Sending your kid to an overseas summer camp is a great way to break up the long, hot Cayman summer and a fantastic chance to expose them to a new country, new children from all over the world and a host of new activities.
Due to the developing situation of COVID-19, some camps may be
postponed or altered. Please contact the camp to confirm whether camp
will still be taken place or if there are any adjustments.
According to the Canadian Summer Camp Research Project, a nationwide study on the effects of camp on kids, summer camp cultivates emotional intelligence, self-confidence, independence, leadership and many other skills and interests that last long into adulthood.
On a small island like ours, this sort of exposure and key aspects of development can be sparse, and thus enrolling your kid in an international camp can give them opportunities they may be missing out on.
When you have had a good look at this page please also check out our Sports & Fitness Summer Camps page where we list sporty camps, our Mixed Activities Summer Camps page where we list a number of fun mixed activities camps and our Cultural & Educational Summer Camps page where we list camps that will educate your little ones with some Cayman culture. The options are even greater this year with new camps coming to the scene. There should be something for everyone.
Benefits of Overseas Summer Camps
Many parents continue to send their children off to summer camps year after year after observing how much development, as well as fun, their kids experience at camp. While it is easy for them to see the benefits of camp, for those parents considering it for the first time we have listed our top reasons why these camps are so worthwhile.
Unique Socialising Opportunity
Camp provides a crash course on meeting new people where kids can build
social skills, learn to navigate through group dynamics, develop vital
communication skills and emotionally support a friend in need. Overseas
summer camps offer a ‘blank slate’ socialising opportunity – children
interact with an entirely new group of people, separate from their
established identity on-Island, and free of prior expectations. While
the structure of camp, with a regular routine and constant group
activities, provides many opportunities to form friendships and interact
with like-minded peers over mutual interests. Given that camp is such a
catalyst for social experimentation, unsurprisingly many campers form
life-long friendships and networks.
Expanding their World-View
At international camps,
such as the ones mentioned below, children will form friendships with campers from all over the world –
every race, culture, and socioeconomic level. Often children will return
year after year simply to reunite with their international friends.
Such interactions help kids broaden their world-view and encourage
open-mindedness and an interest in other cultures. They will be exposed
to different viewpoints, learn to accept not everyone has the same
perspectives or opinions they do, and realise that for teamwork to be
effective they must respect and work with differences. In our time, this
sort of tolerance and respect for other people’s views, ideology and
beliefs, is increasingly necessary.
Cultivating New and Existing Interests
During the school term it can be difficult for kids to really commit to
their extracurricular interests with the constant pressure of homework,
family time and socialising, whereas the freedom of a long summer away
enables them to really focus on developing other interests. Camp
provides unique activities your child can try for the first time, from
go-karting to radio presenting, while also allowing them time to hone
their skills in activities they’ve enjoyed before, like ball sports or
arts and crafts. Allowing children to explore their established
interests in greater depth and pushing them out of their comfort zone to
try new activities, will foster a stronger sense of identity in them
and a better idea of what they enjoy. This will bring both immediate and
longer term benefits, as they can cultivate these skills further once
they return home and they may even contribute to helping them choose a
career path in later life.
Keeping Young Brains and Bodies Active
Over the summer parents often witness a physical and mental
decline in their child’s wellbeing due to the absence of a regular
routine. Research proves that kids typically lose significant maths,
reading comprehension and spelling skills over this period. Camp
provides a fun way for children to sustain mental stimulation and
physical activity over the break. Physical activity is well-disguised in
the form of fun and games, encouraging kids to adopt a healthy
lifestyle often without even realising it! At the same time, the
creative activities offered at camp like photography or arts and crafts
and mentally-trying sports like rock climbing or sailing, keep kids
constantly alert and mentally stimulated.
Unplugging
In our modern technological world it is almost inevitable that every
child will have an iPod, phone, laptop, or be connected to the internet
in some capacity. It can often be difficult to encourage children to
disconnect and to look for fun beyond their screens, and unrealistic for
parents to keep up strict limitations on screen time. But at camp,
children are only allowed limited access to their mobiles and other
devices, so they can be fully engaged in activities and truly switch off
from electronics. Teaching kids how to have fun and engage with their
peers away from technology helps them to realise that there is a world
beyond video games and social media. And this new-found realisation will
return home with them and make kids more inclined to be active,
continue their new hobbies and turn off their screens.
Overseas Summer Camp Options
Take advantage of the many benefits of an overseas summer camp and have a look at our recommendations below. These international camps are already popular with Cayman parents. From Canada to New York, these camps offer a host of unique activities your child can get involved in.
The list is constantly being updated and added to so be sure to check back so you don’t miss out!
