Parents usually come to adventure camps for one of two reasons: their child already lives outdoors and needs more of it, or spends too long on a screen and they'd love to see them climb, paddle and get muddy.
What you may be worried about
Will my child be safe? It's the question most parents ask, often quietly. At a good adventure camp, safety always comes first: trained staff, proper equipment, children grouped by age and ability, and no one pushed further than they're ready for.
What your child is hoping for
To do things they've never done before, such as the first climb, the first night under the stars or the first time steering a boat, and to do them with friends.
What makes it work
Courage inside a safe frame. Feeling a little nervous is part of it. Doing it anyway, with friends cheering and an instructor right beside them, is what they come home proud of.
Not sure how adventurous your child is ready to be? Lucie Straková, kiDay's founder, started out as an American Red Cross lifeguard and water safety instructor, and knows what to look for in how a camp runs its activities. Tell her about your child, and she'll help you find a camp that stretches them just enough.
Ask Lucie on WhatsApp
SZG
10–17y
Adventure & lake sports
Climbing, paddleboarding and a night in a mountain hut, between an Alpine lake and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier.
FCO
12–16y
Sailing expedition · English
A week living aboard a 50-foot yacht: snorkelling at Zannone, Ventotene's Roman port, Ischia's Aragonese Castle and a pizza night ashore.
FCO
12–16y
Adventure & outdoor · English
Two nights camping under the stars, caving, whitewater rafting and a climbing wall — an outdoor week in English, from a villa above Lake Chiusi.
LIS
13–17y
Adventure & water sports
Surfing, sailing and cliff-top hiking on Portugal's west coast, 15 minutes from the beach.
LIS
13–17y
Water sports · Surf
Surf lessons every weekday on Portugal's Atlantic coast, with a local surf school that reads the waves for you.
GVA
10–17y
Adventure & outdoor
Rock-climbing, high ropes and a night in a mountain hut, from a base high in the Swiss Alps.
GVA
7–9y
Adventure & outdoor · Junior
A gentle first summer away for 7–9 year-olds: mountain walks, a hut sleepover and a chocolate factory, high in the Swiss Alps.
LHR
15–17y
Leadership · Outdoor & karting
Model UN, debates and a mock election in the mornings; outdoor leadership challenges, then a week at karting school in the afternoons.
BOH
12–17y
Outdoor adventure · Easter holidays
Spend the Easter holidays outdoors: climbing, kayaking, mountain biking and campfires in England's New Forest, Easter Sunday to Sunday.
BOH
12–17y
English + outdoor adventure
English lessons every morning, kayaks and high ropes every afternoon, and London at the weekend — in England's New Forest.
BOH
8–11y
Outdoor adventure · Junior
A first sleepaway camp for 8–11s: kayaks, zip line, campfires and wild ponies in England's New Forest.
BOH
12–17y
Outdoor adventure
High ropes, kayaking, mountain biking through wild-pony country and a day in London — a week of non-stop outdoor adventure in England's New Forest.
BOH
14–17y
Outdoor expedition · 14+
Coasteering, sea kayaking and wild climbing on the Jurassic Coast — the New Forest camp turned up a level, for 14–17s.
BOS
7–17y
Traditional US camp · Lake & choice programme
A private lake in the Maine pines, water-skiing and rock climbing, a schedule your child designs — and free English lessons for international campers.
BOS
7–16y
Traditional US camp · Non-competitive, international
A warm, non-competitive New England camp with a truly international mix — free choice from 100+ activities on a private lake.
JFK
7–16y
Traditional US camp · Adirondack lake
A classic Adirondack summer: water-skiing on a spring-fed lake, sports, arts and adventure, with a famously caring staff.
Traditional US camp · All-choice programme
Campers build their own day from 75+ activities — circus, skatepark, horses, theatre, water-skiing — in the Pocono Mountains.
IAH
7–16y
Traditional US camp · Lake & 45+ activities
Wakeboarding, horses, golf and a schedule built from your child's own top picks, on a big Texas lake since 1968.
Often, yes. Adventure activities aren't competitive sport: nobody is picked last for climbing. Children try things at their own pace, and the camp is built around trying something new. For a cautious child, a junior camp or a camp that mixes adventure with other activities is a gentle start.
Safety comes first. Activities are led by trained staff with proper equipment, and children are grouped by age and ability, so no one is pushed further than they're ready for. We're happy to go through the arrangements at a specific camp with you.
Children from 7 can start at junior adventure camps, where everything is paced for younger children. The expedition-style programs are for older teens who want a real challenge. Each card shows the ages.
Mountains suit hikers and climbers, the coast suits children who love being in the water, and the US lake camps are for children who want a bit of everything. If your child has a favourite activity, start there and look at what each camp offers around it.
Yes, several adventure camps include English lessons. You'll find them on our English summer camps page too.
See also: A first summer camp abroad, for ages 7–9 · Summer camps in England · Summer camps in the USA · Mediterranean summer camps and teen trips
