The Camp is run by a dedicated team of volunteers. The volunteers are from varied backgrounds with varying ages and are able to bring differing skills and attributes to help make the children's stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. We are fortunate that many of our volunteers have been helping for many years and have a great deal of experience.
Your child will have the opportunity to take part in specialist activities such as canoeing, gorge walking, abseiling, low level mountain walls, raft building, bush craft and beach exploration.
They will also engage in other typical holiday activities like visiting the beach, visiting local towns/activity centre. At nights we play games on the large playing fields, play indoor games, watch movies and to finish we have a disco on the final evening together.
If you think this might be the type of holiday that your child would benefit from then you can click on the items below to find further information about camp or email the contact for your area shown on the application page:
- Medication
- Pocket-money
- Mobile phones or electronic games
- Suggested clothing list
- Camp rules
For safety reasons we need to collect all prescribed medication from parents/carers before your child gets onto their coach. Therefore please do not pack your child’s prescribed medication in their suitcase. We have a designated First Aider who is responsible for the handover of all prescribed medication. All prescribed medication will be transported to camp, where it will be locked away safely by the First Aider.
Children will only be allowed to carry prescribed medication with them if they have been instructed to do so by their GP, for example an inhaler.
Any prescribed medications left over at the end of your child’s week will be handed back at the end of camp.
Please note:
- All medication needs to be clearly labelled with your child’s name and the prescribed dosage.
- If your child uses an inhaler, we will need them to being two to camp (one which they can keep and one we will keep as a back-up)
- If your child uses and epi-pen, we will need you to provide us with two for camp.
During the holiday all food, activities and entrance fees will be paid for by the camp. Therefore, the only money your child needs is to for sweets and drinks at our tuck-shop and any gifts they might want to buy.I would suggest that they bring a maximum of £10.00
In line with all SVP camps across the Country, there is a ban on mobile phones being taken on camp by children. However, you will have the phone number of the centre if there is a genuine emergency and you need to talk to us or your child
Equally we do not want children to bring any other expensive equipment or gadgets on camp as the children are heavily involved in activities each day many of them water based. The SVP cannot be held responsible for any items broken, lost or stolen.
Disposable cameras are fine to bring along, but we will be taking official photographs and we will issue you with copies following camp, so this is not necessary.
On the first day each child will be provided with some basic kit by the Centre, waterproof jacket and trousers, warm jumper and a rucksack. Then as they undertake the different activities, they will get the additional specialist clothing needed, such as safety helmets, buoyancy aids, climbing equipment etc.
As they get wet on a lot of these activities it is important that they have changes of clothes. Although we do have a drying room experience tells us they need to have spare clothes with them. It is also essential that they have two sets of footwear they can use outside.
The key thing is that they should not bring new or expensive clothes with them as they are not needed on this type of holiday.
They can also bring their slippers to use around the centre in the evenings if they choose. Please download the suggested kit list.
The rules of camp have been drawn up as a result of many years of experience and they are there for the benefit of all children. Our main aim is that EVERY CHILD remains completely safe and happy for the entire week.
So, we ask the children to do these two simple things:
1. Make sure you have a great week, and
2. Make sure everyone else has a great week.
Our rules exist to allow us to meet this aim. The Camp Leader has the authority to send home any child who commits a serious breach of these rules. This is not something we would like to do, so please ensure you explain the rules to your child before they attend camp.
- Bullying of any kind will not be tolerated.
- All activities are carried out under the supervision of our staff. No child is permitted to leave camp at any time without supervision.
- Camp property and equipment must be respected – not misused or damaged.
To attend camp your child must be between the ages of 9 to 12 years old on the day that we leave for camp. Unfortunately, we cannot take anybody outside of this age range as experience tells us that mixing a wider age range does not work well for those children who attend camp.
Each year we take a mixed group of forty young boys and girls on camp. The camp is run by volunteers who, in accordance with child protection procedures, are carefully vetted with references and an enhanced DBS record check. All helpers must also attend a training day to learn the Camp procedures and protocols.
The camp takes place at the Plas Gwynant Outdoor Activity Centre, Snowdonia, North Wales. The centre is a residential Outdoor Education Centre located at the foot of Snowdon in North Wales, perfectly situated for a wide range of adventurous outdoor activities on both land and water.
