How Does a Summer Camp Work?

Discover the magic behind the summer camp experience

We have already looked at the different types of summer camps that exist, but how does a camp actually work?

In the fascinating universe of camps, adventure and learning intertwine to offer unforgettable experiences. From traditional summer camps to those specialising in sports and outdoor activities.

Understanding how these spaces for growth function is essential to making the most of the adventure. Join us on this journey to explore the inner workings and discover what makes a camp a unique experience.

Table of Contents:

1. Organisation and structure at summer camps
2. Activities and workshops at the summer camp
3. The importance of leadership
4. Benefits for participants

Organisation and structure at summer camps

Creating a successful camp involves careful planning and a solid organisational structure. From staff selection to the design of specific programmes, every detail is considered with the aim of guaranteeing a cohesive and enriching experience for everyone.

Coordinators and activity leaders work well in advance to establish rules and protocols. In this way, a safe, inclusive and educational environment is promoted, where every participant has the opportunity to grow and learn.

Our camp

Our summer camps are organised and prepared by a coordination team trained in leisure and free-time activities, made up of qualified coordinators and activity leaders. This team works on designing the activities from several months before the camp begins, attending to the needs of the group and the pedagogical and recreational objectives that are set.

Once the camp starts, those activities are put into practice in accordance with the daily schedule. Activities are usually spread across morning, afternoon and evening.

• Morning

After breakfast, the morning activity begins and usually runs until lunchtime. After lunch, it is common to have a period of free time coordinated by the activity leaders, during which various sporting and recreational activity options are offered (football tournaments, basketball, volleyball, workshops, etc.), while also allowing those who do not wish to take part in these activities a moment to chat and rest.

• Afternoon

After free time, the afternoon activity begins, with a break for a snack. At the end of the afternoon, another free-time slot is usually left so that campers can spend time together and with the team of activity leaders. This moment is also the usual time for showers and personal hygiene for each child, as well as tidying the room or tent; and on some days a period of phone time to call parents.

• Evening

After dinner, the last activity of the day takes place: the evening session, a shorter game or activity that can range from something sporty to relaxation or the classic camp songs. Some of our favourites are human cluedo, fervor and outdoor cinema.

Interspersed with these days of activities at the facility itself, each camp also has its own external activities, which may include excursions, overnight camping, rope courses, surfing, a beach day, canoeing, etc. During all of them the campers are accompanied by the team of activity leaders, who participate and play alongside them while ensuring that the activity runs smoothly.

Activities and workshops at the summer camp

The essence of a camp lies in the diversity of activities on offer. From exciting sports to creative artistic workshops, participants have the opportunity to explore a range of options, discover new passions and develop a variety of skills.

The variety of activities not only guarantees fun, but also contributes to personal growth by challenging participants to step outside their comfort zone and try new things.

Alternating between these external activities and games and group dynamics within the camp is one of the most important tasks of the coordination team, aimed at providing the camp participants with a dynamic stay, with numerous possibilities for fun and making each day unique.

OUR CAMP

At Natuaventura we always like to vary things, so that campers and even activity leaders have something new to offer each day — different approaches and different tastes for everyone.

At our camps we like to include:

Varied activities at the facility

From gymkhanas, swimming pool sessions or craft workshops to holiruns or board games adapted to real-life situations. Staying at the facility for a day does not mean boredom — there are thousands of options to make each day special. Every corner, every space can be used, from the dining room to a patch of grass or even the parks and streets of the village where the camp is located.

• Themed days:

When we stay at the facility we always like to bring out our childlike side and dress up for any occasion, enhancing the day’s activities and putting them in context. It is a fun dynamic that will never lose its essence.

• Humor Amarillo:

At our camps, there is always a day when we play Humor Amarillo, a company with all kinds of inflatables, and we have just as much fun as if we were on the real Wipe Out programme.

Activities outside the facility

This will depend greatly on which camp you ultimately choose; however, in general we tend to try to offer the same external activities as we consider them the most enriching.

• Excursions and hikes:

A camp would not be a camp without days out on trails. Whether through countryside, mountains or along the beach, we always enjoy going for a walk. Walking forges friendships, allows you to appreciate and enjoy nature far more, and helps us to push ourselves and meet our own challenges. After the hike, everyone usually eats together in a meadow, by a lake or on the beach. It tends to be one of the favourite days for both campers and activity leaders.

• Wild camping:

It does not happen at every camp, but at some we very much enjoy including nights where campers sleep in the countryside or mountains after a day’s hiking. Whether in a bivouac (just a sleeping mat and sleeping bag) or camping (with a tent), the children have experiences they confirm they have never had before. These are truly special moments for connecting with the surroundings and with fellow campers.

• Specific sports:

At Natuaventura we have two camps specifically focused on surfing, where participants go surfing roughly every other day for a full morning or afternoon. At the third camp we run in Cantabria, there is just one surfing day as an extra activity.

• Multiadventure sports:

The sports par excellence at camps are multiadventure activities. A day of canoeing, zip lines, horse riding or archery is always a hit.

The importance of leadership — Summer camps

Camp leaders play a crucial role in the overall experience. Beyond being supervisors, activity leaders become guides and mentors.

We foster teamwork, offering personalised guidance and creating an inclusive environment that allows participants to develop social and emotional skills.

The presence of positive and committed leaders directly contributes to the creation of an enriching and safe environment for everyone.

Campers learn to respect a figure of authority without losing the closeness, the trust to turn to us at any moment, and the good atmosphere.

Benefits for participants — Summer camps

The aim of the activity leader team at summer camps is always to offer a fun and educational experience to camp participants. For this reason, they are in constant communication with each other, with the children, and with the coordination team, so as to adapt to the needs of the participants and to be able to modify the schedule in response to external factors such as the weather.

With this we also want to show that adults are human too, and that even though we are working, we are one of the group. We enjoy ourselves too; we also find it a challenge to adapt to a routine. But on the other hand, we communicate, we make friends, and we live the camp experience in exactly the same way as the campers. We are all one.

Benefits thanks to how the summer camp works

Camps offer benefits that go far beyond temporary fun. From developing social skills to building character, these environments provide a unique opportunity for personal growth.

Interaction with fellow campers, overcoming challenges and participation in activities contribute to the development of skills such as resilience, teamwork and decision-making — skills that last long after the camp has ended.

The camp experience thus becomes both an escape and a personal growth experience, without losing any of the enjoyment.

There is always a first time and it is always difficult to adapt to an unfamiliar situation, but at our camps no one is left out. Find out for yourself what a camp is like and how it works — you will not regret it!

Learn more about camps

• Coronavirus — Will summer camps be able to take place in 2020?
• How Does a Summer Camp Work?
• Why Go to a Camp?
• What Is a Summer Camp?
• How to Choose a Camp?
• Camp Monitors. Are They With the Children 24 Hours?
• How to Find the Perfect Camp?

Other sources:

Summer camps on Wikipedia
Statistics Canada study on physical exercise in young people
Our camps in El Pais