School holidays give children something they do not always get in the classroom: room to try new things, make friends across ages, and stretch their independence in a safe setting. For parents, they can also be a stressful puzzle of childcare, logistics, and keeping everyone entertained. At Adventure Camps, we believe holidays should work for the whole family, combining reliable care with experiences that genuinely help children grow.
Our Ofsted-registered day camps run across the UK for children aged 3 to 16, and our focus has always been the same: to build confidence, skills, and friendships through brilliantly run activities. This holiday season, we are refreshing some of our most popular options, including upgraded multi-activity camps, an updated young leaders programme for older children, and teens, and exciting new locations. You will find the same commitment to safety, staff training, and flexible booking, paired with more variety and fresh challenges that match what children want right now.
In this article, we will share what is new, from our latest camp at Stephen Perse School in Cambridge to the changes in our multi-activity and leadership offerings. We will also look at the wider trends shaping school-holiday childcare and give practical ideas on choosing the right camp for your child, whether they are a curious 3-year-old or a teenager ready to take on more responsibility.
New Adventures in Cambridge at Stephen Perse School
One of the biggest changes this season is our new site in Cambridge at Stephen Perse School. We chose this setting because it offers a brilliant mix of high-quality facilities, a welcoming atmosphere, and convenient access for local families. It is the sort of place where children step through the gates and immediately feel like there is space to run, play, and try something different every day.
At Stephen Perse School, children can expect a range of inspiring spaces, including sports pitches for games and tournaments, indoor halls for high-energy activities whatever the weather, and creative rooms for art, drama, and quieter options. There are also outdoor areas that lend themselves perfectly to survival-style challenges, from shelter building to basic navigation and team problem-solving.
What makes this camp special is the way it blends a education setting with genuine holiday fun. Children get all the benefits of a well-designed school environment, with safe, age-appropriate spaces and good facilities, but without the formality of a school day. Instead, they get time to explore, play, and choose activities that suit their mood and confidence level.
This location is ideal for:
- First-time campers, who may feel reassured being in a familiar-style school environment
- Confident returners, who are ready for bigger challenges and new friends
- Older children preparing to step into our young leaders programme in future holidays
For parents working in and around Cambridge, the camp provides Ofsted-registered childcare during school breaks, combining the peace of mind you need with the excitement your children are asking for.
Multi-Activity Camps Come Back Bigger and Better
Our multi-activity camps have always been a favourite with families who want variety and flexibility. This holiday season, we are bringing back two core strands that children love, Perform and Survival, and giving them a thoughtful upgrade.
Perform is our home for dance, drama, music, and performance-based fun. It is about much more than putting on a show. Children learn to project their voice, work as an ensemble, and build the confidence to stand up and be seen. For quieter children, that might mean joining in simple games and movement. For those who already love the spotlight, it might mean taking on a leadership role in a group routine.
Survival focuses on bushcraft skills like shelter building, simple knots, basic navigation, and outdoor teamwork. Children learn to think on their feet, solve problems in small groups, and enjoy being outside without needing a screen. Activities are always age-appropriate, so younger children get safe, supervised introductions, while older ones are given extra challenge and responsibility.
When we say these camps are better than before, we mean:
- Refreshed daily schedules with more choice across the day
- Clearer progressions so older children can access more demanding tasks
- Gentler, play-based introductions for our youngest campers
- More time for children to personalise their day, choosing what excites them most
We are also working on new multi-activity strands that will join the line-up soon. While we are keeping some details under wraps for now, families can expect themes that reflect what children are asking for: variety, hands-on skills, and a proper break from constant screen time. For parents, that variety translates into real value from holiday childcare, as children come home buzzing with stories, new skills, and new friends.
A Modern Makeover for the Young Leaders Programme
For older children and teens, the step from camper to role model is a big one. Our young leaders programme is designed as that bridge, giving them a chance to take on more responsibility while staying safely within the support of our staff team.
