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Year 7 Camp
Every year we take the entirety of Year 7 to a local scout camp for 2 nights under canvas. We like to call this ‘back to basics’ camping. There are some toilets – but not much else!
The aim of this camp is to reconnect with nature, talk to their friends, make new friends and try something new.
Activities they might try at camp are:
- Camp rounders
- Den building
- Cray fish fishing
- Man hunt
- Wide games
- Marshmallow toasting
- Walk (via an ice cream shop)
- Crazy Olympics
- Midnight feasts
This is a fun and relaxed camp that is enjoyed enormously each year. Memories of sitting in your tent and eating a packet of custard creams, chatting with your mates until past midnight will stay with them for years. Tales of being brave enough to walk to the toilets in the dark and being spooked by a badger will stay with you till adulthood.
This camp is enjoyed so much that some of our 6th form students often volunteer as ‘camp cubbies’ for the week. Students often build a good relationship with their camp cubbie and its brilliant to see that the mentoring relationship continues on at school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can I speak to about Camp – I have an urgent question?!
All teachers running camp are full time teachers and so often unavailable during the day. The best way to contact us if you have any questions is to please email us on camp@clarendonacademy.com. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Can my child bring their mobile phone?
No. Unless there is a medical or personal reason mobile phones, or any other electronic device, are not allowed at camp. Part of the experience is giving them a break from social media for two days. There will be an adult with a phone present at all activities. If there is a legitimate reason why they need a phone, it must be stored in a waterproof container and handed in to the Mess tent on arrival. All students are very welcome to use the staff mobiles to call home whenever they feel the need. There is an additional concern around changing in tents which is made complicated when students bring their mobiles. Please do not allow them to take them. They will be confiscated if they are found.
Can my child swap camps?
Sadly we are not able to accommodate switching camps so that students can be with a certain group of people. You will understand that this camp is a huge logistical task and we simply do not have the ability to take the various friendship groupings into account. However, we do find that this arrangement is very successful, with students always having some of their friends on their camp, but also in introducing them to new students they do not ordinarily mix with and making new friends.
My child is anxious about the trip, what is it like?
Many students understandably feel quite anxious about spending two nights away from home and participating in different activities. Year 7 camp is very different from a multi activities trip they may have participated in with their primary school. We do not make them climb anything high or take them wildly outside of their comfort zone and the focus is more on spending time to engage in our environment and spending time with friends in a perhaps unfamiliar environment. If you have a child who is particularly anxious about the trip please do get in contact and we will happily chat to you about their worries.
Are there any extra costs?
Whilst at Tedbury Camp we have a visit from an ice cream van. For this we ask that you give them no more than £5.00 pocket money. Please do not send them with more than this as the amount has been capped to ensure we can monitor this and ensure everyone has a fair experience. Items such as iPads, items of jewellery, and makeup are NOT taken to camp as we cannot guarantee their safety. Please do not allow your child to bring anything they would be upset to lose or damage.
How big are the tents/can my child choose who they are with?
Students are accommodated in tents holding between 3-8 students each. They select their groups when they arrive at camp. Occasionally, we may need to put two smaller groups together or split a larger group to ensure the tents aren’t overly or underfilled but we will endeavour to keep everyone with a familiar face.
My child needs medication, what should I do?
If your child requires any medication please store the medication in a sealable box (Tupperware is ideal). On top of the box please write your child’s name and state how often they need to take their medication. This needs to be handed in to the Mess tent on arrival.
My child is a fussy eater?
While they are at camp they will be well fed! We are very good at catering for all dietary requirements (even fussy eaters!). There will be options at every meal as well as mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks. We will be taking students to camp who have severe food allergies and for this reason we ask you DO NOT pack any food or snacks for your child to bring. This includes packs of sweets and especially nuts. If food is found it will be confiscated and, if needed, removed from the camp. Do not worry – we provide them with lots of sugary treats as well as healthy alternatives.
My child has an additional need/injury around mobility, I don’t want them missing out.
We can be extremely flexible with this, last year conditions on camp were rather wet, we managed to enable a student with a broken leg to spend the two days with us. Although, there were a couple of activities they had to swap, we managed to make several adjustments to ensure they didn’t miss out. Again, email us, let us know the situation and we can make a plan.
What will they sleep in?
All students will require a sleeping bag and pillow. The school does have a very small stock of sleeping bags, but your child will need to contact us to reserve one of these. The option to ‘book-a-bag’ will be done after our Easter communication.
Can they bring camp beds?
Students will require either a roll mat, or thin “Thermarest” style sleeping mat. Camp beds and large inflatable air beds are big and heavy and as well as presenting packing and carriage problems, they take up too much room in a tent. Students must be able to carry their own kit themselves be it carrying kit into and out of school, or the approximately 500m walk from the coach drop-off point to the camp itself. For these reasons, we DO NOT allow camp beds or air beds.
These FAQs will be updated as and when questions are received and placed on the school website for regular viewing.
