The question is not only whether the parents are ready to send their child to camp. It is whether the child is ready to live it. These are the signs of emotional maturity that help you know whether your child is at the right stage for their first camp.
9 signs that your child is ready
They have slept away from home at least once: at a cousin’s, a friend’s, on a school trip. Even a single night counts as a reference point.
They can do some basic tasks on their own: showering, getting dressed, organising their bag. These do not need to be done perfectly, just independently.
They can manage without screens for a while: at camp the mobile is collected on arrival and returned every 3–4 days for calls home.
They ask for help when they need it: they can approach an adult and say “I can’t find my trainers” or “I don’t feel well”.
They socialise in groups: at school, in sports, in extracurricular activities. They do not need to be the most sociable; they just need to get by in a group.
They eat a reasonably varied diet: the camp provides 4 meals a day with menus adapted for allergies, but it helps if they have tried different foods at home.
They accept rules and routines: the camp’s discipline is friendly but it exists — meal times, activity times, rest times.
They want to go: this is the most important thing. If the decision is the child’s, the camp starts on the right foot.
They have seen photos or videos of the destination: knowing what the hostel, the tents or the climbing wall look like before arriving greatly reduces anxiety in the first few days.
What to do in the weeks before
Talk about the camp without idealising it
Tell them what is going to happen — activities, calls home every 3–4 days, pocket money of 20–30 €, eating as a group — without painting it as Disneyland or as something to dread.
Pack the bag together
The child should pack with an adult alongside them, not have an adult pack for them. This is the first exercise in independence.
Agree on what the farewell will look like
Keep it short, without drawing out the emotion. Most of the settling-in happens in the first 24–48 hours: the sooner the camp begins, the sooner they adapt.
And if they are not ready, what happens?
Nothing, really. There are different ages and levels of maturity. If you feel it is not the right time yet, they can always go the following summer. If you are unsure, one option is to start with a shorter camp (10 days) or one close to home (Madrid or Cuenca) before a longer or more distant one.
Frequently asked questions
What minimum age do you recommend?
It depends on the camp. Madrid Multi-Adventure and Sierra Madrid English Camp accept children from the age of 6; Gredos, Navarredonda, Navatormes, Cuenca and Daroca from the age of 7. The child’s maturity counts as much as their chronological age.
What if they miss their family?
This is perfectly normal in the first few days, especially at bedtime. Activity leaders support children through these moments and maintain regular contact with families. Almost always, by day 3 the homesickness fades.
What is the leader-to-participant ratio?
1 activity leader per 8 participants, in groups of a maximum of 40–50 campers organised by age.
How do mobile phones and calls work?
Mobiles are allowed but collected on arrival and returned for calls home every 3–4 days. In addition, the team publishes a daily social-media diary so families can follow what is happening day to day.
How many meals are there and what is the food like?
Four meals a day (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner), with an in-house kitchen at the facility, home-cooked food and menus adapted for allergies and intolerances.
Is pocket money needed?
We recommend between 20 and 30 € per participant for incidental expenses (shops on excursions, souvenirs, etc.). The money is looked after by the activity leaders.
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