For many families, the first fortnight their child spends away from home is something of a test for them too. Communication during camp is no small matter: handled well, it brings peace of mind and fosters independence; handled badly, it can end up undermining the child’s own experience. This article covers how we do things at Natuaventura and what we recommend to families before, during and after camp.
Before camp: preparing for the separation
Communication starts before departure. It helps to explain to children that they are embarking on a multi-day adventure in which their parents will not be physically present, but will be keeping a close eye on things. Parents benefit from accepting the same: absence is part of the learning. The attitude at home in the days leading up to camp has a great bearing on how the child arrives at the coach on day one.
How the camp communicates with families
Arrival SMS
An SMS confirmation is sent to families as soon as the group arrives at camp. It is the first reassuring message: the journey went well, they are settled in.
Calls every 3-4 days
Mobiles are collected on arrival and returned to participants every 3-4 days so they can call home. It is the rhythm that works best: sufficient to maintain contact without breaking immersion in the group.
Social media diary
We publish daily photos and activity summaries on social media. Families can follow the day-to-day without interfering in it.
24-hour coordination
The coordination team is available 24 hours a day for emergencies, and the office handles family enquiries between 10 am and 2 pm. Families always know who to call.
How to make the most of your child’s call
Reinforce the positives: ask about friends, the day’s activity, the evening session. Avoid conveying homesickness or worry, which at these ages is very contagious.
No rash promises: do not say «if you’re having a bad time we’ll come and collect you» in a difficult moment of the call. Within 24 hours the child is playing again and the promise lingers.
Lean on the team: if a call leaves the family worried, ring the coordinator. They have the full picture of the child within the group, not just the snapshot from the phone call.
Diary yes, comparisons no: the social media diary is very helpful, but avoid comparing one child’s expression in a photo with another’s. The camera captures a moment, not the whole day.
Visits during camp: our recommendation
From experience, we advise against family visits during the course of the camp. The initial surprise usually gives way to a parting that is harder than the first day, it removes the child from their routine within the group and generates a sense of unfairness among the other participants. If there is a genuine concern about how the child is doing, the right course of action is always to speak with the coordinator.
Frequently asked questions
How often can my child call home?
Approximately every 3-4 days. Mobiles are collected on arrival and returned to participants at set times for calls. If a situation arises that requires an extra call, the organisation will facilitate it.
What if I need information before the next call?
The office handles family enquiries between 10 am and 2 pm, and the camp coordination team is available 24 hours for any emergency. The daily social media diary also gives a general overview of day-to-day life.
My child rang me in tears — what should I do?
This is normal in the first few days, especially at call time (just after lunch, before the next block of activities). Listen, convey calm without dramatising, and speak with the coordinator after hanging up to cross-reference information.
Why are mobiles collected?
So that participants experience camp with the group and not through a screen, and so that communication with home is orderly (every 3-4 days) rather than impulsive. This is a decision families end up appreciating by the end of camp.
Can I visit during camp?
We do not recommend it. Visits tend to complicate things more than they help the child, removing them from their group routine and making the farewell harder. If there is a genuine concern, the most useful step is to speak with the coordinator.
Would you like to know how our camps work?
We explain sessions, age groups, family communication, activity leader ratios and all your questions about daily life at camp.
We organise trips for primary, secondary and high school
School Trips
across Spain
alicante madrid barcelona more destinationsCamps from 6 to 17 years old, in different regions of Spain: Alicante, Madrid, Ávila, Cantabria and Cuenca.
summer camps
2026
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