POD loved the summer activities at Barracudas activity day camp – yet again we were blown away by all the activities on offer. We’ve been advocates of Barracudas activities camps for many years they were much missed last summer. Barracudas thankfully returned during the Easter holidays and POD once again had the best time. Barracudas has up to 80 activities on offer but she was particularly looking forward to summer camp as it’s warm enough for watersports and she’s outdoors more.
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Suitable for children aged 4½ to 14, Barracudas operates at 43 locations all over the UK (many registed Outstanding by Ofsted) during the summer holidays. POD has always attended the same Barracudas camp as while she always makes new friends – many children return year after year which is always nice, especially on the first day. This summer she even had two “real-life” friends attend – largely because we recommend Barracudas to everyone looking for activity-based school holiday solutions.
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Summer activities
The range of activities Barracudas has on offer is exceptional and POD loves that she gets to choose between two activities, for each of the six sessions, per day. Barracudas activities are age-appropriate, with a good staff/child ratio, and split into three age groups – 4½ to six years, 7 to 10 years (POD’s age group) and 11 to 14 years. For early years, activities can span from foam fencing, nature trail or football skills through to mask making, face painting or footgolf. As junior school-aged children have a better sense of teamwork, activities for the 7 to 10 year age group might include go-karting, pop lacrosse or badminton through to baseball, circuits or orienteering. The top group at Barracudas (ages 11 to 14 years) is very much about honing skills and trying new activities like kwik cricket, Powerball or puppetry to river crossing, paper mache frames or gutter ball.
The camp POD goes to is a Outstanding school with superb facilities that include playing fields, a sports hall, art room and drama room. There’s also a swimming pool, archery, the aqua slide and motor sports with a woodland area. The full range of 80 activities is available so every day is different with activities that suit all. They also run specialist Skills Builders Courses which include Football Camp, Swim School or Motor Mania. This particular camp is open during the summer and Easter holidays with some camps also running over half term.
Camp favourites
Barracudas activity camps typically have a good mix of both outdoor and indoor activities, all of which are in a safe environment with excellent facilities. One of the great things about the summer holidays is being able to do more outside – particularly water sports which are among POD’s favourites. She always enjoys swimming when the opportunity arises but the water park and aqua slide activities bring so much joy. Generally, anything that involves getting wet, being sprayed or sliding at speed is always a winner.
That said, Barracudas introduces new activities regularly – one of which is the Bungee Run. This is an inflatable with a bungee rope with the aim of the game to run as far as you can before being catapulted back. POD loved this activity so much, she picked it whenever she could during the course of her time at camp. I which I could have captured this, I can just imagine the giggles!
Motorsports was another favourite this summer. Motorised go-karts are enclosed in an inflated ring so children get to go round in a circular motion – POD relished whizzing around and chasing her friends (old and new). Danish Longball was back as well which you may remember from our Instagram Stories Highlights she explained in detail! Archery is a firm favourite as well as she’s improved a lot (she tells me) having picked this most years. Barracudas is a brilliant way to keep kids active and it’s one of the things she loves about camp. It’s great to have a good mix of activities though and POD enjoys those that allow her to be creative as well such as arts & crafts, drama and Barracudas Got Talent. Every day is different with amazing and often new experiences throughout the week – POD has come out every day beaming from ear to ear. If you want to get a feel for Barracudas summer camp, check out the video below which includes some of POD’s favourite activities.
Extended hours
A typical day at Barracudas is from 8:30am or 9:30pm to 4:30pm or 5:30pm. As working parents, what we particularly like is that these hours can be extended to include early drop off at 8am and later pick up at 6pm. POD has always got in earlier and been picked up later but it works well as she enjoys Early Club and Late Club with other kids and staff. There are more activities and games which are typically held in the school gym so the remaining children and staff are in the same room. These extended hours are brilliant as it means we don’t have to reduce working hours and there’s some wiggle room if we get stuck in traffic. We opted for early drop off and late pick up as we always do but either are available in addition to the standard hours. POD just takes some extra snacks just in case she gets peckish and there’s always time for basketball practice afterwards!
Barracudas staff
The location, the range of activities and extended hours tick all the boxes for us but Barracudas wouldn’t be the same without its brilliant staff. All are DBS checked with the majority qualified teaching professionals or specialist instructors for the likes of archery, fencing and swimming. All the staff are familiar with the childcare setting and there are strict guidelines in place to ensure everyone stays safe. It says a lot about Barracudas that the same staff return each season. All the staff are enthusiastic, knowledgable and friendly which is particularly special when the senior childcare team has seen your child grow up. The final day of Barracudas is always a tough one after so many adventures but it’s nice to say see you soon rather than goodbye. Until next time Barracudas.
To find out more about Barracudas and see which camps are open when, head over to their website.
