Summer Time 2019

As the sun begins to make a more regular appearance in our skies and the smell of barbecued Bratwurst and the crack of cold beer cans fills the air, one of the many questions on parents’ minds might well be how to keep the children busy over the long summer holidays.  

Those of us who were lucky enough to experience summer camps during our own childhood will need no convincing. Those of us who are, however, unacquainted with the joy of outdoor fun and games with a whole new group of friends might need some persuading before packing our delicate little offspring off to some unknown destination for them to spend a fortnight or so doing activities that we, as adults, would  not dream of attempting.  In saying that, there are also a host of day camps for children whose parents might relish the freedom from their little monsters, but don’t yet possess the independence to do the full boarded experience.

The idea of a Summer camp can be daunting for young children and their parents alike. That might, however, be the whole point of the exercise. Encouraging children to come out of their comfort zones is the best way to build both character and confidence. Even as adults e often need a gentle push to move into pastures unknown. The in-law’s gift of skiing lessons accepted with a tight smile might well turn out to be just what we need to face our fears head on, to give us a push us down that ski slope, only to discover, with pride, that in overcoming our fear we have discovered a new passion or hobby.

Camping and outdoor activities allow children to disconnect from technology whilst reconnecting with nature – something we could all do with in today’s hectic online world. Above all, summer camp is often a transformational experience, an opportunity to leave your old self behind and embark on a new and exciting adventure.  

Our Top Summer Camp Picks - Zurich

There are specialist camps for the discerning child who may not be particularly enamoured with the idea of swimming in the lake, and playing camp fire games all day every day.

Spark Science is one such company that offers superb science camps, parties and workshops. Whilst technically it may be seen as an ‘educational’ camp they really bring science to life with incredibly immersive experiments, fun games and sports.  Picture a group of young mad scientists in white lab coats and protective eye goggles, messing around with green goo, test tubes full of bubbling colourful liquid and giant bubble making machines and you start to scratch the surface of how much fun they’ll be having whilst improving their science knowledge and inspiring their minds. These camps will also develop the children’s proficiency in English Language, and sow the seeds for a passion for learning.

Make new friends, learn new skills, and have the best summer ever!

— Spark Science

Chess 4 Kids

Perhaps your child wishes to hone their skills over summer to master the chess battleground ready for the start of the new year. As you can imagine these camps will playfully introduce young children to chess, or broaden their knowledge according to their individual level.

 

But if you think that the kids will be stuck inside hunched over a chess board or a computer screen all day, well think again! Most of these camps also have a strong sports/action activities focus (be it football, dancing, martial arts, magic) which is aimed at training the body as well as the young minds.

Tech Spark Academy

There are similar technology focused holiday camps for those kids who aspire to be the new Mark Zuckerberg. These camps provide children with early interaction with the latest technology, which may spark curiosity and the learning process needed for such industries as gaming, websites, robotics, coding apps

Take advantage of the great saving we have for you for all Tech Spark Academy summer camps in Zürich.

Use Code: 'EXPAT2019' to get 10% of all Tech Spark Academy Summer camps in Zurich

StoryCraft

For those children who wish to harness their inner Jackson Pollock or who just love to get messy and artistic, there are some excellent arts and crafts camps which are aimed at children as young as 2 years old up to 10 years old.

These give children the opportunity to play and experiment with a whole host of artistic material, paints, modelling clays, collage materials etc. As you can imagine, if you allow children to explore their whimsical imagination their creativity blossoms.  Picture finger and hand painting classes – kaleidoscopes of colour and texture, much of it on the hands, feet and faces of the budding young artists! StoryCraft is one such camp which combines the freedom of art within the setting of a story which acts as a loose theme for the explosion of creativity.

There are two exciting camps planned this summer in Zurich.

Camps are for children between 6-10 years old aiming to ignite passion for science mixed with lots of sports to encourage and promote enjoyment of a balanced, active life from an early age!

Upcoming Camps:

Camp 1: Science and Sport Summer Camp, Wollishofen GZ

Dates:                  15th – 19th July 2019.

