Enriching young lives

A young girl with long red hair and blue eyes smiling while holding a colorful paper butterfly.

Summer Camps for children 2027

People roasting marshmallows over an outdoor campfire.

Training and working as summer camp leaders

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Governance, Members and Supporters

Contact
& Donate

Why we exist & What we do

Why we exist

Two young people standing outdoors with their arms around each other, both wearing matching white t-shirts with a face mask graphic and the text 'The Summer Cams Trust'; they are smiling at the camera, with trees in the background.

The leadership team comprises a senior staff team of a Director, one or two Assistant Directors and a qualified matron, and a team of eight or ten young adults (17+), who have all attended an intensive residential training week. These camp leaders build positive relationships with the children, providing care, friendship and encouragement. They can be great role-models.

The Trust believes that well-run residential summer camps are a uniquely happy and valuable experience for the children and young adult leaders who take part.

A typical summer camp brings together 40 – 50 young people from all kinds of schools and all parts of the country. For a week or so during school holidays they come together in a residential centre to share an exciting child-centred holiday.

In a rural setting, away from screens, social media and the pressures of everyday life, the young people quickly become a happy and supportive community. They make new friends with peers they might never otherwise have met, and enjoy a wide range of imaginative camp activities - from all kinds of games and crafts to singing round the camp fire, telling stories by torchlight and exploring the woods. Above all they have the freedom to be active, have fun, and enjoy spending time together in the outdoors.

With over 60 years of experience, the Trust’s organisers have seen tens of thousands of young people thrive at summer camp - enjoying the fun, laughter and genuine happiness that camp brings, whilst gaining confidence, independence and lasting personal benefits along the way. In today’s world we see too many children who could benefit enormously from such experiences having no chance to access them.

The Trust’s aim is to find ways of enabling more children from all kinds of schools and social backgrounds in the UK to experience the fun, the happiness, and the many benefits summer camps provide.

What we do

IF YOU have children aged 9 to 15 who have never been to a summer camp and could be interested in trying one in 2026, see our Try Out Camps programme HERE.

Young person with glasses aiming a wooden recurve bow outdoors on a grassy field.

My son grew beyond belief as a person. He’s come back and has new friends, skills and confidence. I can’t thank you enough.

See more reviews of our Summer Camps HERE…

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Over 17?
Why not VOLUNTEER?

IF YOU are between 17 and 25 years old and are interested in working with children, and if you could spare some time in your holidays volunteering for something that is great fun and does a lot of good, see our Leader Training Courses.

Find Out More

Girl with foam on her head and face, smiling, holding a book, outdoors, in a grassy area with hills in the background.

Not only have I grown and developed such confidence from the training and working in summer camps, but I don’t think I have ever in my life seen so many happy people together in one place. University student.

See more feedback from volunteer leaders HERE…

The Summer Camps Trust is proud to have many leading names within the UK Summer Camp and Outdoor Recreation sectors on board as subscribing members, as well as a number of highly respected national organisations that support our aims.