30/10/2023

An unforgettable October Half-Term: A roundup of our activity camp

As the autumn leaves fell and the days grew shorter, our October half-term activity camps became the highlight of the season. For one exciting week, children joined us to enjoy a wide range of activities that not only filled their days with fun but also left a lasting impact and life long memories.

Here are just some of the things we enjoyed this half term:

Weekly theme and Friday Finale: Happy Halloween

Our weekly themes mean no day or week is the same at Barracudas. Of course, amazing experiences come as standard, but children love to take part in our unique themed activities which add something extra special to their day.

Our October theme was Happy Halloween and kids loved getting into the spirit of things as they geared up to the main event. We enjoyed tweaking popular favourites such as Pumpkin Ball (Kin Ball), Batminton (Badminton) and Ghoulball (Dodgeball), with each camp coming up with their unique take on activities. On top of that, children made some scarily good Halloween themed creations in arts and crafts.

The last day in each week at camp is always extra special, with our Friday Finale camp celebration. Children and staff loved taking part in the Halloween end of week event this October and we finished the half term fun in style!

Teamwork: Fostering bonds and building friendships

Children always enjoy the teamwork activities at camp. They’re also a great way for children to get to know other people in their group and make friendships quickly. From icebreaker games that helped children learn each other's names to trust-building exercises that required them to rely on one another, teamwork was at the heart of our camp's mission.

Children particularly enjoyed "Human Knot." They formed a circle, joined hands with two people across from them, and were tasked with untangling the knot without letting go of each other's hands. It's a great way to encourage communication, cooperation, and problem-solving skills. There's always lots of laughter, shouts of encouragement, and a sense of accomplishment when the knot's successfully unravelled.

Sports: Keeping active and developing skills

Our campers had the chance to dive into a world of sports and adventure. From Pop Lacrosse to football and everything in between, children loved getting active at camp at Barracudas this half term.

The weather was a mixed bag this October, but that didn’t stop us. With fantastic facilities both outside and indoors, there was plenty of high energy sessions throughout the week.

Creativity: Nurturing artistic expression

Incorporating creativity into our camp was a key element of our program. We offered a diverse range of artistic activities, from painting and puppet making to pumpkin carving. Under the guidance of skilled instructors, campers had the opportunity to explore and express their artistic talents.

One of the most collaborative projects was a Halloween registration display which children from all groups across camp worked on together. The Big Art display was not only a testament to their creativity but also a symbol of the power of teamwork in the creative process.

STEM

Children enjoyed a number of activities to expand their knowledge and passions in science. From making candles and bath bombs to bouncy ball experiments, we were delighted to inspire future budding scientists at camp this half term.

We also enjoyed seeing their imaginations fly with the addition of our new Connectix equipment. We loved their brightly colour constructions!

On top of that, children enjoyed taking part in our stand alone specialist coding courses this half term at selected camps.

Making friends and boosting confidence

One of the most beautiful aspects of our October camps was witnessing the friendships that blossomed among the children. With different backgrounds, varying ages and experiences, they quickly formed deep connections through shared adventures and challenges.

Our camp provided a supportive environment that encouraged children to step out of their comfort zones and engage with their peers. We hope many lifelong friendships were made over the week, and the memories they created together will last a lifetime.

We loved seeing children grow with us this October, leaving camp with a boost in confidence.

Parent reviews

We love to hear what our bookers think about our camps. With over 1,400 independent Trustpilot reviews and a 5 star rating, we’re happy that we’re consistently delivering on our promise to give every child such an amazing experience they can’t wait to come back.

Here’s what parents said about Barracudas October camps:

Barracudas are the best. “I think that the staff are really funny and kind and they always join in with anything that we doing. I really like Ash because he makes amazing balloons and Rosie is really good with the little ones. Charlotte and Zoe are my teachers and they are the best!!! But don’t tell Ash and Rosie that. It is sooooo much fun and Barracudas and I can’t wait to come again”
From Freya the best pupil 😊 Freya

Highly recommended. Woodford site. Amazing staff, so much patience and very empathetic with the children. Trained SEN facilitators on site. Good variety of activities available. Simone

We have nothing but a great experience with barracudas great staff that my child always looks forward to seeing. My child loves coming, always a little nervous on day one but comes out having a great day thanks to all the lovely staff. Gemma

Brilliant team. The kids love it and I feel its a very safe environment for them. Fes

Our October half-term activity camp was more than just a series of fun events. It was a transformative experience for all involved. Through teamwork, exploration, creativity, sports, friendship, activity, and confidence-building, children discovered the joy of collaboration, the power of creativity, the thrill of adventure, the value of friendships, the importance of staying active, and the growth of self-confidence.

These are just a few of the moments that filled this unforgettable week. We had an absolute blast at our October half term camps. A big thank you to all the children and staff who made it another week to remember and end our 2023 camps on a high.

We’re looking forward to announcing our 2024 locations and dates soon!