What does my child need to bring each day?
- Swimming kit – even if your camp does not have a swimming pool please do bring a swimming costume and towel each day. When the sun comes out so too does the inflatable Slip ‘n’ Slide and Water Fight Mania ensues! If swimming, goggles and a swim hat are useful.
- Spare clothes – please bring a change of clothes every day, pants and socks included. When the skies are grey we still try and get out there as much as possible and when the skies are clear, well, water fights might just spontaneously erupt. We are all kids, big and small, after all.
- Lunch and snacks – all children, including 4 year olds, will need to bring a lunch and plenty of liquids. A snack or two is also a good idea for break times – it’s hungry work at Activ Camps.
- Water bottle – when moving from activity to activity it is essential everyone stays hydrated so that energy levels are high. A water bottle, preferably named, is essential.
- Dress for the weather – in cold weather please bring plenty of warm clothes and a rain jacket is always recommended, just in case! When we are blessed with some sunshine please also bring a sun hat and apply sun cream in the morning before camp. We have sun cream available for top ups during the day. Your child’s Group Leader will remind and assist (if appropriate) your child in reapplying the cream throughout the day (unless you advise us otherwise).
Please always ensure that belongings are clearly labelled with your child’s name. If lost, we will then be able to return them to you. It also always helps if your child knows what they have with them when they arrive so that we can ensure they have everything with them when they leave.
What if my child has any medication?
All medication must be handed in at registration and a medication form filled in and signed. Please allow extra time for this when dropping off.
If your child carries an adrenaline auto-injector (e.g. an EpiPen) please try to ensure that two adrenaline auto-injectors are handed in to the Lead First Aider at your camp.
Children will not be allowed to stay on camp if the adrenaline auto-injectors handed in are out of date, or they are not appropriately labelled with the child’s name.
Medication will be placed in a bag specific to your child and be carried by their Group Leader all day to ensure that it is always to hand.
What are the timings of the day?
Camps open at 8.30am for all 5 to 14 year olds, and we encourage everyone to be registered at the sign in desk by 9.00am.
It does take a few minutes to register and for children to put away their bags and be ready for all children to be put into groups at 9.15am.
Please remember that there is no guarantee that your child will be able to choose a group with their friends if they turn up after 9.15am, which is why we encourage signing in before 9.00am.
Pick up for all 5 to 14 year olds is from 4.30pm.
Camps opens at 9.00am for all 4 year olds and pick up is at 1.00pm. This age group will experience about 4 or 5 activities as well as a break time and lunch session.
Can I collect my child later than 4.30pm?
We offer free extended days up until 5.30pm, where children will be able to play informal games with our available staff. Please notify a member of staff at drop off if you will be collecting your child during this period.
For those parents wanting to collect their child later than this, we offer After Camp Club at selected venues from 4.30pm until 6pm for a small charge of £5 per child, per evening.
These children will be whisked away to a separate area where the Non-Stop Fun will continue with further structured activities.
What if we turn up late?
This is fine. This might happen for a number of reasons but we ask that you call us to let us know.
This will help us organise groups accordingly as there is no guarantee that your child will be able to choose a group with their friends if they register after 9.15am.
How are children grouped each day?
Children are grouped with others of a similar age every morning. The process of grouping children each morning does take time as the make up of a camp is different every day.
This is why we ask for all children to be registered before 9.00am each morning.
We aim for each group to have children of a similar age as the activities and staff:children ratios are age appropriate and children under 8 years old do not tend to go into groups with children 8 and over.
Children aged 4 have their own very special group. We have a maximum number in this group each day and their activities finish at 1.00pm.
Children aged 5 to 7 have the chance to be with their friends as we arrange groups for this age group together, aiming to group children so there is no more than 18 months difference in age.
We have some age appropriate activities for children at this age too so we discourage 5 year olds going with the 7 year olds.
There are times too that 7 year olds might not be able to go into higher aged groups as the staff:children ratio and some activities, particularly with regard to manufacturer and insurance stipulations, become very different once a child becomes 8 (and sometimes 9) years old.
Children aged 8 to 10 and 11 to 14 have a bit more flexibility with their groupings and we certainly work hard to ensure friendship groups stay together.
However, we still group the children to ensure there is no more than 18 months difference in age in any one group.
Can my child go in the same group as their friend?
This is what we aim to do each and every morning. We know that it is important to make the day as fun as possible for all children, and being with your friends is very much part of this experience.
However, friends need to be about the same age, usually within 18 months.
Friend requests can be made in the morning at sign in but due to the complex nature of groupings on camp, we cannot always guarantee every friend request.
We will not group children together if there is a grouping ‘chain’ or if children arrive late on camp.
Will my child take part in all the activities you advertise?
We ensure that all activities that we advertise are part of the weekly programme for your child on camp.
We cannot guarantee the exact days of the week that each activity will occur but your child will have the chance to enjoy all the activities if they join us for a full week (Monday to Friday), unless the venue decide that some facilities are out of action for maintenance. Motor sports are summer only activities and will rotate around the camps weekly throughout the summer season. Find out more.
We will endeavour to inform you of these alterations at the earliest time. All updates will be posted immediately on venue specific pages.
Please also note that not all activities are available at all venues, simply due to the facilities available. Please check your venue specific information page for further information.
What happens if it rains?
When it rains, we try and get outside as much as possible. Many of the venues we use have fantastic indoor facilities that we can use if we need to be inside but it is advisable to always bring a rain jacket and spare set of clothes, pants and socks included.
We will endeavour to put on a full and varied activity programme whatever the weather, but when it pours we must prioritise the health and safety of our children. We have a number of engaging indoor games and challenges that can be played when space is limited by the British weather.
Please look at the facilities available at each venue on the venue specific information pages.
What if my child loses something?
We operate a lost property system at every venue.
We cannot guarantee the return of any lost item, but we do ask that all clothing and items brought in by your child is clearly labelled with you child’s name. If, after camp, we find labelled items we will post or deliver them back to you for nothing more than a small charitable donation to a charity of your choice.
Please ask a staff member to help if items are lost at any point.
We do find that some items turn up a day or more after being lost and that, occasionally, items get mixed up and end up being taken home by another child. Where this is the case we will do all we can to help get items returned to their rightful owners. Please do inform us if you have taken an item of clothing home which is not yours.
Can my child choose activities for each day?
We set the activities each day according to the weather, staff experience and expertise, and the number of children on camp.
Changes regularly occur to the timetable so we do not send a weekly programme to parents pre-camp.
We will encourage children to take part in all activities, but they will not be made to take part in something they do not want to.
Children can choose to opt out of an activity and we do try our best to find them an alternative activity (although not guaranteed), but please be aware that joining other groups after 9.15am will be difficult if groups already have maximum numbers.
Do you have first aiders on site?
We will not operate any camp unless we have suitably qualified first aiders as part of our staff team on site.
The Lead First Aider will be in charge of all medication and will keep records of all first aid administered.
Does my child need to be a good swimmer?
At Activ Camps we ensure that strict safety procedures and supervision levels are maintained throughout all Pool Fun sessions.
For each group (up to 16 children) there will be one fully qualified Lifeguard on pool side plus an additional staff member for support. In the water there may be up to three members of staff swimming with the children to ensure that those less confident have an adult on hand to reassure them.
All children will participate in a short swimming test so that Lifeguards are aware of each child’s swimming ability. As a result children may be asked to wear a buoyancy aid or asked to stay in a certain area of the pool.
All 5 year olds are required to wear a life vest as part of our safety regulations.
Should your child not want to swim at all, please inform our staff at drop off and we will ensure they join a different group for that session.