During the week your child will have the opportunity to take part in specialist activities such as canoeing, gorge walking, abseiling, low level mountain walls, raft building, bush craft and beach exploration. Additionally, they will engage in typical holiday activities like visiting the beach, visiting local towns/activity centre.
The entertainment continues on-site during the evenings with indoor/outdoor games, arts and crafts, talent contests and on the final night we finish with a disco.
The specialist activities are delivered by highly experienced and qualified staff at the centre, this ensures high levels of safety and quality, whilst being fun, educational and developmental. All staff are fully qualified, and the centre is licensed by AALA (ref L1764/R0677) to provide all adventurous activities.
No, on the first day each young person will be provided with some basic kit, waterproof jacket and trousers, warm jumper and a rucksack. Then as they undertake the different activities, they will get the additional specialist clothing needed, such as safety helmets, buoyancy aids, climbing equipment etc.
As they get wet on a lot of these activities it is important that they have changes of clothes. Although we do have a drying room experience tells us they need to have spare clothes with them. It is also essential that they have two sets of footwear they can use outside.
The key thing is that they should not bring new or expensive clothes with them as they are not needed on this type of holiday.
It is especially important that they have at least two sets of footwear (one pair that will get wet) and again not new or expensive trainers please.
They can also bring their slippers to use around the centre in the evenings if they choose. Please download the suggested kit list.
During the holiday all food, activities and entrance fees will be paid for by the camp. Therefore, the only money your child needs is to for sweets and drinks at our tuck-shop and any gifts they might want to buy. I would suggest that they bring a maximum of £10.00.
Yes, we ensure that at least two volunteers have an up to date First Aid Certificate, and one of them will be the nominated First Aid Officer on camp. For safety reasons we will take all medication from your child and pass these to our first aid officer before we leave for Wales. It is really important that you clearly label the medication with your child’s name and that it states when and how often it should be administered. Can we ask that you place all medication in a plastic bag with your child’s name clearly on it. Our first aid officer will then ensure that medication is administered at the relevant time (this does include any creams needed for allergies, skin rashes etc).
NB: The only medications that is treated differently are asthma sprays and epi-pens. In these cases what we ask if that your child brings two with them. One will be left with them and the second will be handed in with their name as above. We will then ensure the second is taken on all activities etc in case your child loses the first one. Please download the medical form, carefully complete it and email it back to us ahead of camp.
Yes, we can cater for all restricted diets. However, it is essential that you provide full details of any allergies, intolerances etc. on the application form.
YES, this is not an issue and we will ensure that any wet bedding is replaced without anybody else knowing about the situation. Please provide us with as much information as you can before camp.
As we are in the middle of Snowdonia there is no mobile reception for a distance of 10 miles. Whilst the centre does have a landline (01766890212) we ask that this is only used for emergency calls. If you don’t hear from your child it doesn’t mean they have forgotten you, they are simply busy enjoying their holiday. Your child will literally be having fun from the moment they wake up until they fall asleep exhausted.
I can also assure you that we will contact you if there are any issues with your child. Normally this only happens when someone is a little homesick. In this case we will phone you first to talk it through. We will then get you to speak with your child, but this is where we need your help. What happens in these cases is that the feeling of being homesick comes on when they get tired and it’s time for bed. The next morning it is usually all forgotten, and they are excited to try the next activity/visit.
So, on the rare occasion we do need to phone you for homesickness, please just reassure your child and tell them they will likely feel better in the morning. Please do not talk about coming home as that just makes it worse for them. Of course, on the very rare occasion where the child cannot settle, we will discuss with you the best options to take. We will always contact you if your child requires a doctor, dentist or hospital visit. Experience tells us all of these are very rare occurrences.
In line with all SVP camps across the Country, there is a ban on mobile phones being taken on camp by children. However, you do have the phone number of the centre if there is a genuine emergency and you want to talk to your child.
Equally we do not want children to bring any other expensive equipment or gadgets on camp as the children are heavily involved in activities each day many of them water based. The SVP cannot be held responsible for any items broken, lost or stolen.
Disposable cameras are fine to bring along, but we will be taking official photographs and we will issue you with copies following camp, so this is not necessary.
YES, it is absolutely essential that you or the nominated person is at the drop-off and pick-up points at least fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled time. We cannot let any child go home on their own or with anybody who is not on the agreed list of specified adults.