Location:            GZ Wollishofen, Bachstrasse 7, 8038

Age range:          6-10 years.

English level:    All levels – aimed to develop English language

Camp 2: Science and Sport Summer Camp, Luus Muus

Dates:                  22nd – 26th July 2019

Location:            Luus Muus, Bahnhofweg 4, 8132 Egg, Zürich

Age range:          6-10 year olds

English level:    All levels – aimed to develop English language

There are similar technology focused holiday camps for those kids who aspire to be the new Mark Zuckerberg. These camps provide children with early interaction with the latest technology, which may spark curiosity and the learning process needed for such industries as gaming, websites, robotics, coding apps.

June 24-28, 2019 – 5 Days

Inter-Community School Zürich

Courses: This camp offers the following courses:

A minimum of 5 students is required for each course to take place.

Camp hours: 9:30 – 15:00 daily

Location address:

Inter-Community School Zürich,

Strubenacher 3, 8126 Zumikon

Camp fees: Teens 1040CHF / Juniors 899CHF

Perhaps your child wishes to hone their skills over summer to master the chess battleground ready for the start of the new year. As you can imagine these camps will playfully introduce young children to chess, or broaden their knowledge according to their individual level.

But if you think that the kids will be stuck inside hunched over a chess board or a computer screen all day, well think again! Most of these camps also have a strong sports/action activities focus (be it football, dancing, martial arts, magic) which is aimed at training the body as well as the young minds.

For those children who wish to harness their inner Jackson Pollock or who just love to get messy and artistic, there are some excellent arts and crafts camps which are aimed at children as young as 2 years old up to 10 years old.  These give children the opportunity to play and experiment with a whole host of artistic material, paints, modelling clays, collage materials etc. As you can imagine, if you allow children to explore their whimsical imagination their creativity blossoms.  Picture finger and hand painting classes – kaleidoscopes of colour and texture, much of it on the hands, feet and faces of the budding young artists! StoryCraft is one such camp which combines the freedom of art within the setting of a story which acts as a loose theme for the explosion of creativity.

WITCHES & WIZARDS

Thursday 8th August – Harry Potter

Friday 9th August – The Worst Witch

GIANTS, PIRATES & FAIRIES

Thursday 15th August – The BFG

Friday 16th August – Peter Pan

Four days of Fantastic Fantasy this summer at Storycraft. These fantastic stories will inspire us to make a wide variety of fun magical projects including Hogwarts Castle, Dream Jars, Spell Cauldrons and a miniature Neverland. Children can attend 1-4 camp days. All of the camp days will be suitable for both boys and girls. All extracts taken from the stories will be age appropriate for the group.

The children will have the opportunity to play and experiment with a huge variety of art materials and equipment in the Storycraft Studio to make artwork, crafts, pottery and sculpture. They will have some freedom to adapt the structured projects to fit with their interests, as well as time each day for freestyle artwork and creativity. As well as arts and crafts, each day will be broken up with a variety of fun activities, for example stories, children’s poetry, singing, music, film, drama, dancing, creative games and play. You can book for one or multiple days. Half days may be available space permitting.

9am – 4pm

For children aged around 4-9 years old

All art materials, snacks and drinks will be provided

Children are asked to bring a packed lunch.

A minimum of 6 children will be needed for each camp day to run.

150chf per day

10% discount for 2 days (135chf)

20% discount for 3 days (120chf)

15% discount for children enrolled in the current Storycraft term and their siblings.

One discount per child, the greater discount applies.

Enjoy Your Summer

Of course for parents summer camp provides a well-deserved and much-needed break, affording them the opportunity to relax over a glass of wine by the lake, reminiscing about the more daring activities of their own youth. Provided, of course, they steer clear of those summer camp movies. Watching re-runs of American Pie – or worse Friday 13th – might well make grandma and granddad’s offer seem like the better idea…

For parents, summer camp provides a well-deserved and much-needed break

- Expat Parents -

Summer campsprovide children with the ideal environment in which to forge new friendships and learn new skills.