that’s gained is one that comes from deep within, after completing and overcoming something so great that they’ve realised it themselves.
Find Your Perfect Summer Camp With PGL
We hope this has provided some support on how to choose a summer camp for your child! It’s combining all of these that contributes to the outcome being one of the best summers your child has ever had.
At PGL, we’ve been running adventure holidays for young people since 1957, helping children aged 8–16 discover what they’re capable of. With centres across the UK, Ofsted approval, 15+ safety accreditations, and a range of kids’ activity camps to suit every child and level of experience, we’re trusted by parents to deliver adventures that are loved and enjoyed.
Explore our full range of multi-activity and specialist adventure camps, or get in touch with the friendly PGL team to find the perfect fit. Because the right summer camp isn’t just a way to fill the holidays, it’s a summer they’ll never forget.
