There are many reasons to love Barracudas, the UK’s leading multi-activity camp for children aged 4½ to 14. We were delighted to see Barracudas re-open again earlier this year after being closed in 2020 due to the pandemic. You can read what it was like to return after lockdown 3.0 in this post. Barracudas activity day camps operate at Ofsted registered schools in locations across the UK, all staff DBS checked and children well looked after by a dedicated key worker. Here are just some of the reasons we love Barracudas including all the incredible activities on offer. POD cannot wait to return in August.
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Barracudas activity camps are open over the Easter and summer holidays with some camps also available during half-term. Camps are chosen for the excellent facilities with ample space for children to have the best time whether it be indoors or out. One of the great things about Barracudas is that the activities are all in one place and allow children to have the very best experiences from a secure setting. Their timetable is based on promoting an active lifestyle with varied and fun activities based on this motto – athletic, creative, teamwork, inspiring, variety, energetic!
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Locations & booking
Barracudas activity day camps are located in 44 locations across the UK. Have a look at the Barracudas website to see where camps are situated and when they’re open. Bookings can be made online via the Barracudas website or by calling their office. There are two options, the Flex or the Non-Flex option. With the Flex option (£4 per day), dates can be changed or cancelled up to the last working day before the first day in camp. If a child is ill, the days can either be made up another time or a refund will be offered. With a Non-Flex booking, changes can be made up to 21 days prior to the booking. If it’s not possible to operate camp due to COVID-19, a booking will be moved to another week during that holiday or another season in the year. Payments can be made in full or over several through the Barracudas free Easy Payment Plan. Childcare vouchers can also be used as full or part payment.
Childcare
An Essential Information (EI) form is to be completed online for each child prior to camp starting. Parents are also emailed a customer and booking ID which contains a QR code specific to each child. In addition, there’s a new parent app that is available on Android and iOS which has easy access to bookings, information, the QR code, camp directions and the pre-camp checklist. Read about the contactless check-in and drop off procedure below.
All sites are suitable for children aged 4 ½ and 14 years old with on-site risk assessments completed and staff trained in all the necessary policies. Each child is assigned a Group Leader, or Keyworker, and buddy systems are used to pair children with a friend. Children seem to settle in pretty quickly following the ice-breaker games which take place on the first morning of camp. The staff are super friendly and lots of fun though so it’s very easy for children to settle in whether they’ve been to Barracudas before or not.
Check-in and pick up
New for 2021 is a contactless check-in and pick up which is designed to increase security and efficiency at Barracudas camps. With each child’s details saved on the EI form with QR codes scanned on arrival and at pick-up, it makes what was already an easy process even simpler. The QR code can be scanned from the Barracudas Parent App via a smartphone or printed whichever is easiest. Barracudas staff will confirm if any further information is required.
Drop off is between 8:30am and 9:30am (allow 15 minutes for registration on the first day) with pick up between 4:30pm and 5:30pm. Extended hours are fantastic for working parents, or those travelling further, as drop off can be as early as 8am with pick up by 6pm. We’re typically around half an hour from the Barracudas camp POD goes to so it’s ideal, particularly on those occasions the traffic has been heavier.
Range of activities
Activities are designed to suit the developmental stage for each age group and children are grouped with their peers whether it be 4½ to 6 years, 7 to 10 years or 11 to 14 years. Timetables at Barracudas offer a balance for each session which are carefully considered for each week and adaptable if the weather changes. There’s a theme day on the last day of every week which enables children to wear something to match the theme – not compulsory of course but good fun whether kids dress up or not.
For Early Years there is a maximum of 24 children in a group with an Early Years trained member of staff and two assistants. Each child will complete an all about me form prior to arrival which helps children settle in quicker. The timetable is more visual to make it easier for children to decide what they want to do. Activities for this age group include foam fencing, water rockets and parachute games through to treasure hunts, nature trails and face painting.
The 7 to 10 year age group, which POD is a part of, have so many opportunities to grow at camp as they’re increasing confidence, ability and individuality. The maximum group size is 32 children with a staff to child ratio of 1:12. There are typically six activity sessions in a day with a choice of two activities per session. Activities might include basketball, rounders and softball or aqua slide, fencing or bucketball. POD always relishing trying new activities especially the ones she’s never heard of before – she loved Danish Longball last time.
The older 11 to 14-year-old group normally has up to 28 children with a staff to child ratio of 1:14. The skills they learn often enable them to develop their interpersonal skills and build bonds with other children who have similar interests. Activities might include orienteering, mime mania and Barrumba to Gutterball, toxic tank and bottle volcanoes! There’s also a BX+ (13 to 14 years) group for children who want to learn what it’s like to work as a member of staff at Barracudas.
Specialist courses
In addition to the 80 or so activities on offer, there are even more reasons to love Barracudas through the Skills Builder courses that take place in the summer. These specialist courses are a great way for children to further develop a specific skill over one standard session from Monday to Friday.
There are also week-long football camps, suitable for children aged 7-12, which enable children to hone their skills and techniques through practical sessions and workshops (9:30am to 4:30pm). The Palace for Life Football Camps take place in Chislehurst, Croydon, Hayes and Streatham with the West Ham United Football Camps at Chelmsford, Chigwell, Harlow and Upminster.
Other courses include the science-based Lab Rats for a group of up to 8 children aged 4½ to 8 years. Swim School is for a group of up to 5 children with five structured sessions a week to build water confidence and vital skills. For children aged 11 to 13, there are also the Motor Mania or Dance Fusion courses. Find out more on the Barracudas skills builder page.
COVID-19 Secure Camps
Bookings at Barracudas activity day camps are risk-free as they offer a credit or refund if your camp has to be cancelled. With a Flex booking, if a child has to isolate, a refund is also available. Barracudas put COVID-19 Secure Camps in place earlier this year to ensure children can have fun but in a safe environment. COVID-19 secure policies include social distancing, one way systems and hand washing. From the 12th July 2021 group sizes and the full Barracudas activity programme will return to normal.
Brilliant fun
Finally, the best thing about camp is the fun as there are so many reasons to love Barracudas. POD has been going to the same location, ranked Outstanding by Ofsted, for several years now and she absolutely loves it. There’s a fantastic mix of activities, which are continually changing to keep it interesting, the staff are excellent and wonderfully supportive plus she gets the opportunity to play with other kids while she’s there. This summer she’s looking forward to the bungee run which is where two players will be strapped to a bungee cord to see how far they can get without being launched back! We’ll let you know how she gets on.
Head over to the Barracudas website for more information.
