Has anyone sent their kids away for a summer camp? (pgl etc) - can you tell me about it?

[nearlytoolate]

I've been looking at residential summer camps for my dcs - including PGL, ATE superweeks, Camp Beaumont, forest school camps - but I don't know anyone who has sent their kids on one and would be interested to hear experiences, recommendations etc.
Many thanks!

I sent my boys to PGL in Scotland, and they absolutely loved it. They're still in contact with some of the friends they made there six, seven years ago. I was impressed with the incredibly high energy levels of the staff, and the sheer dedication they bring to their work. Can't praise it highly enough.

thanks - what age were they when they went? Were they at all homesick? (why didn't they go again??)

My sons were quite unimpressed with a Camp Beaumont multi-activity day camp a couple of years back. It was not as good as the (fairly bogstandard) playscheme at their state primary. I loved PGL as a kid. Will be watching this thread with interest as am desperate for summer holiday child care ideas and have been considering a residential camp for a week too but am keen to avoid paying ££££ for something mediocre.

My DD1 spent May half term at a camp here, and had a blast.

She had such a good time, she goes each year courtesy of SSAFA - we are very lucky.

Thanks. i have to say I have been less impressed by camp beaumont from their brochure, not sure why. I like the look of ATE superweeks, has anyone used them?
Are all PGL places similarly good? My impression was that they looked a bit relentlessly sporty, I fancy something with a mix of creative/scientific/outdoors activities, not just high adrenaline sports!
We are going on a PGL family holiday this year, so will be interested to see how that works out...

and do they get enough sleep?
We've just been on an organised walking holiday (hf holidays - would recommend) and they had evening activites which meant they didn't get to sleep until 10pm and had to get up before 8...

My DD went to PGL about 3 times, and cried when she had to come home. I don't remember how old she was the first time. DS1 and DS2 went on one of the taster weekends more locally (DD went up to the big centre at Boreatton Park) as soon as they were old enough (7 & 9 springs to mind?). Then DS2 and DS3 went to one in Dorset. You can often do a pay for one and one goes free deal.

More recently the two youngest went off on a Do It 4 Real holiday. They include the coach pick up. They had a fabulous time.

From what I could gather bedtimes on all the camps are quite strictly enforced and relatively early.

Mine are 6 and 8 at the moment so next year is the earliest they could do it. the taster sessions look good, none are particularly local to us though.
Anyone any reports of other companies?

My kids were in their teens when they went, and went every year until they were too old. No, they don't get enough sleep and there's never enough food for teenage boys who are out and about, but those are pretty standard complaints lol!

i think it's quite nice that our kids tend to like to hang out at home during the summer - rather than at some pre-organised american style camp

I went to one myself when I was 10 (not sure which company but probably pgl) - I really hated it tbh. i was ill, I lost my train ticket, i felt shy and out of place, my activities weren't great, i didn't make any friends....
(hmm, why do I think my kids will enjoy it??)

Problem is southeastastra that I cannot be at home all summer while they 'hang out' - so some kind of organised activity/play scheme is inevitable for some of the time.
Plus I would really like to think that one day DH and I might have a couple of days to ourselves...
But of course, we will mainly be on holiday with them. A week (or perhaps two) a year isn't too much abandonment I don't think!

i think it's kind of nice to spend that time with your teenager, it goes so fast

My dd would love one of these camps, I may show her the website tomorrow.

southeastastra you can do both, as a teacher I have all the holidays to hang out with my dd. She is an only child though and we live in the middle of no where, it is nice for her to do things with other kids as well as us.

The thing is is that once children hit 11/12 or so they become too old for most childcare options, and leaving them at home all day whilst you work isn't ideal either.

I think spending 5 days of the long summer hols at a camp having fun, doing activities and making friends is far more exciting than being home alone whilst the parents are at work!

Even teenagers appreciate space to play - I loved Colony Holidays (now www.ate.org.uk)until I was about 16!!

There can't be many places you can escape from mobile phones and peer pressure and have 7 days of doing real engaging activities, making real friends.

It doesn't have to be just extreme sports and adrenaline rushes. I would have hated to have admitted it but the last thing I wanted as a teenager was more pressure to succeed, look good, spend more, or stay up really really late.

I think I was just an ordinary actually fairly confident active teenager. I didn't enjoy my PGL sailing kids summer camp when I was about 14, not because I wasn't any good at it, but because I felt lost, shy and lonely when I wasn't actually in the boat. Maybe I was just unlucky.

But I went on about 5 Colony Holidays (Superweeks)and had a brilliant time every time. I spent the rest of the year dreaming about the summer...And my kids and their friends love ATE Superweeks. Its structured and supervised and really really good fun.

Thanks jomaguire - I had also been leaning towards ATE, seemed more appealing somehow. Really good to get a 'personal' recommendation. Also interested that you didn't click with pgl either. My brother went at the same time, but he was older and went to a different camp and had a really good time (he is also much more extrovert than me).

I don't know, I am keen to introduce the dcs to new experiences and for them to be sociable and confident, but I also don't want to push them into a situation they aren't ready for too soon. Maybe I'll wait until they are both old enough for superweeks as I think that might suit them better than pgl.

Your 8 year old might be ready for ATE - Mine was and her 6 year old sister really enjoyed time with us when she was away.
Also, both my nephew and our friend's daughter went on ATE aged 8 and loved it.
My younger one is a bit more nervous, but ATE have gone out of their way to help, even offering to send her a personal letter. Its the care for the children which makes ATE really stand out I think.
Both of mine felt lost in their Camp Beaumont day camps, which packed in loads of activities but felt like a bit of a factory, and left them a bit spaced out. A holiday needs to be about slowing down as well, and making friendships over meals etc and over time.
The other thing I was thinking about for my 10 year old is a residential music holiday because she plays the flute. But she really really doesn't want to miss her Superweek and I can't afford more than one thing so its ATE this summer.