2021 Camps
Glen Barnard Camp, Canada (Updated for 2021)
Glen Bernard Camp just
north of Huntsville in Ontario, is an all-girls summer camp located on
700 acres of forest with a kilometre of safe shoreline along Lake
Bernard. Established in 1922, it has an established reputation of
helping girls develop self-confidence and independence. Their slogan is
“Live Lightly”. They demonstrate a significant commitment to
environmental sustainability and they rely on solar energy, composting
toilets and energy efficient lighting.
Activities: Canoeing,
kayaking, sailing, boardsailing, theatre, rock climbing, high ropes,
low ropes, mountain biking, horseback riding, trampoline, canoe trips,
arts & crafts, tennis, archery, golf, and more.
Age Range: 4 – 16 years
Dates: Multiple programs offered between the 26th of June and the 22nd of August 2021
Cost: Between $330 and $3980 + applicable taxes, depending on the program *All prices in Canadian dollars
Address: East side of Lake Bernard, near the village of Sundridge, Ontario (3 hours north of Toronto)
Tel: (416) 225 4166
Email: info@gbcamp.com
Website: www.gbcamp.com
Camp Wanapitei, Canada (Updated for 2021)
Located on 42 acres of
forest on the north shore of Lake Temagami, Camp Wanapitei has a
two-kilometre stretch of white, sandy beach. Campers can have their
first taste of river canoeing on the Red Squirrel River which flows
through the middle of camp. The picturesque Red Squirrel Falls are only a
short hike away and the camp is an easy departure point for many
beautiful hiking trails. A Wanapitei experience promotes self-reliance
and personal growth, through challenging canoe trips in Canada’s north.
Activities: Wilderness
canoe tripping, hiking, fishing, campfires, arts and crafts,
environmental awareness, swimming, archery, games, and sailing.
Age Range: 7 – 18
Dates: Multiple programmes are offered between July 2nd - August 29th
Cost: Between $1,010 to $10, 450 depending on the programme/age group
*all prices in Canadian dollar
Hours: Overnight camp
Address: On Lake Temagami, near the town of Temagami, Ontario
Website: www.wanapitei.net
Email: campinfo@wanapitei.net
Note:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada still has border restrictions in
place. Please check with the camps directly to see if they are accepting
overseas campers.
Camp Echo, Upstate New York (Updated for 2021)
Camp Echo is on a
private lake and has 200+ acres of fields and wooded trails. The
beautiful natural surroundings provide the perfect setting for outdoor
activities and making new best friends, all just a convenient and
comfortable distance from the greater New York City. Camp Echo is run by
hands-on directors Jeff and Cindy Grabow.
Activities: Boating,
fishing, paddle boarding, tubing, archery, climbing, hiking, horseback
riding, mountain biking, canoe trips, go karts, ball sports, golf,
gymnastics, rollerblading, weight training, yoga, arts and crafts,
cooking, dance, drama, recording studio, photography, woodworking and
many more.
Age Range: 6-16 years
Dates:
June 27th-August 8th (Full Summer), June 27th-July 24th (July Session),
July 25th-August 14th (August Session) (pending State/DOH approval)
Cost: Full Summer: $10,950 July Session: $7,525 August Session: $5,150
*all prices in USD
Address: 210 Echo Road, Bloomingburg, New York
Email: jeff@campecho.com
Website: www.campecho.com
2020 Camps
We will be updating these camps the moment we receive the relevant information from the organiser(s).
Onondaga Camp (Canada) - COVID-19 Updates
A true Canadian summer
tradition, Onondaga Camp offers an inclusive environment where young
people can play, explore, achieve and grow. Situated on the shore of
Middle Bob Lake near Minden, Ontario, Onondaga inspires the best in
outdoor fun, learning and adventure for girls and boys.
Activities:
Crossbow, arts and crafts, basketball, ropes course, flying fox, 70 ft
swing, climbing wall, windsurfing, water trampoline, water skiing,
wakeboarding, swimming, water polo, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, ball
hockey, skateboarding, mountain biking, yoga, tennis, pottery, leather
craft, horseback riding, golf, disc golf, drama, dance and archery.
Age Range: 6 – 16 years
Dates: Between June 26th, 2020 – August 28th, 2020 depending on the programme/session.
Cost:
One week $1965
Two weeks $3800-$3980
Four weeks $6310
*all prices in Canadian dollar
Hours: overnight camp
Address: Middle Bob Lake near Minden, Ontario
Email: camp@onondagacamp.com
Website: http://onondagacamp.com
Note:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario overnight camps have been
ordered closed for the 2020 season. There is a chance that camp will
operate in August if the current restrictions are lifted/loosened.
If you know of any other overseas summer camps that do not appear on
this list, please do not hesitate to let us know. We always welcome new
suggestions!