This holiday season, we are giving the young leaders programme a modern makeover. The core idea is the same, but we are bringing in more structured leadership training and clearer expectations. Young leaders will now have workshop-style sessions on topics like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, where they can talk through real camp scenarios and practise what they might do.
These updates are closely linked to real-world skills. Through the programme, young people can develop:
- Independence, by managing small tasks and parts of the camp day
- Resilience, by learning to respond calmly when plans change
- Empathy, by supporting younger children who may be shy or nervous
- Basic workplace-style behaviours, such as punctuality, reliability, and clear communication
All of this can support future CVs, applications for schemes like Duke of Edinburgh, or early part-time work.
We also know young leaders still want to have fun. The updated programme balances responsibility with time for their own advanced activities. That might include more complex outdoor challenges, higher-level sports, or creative projects that ask them to plan and deliver something as a team.
Safeguarding and supervision remain central. Young leaders are always supported by trained staff, with age-appropriate boundaries and responsibilities that are carefully explained. They help, they learn, and they grow, but they are never left to manage situations that are beyond their experience.
Trends Shaping Holiday Camps Across the UK
Across the UK, families are looking for holiday camps that feel purposeful as well as fun. There is a clear move towards skills-focused childcare, where days are designed to build character, not just fill time. Activities like survival skills, tech, sports, performing arts, and leadership development are gaining attention because they give children something practical to talk about long after the holidays end.
At Adventure Camps, we are responding by combining broad multi-activity days with more focused strands. This way, children can try a range of things or lean into a particular passion, while parents know they are still getting a well-balanced experience.
We are also paying close attention to inclusivity, accessibility, and wellbeing. That means adapting activities for different ages and ability levels, so siblings can attend the same site and each still feel challenged in a way that suits them. It also means designing days that support confidence and social skills, which is especially important for children who may have had unsettled school years.
Feedback from families and campers plays a big part in shaping our programmes. Comments about what children enjoyed, what felt too easy or too hard, and which activities they still talk about at home all feed into changes like the young leaders programme makeover and our new multi-activity options. We aim to stay ahead of trends while keeping our core values steady: safety, fun, and friendship sit at the centre of everything we do.
How to Make the Most of the New Camp Season
With new locations and refreshed programmes, this is a great time to think about what your child might need from their next school holiday. Start by exploring which sites work for your family, including the new Cambridge camp at Stephen Perse School and any returning venues near you. Check age ranges, dates, and travel time so the basics feel manageable.
Then think about what suits each child’s personality and stage. A few simple questions can help:
- Does your child love variety, or prefer to focus deeply on one theme?
- Are they more excited by performance, outdoor survival, or a mix of both?
- Are they ready for the responsibility and structure of the young leaders programme?
As a general guide, multi-activity camps suit explorers who like to try everything. Perform is perfect for creative children who enjoy music, movement, and drama, or who would benefit from a gentle confidence boost. Survival tends to appeal to outdoorsy children who enjoy getting stuck into practical, hands-on tasks. The young leaders programme is best for teens who are ready to step up, support others, and start building skills that feel closer to adult life.
Families who book early often have the widest choice of dates and themes, and those who follow our updates are usually the first to hear about new multi-activity strands arriving at their local camp. If you are unsure what might suit your child, or how the young leaders programme could support your teenager, talking it through with our team can be helpful.
However you choose to shape your child’s holiday, our aim is the same: to give them days they will remember, full of new skills, growing confidence, and friendships that last beyond the last afternoon of camp, while you enjoy the reassurance that they are safe, busy, and happy.
Start Your Young Leader Journey Today
If you are ready to help your child grow in confidence, independence and practical leadership skills, our young leaders programme is the ideal next step. At Adventure Camps, we create a supportive environment where young people can test themselves, reflect and thrive alongside like-minded peers. If you would like to talk through what is right for your child, please contact us and we will be happy to help.
