10/06/2022
Keeping ahead of the curve!
Barracudas has been providing amazing experiences for children in the school holidays for 30 years.
We’ve always aimed to be ahead of the pack and deliver high quality childcare and a smooth and easy experience for parents.
We may be mature, but we’re not long in the tooth! Each year Barracudas looks for new opportunities to develop.
Here are just some of the ways we’re growing and how you and your child will benefit.
24 hour booking system
We know things can change throughout the school holidays and parents want to make additional bookings right throughout the season.
In 2021 we introduced 24 hour bookings, so even when our camps are running, you can book online where we have space. No need to call through to our customer service team, you can do this at your own convenience.
Online forms
Barracudas is committed to being ahead of the curve. In 2022 we developed our systems so you can access and fill in your Essential Information Form online, directly from your account.
Not only is this great news for parents, but also the environment with a dramatic decrease in paper printing!
Contactless check in
In response to the pandemic, we moved quickly to help keep parents, kids and staff safe with fully contactless check in and out of camp.
We sent individual QR codes to each booker to be scanned by our staff at registration and collection. We’re really pleased with the success of this development and parents now love our new procedures, making life easier and safer!
Parent App
As well as contactless check in, we introduced our parent app in 2021 which we’re continuing to develop.
Not only can you access your child’s booking and important information about camp on the go, you can also fill in your Essential Information form and get your QR code at the touch of your fingers.
We listen to our customers and this Easter we also provided daily timetables on our app. This summer we’re introducing accident forms to the app. We’re also looking to share camp specific promotions here this summer – definitely worth downloading!
This really represents one of our core values; innovation.
Get more information on our contactless registration and parent app.
Electric Vehicles
Barracudas is a responsible operator. We’re always thinking of ways we can be more environmentally friendly, whilst offering the amazing experiences parents and children expect.
This year we made a huge investment in electric go karts, replacing all our petrol vehicles. Kids still get all the fun, with less environmental impact.
New themed activities
Following the popularity of our end of week Theme Days, this year we're extending the fun into fun themed activities running throughout the week. They'll be a fun twist on popular favourites at camp to match the weekly theme. We can wait for the added excitement at camp this year!
See our summer Theme Days.
New camps
We've got great new venues opening in 2022 for the first time!
Andover
We're delighted to have a camp for the first time in Andover for summer 2022. With amazing facilities at Rookwood School, including an outdoor pool, kids will enjoy our full range of activities. We're looking forward to a summer of fun in this new region.
See Andover camp details.
Canterbury
We're excited to be offering bags of fun in Canterbury at St Edmund's school this year. We launched in Easter and are open for summer from 25th July to 19th August.
We can't wait to take advantage of the fantastic facilities, including an outdoor swimming pool.
Colchester
Opening this summer from 25th July to 19th August for the first time in 2022! Our new venue at Colchester County High School For Girls, offers convenience for parents and space and facilities kids will love!
With an amazing indoor pool, we'll be able to offer our full range of over 80 activities!
Horsham
We're delighted to have secured a new venue in Horsham. Millais School fantastic facilities for us to run our full range of activities including fields, multi sports hall, art room, dance studio and space for our archery range and motorsports track.
See Horsham Millais camp details.
Watford
Barracudas is coming to a great new site in Watford this year. Watford Grammar School for Girls is great for parents, with a convenient location, and even better for kids, with outstanding facilities. They'll love the addition of an indoor swimming pool in 2022!
See Watford camp details.
New specialist soccer camp
Kids loved our new football camps we introduced in 2021 so much that we were keen to find more opportunities for children to learn from the professionals!
Norwich City CSF are offering full week courses at our Cambridge Long Road, Huntingdon and Norwich camps this summer. This fantastic new official soccer camp will be ideal for girls and boys aged 7-12 years old to develop their football skills and techniques.
Last year we introduced courses led by Palace for Life Foundation and West Ham United Foundation and we're really pleased to be welcoming an additional professional coaching body to our family.
See our football courses.
Skill Zone at Welwyn Ridgeway Academy
Barracudas are introduced a brand new offering to Welwyn kids this Easter and have additional courses for summer!
Barracudas Skill Zone gives kids the chance to learn from the experts with our specialist courses.
Let's Bake!
This 3 day course is ideal for mini chef's looking to hone their skills. The professionals from Smart Raspberry will tutor them in a range of kitchen skills with each day based around a different fun theme. The bonus for you is that they'll bring home all the delicious treats they've made for you to try!
Get full details.
Let's Code!
Barracudas is partnering with Blue Shift Coding to offer specialist robotics and coding activities for 8 - 13 year olds. The sessions are planned and led by a team of professionals who are passionate about teaching kids to code and gain vital digital literacy skills. They’ll love developing a passion for coding and robots through a balance of learning and playing.
Get full details.
Let's Dance!
Barracudas is partnering with North Central Herts School of Dance to provide expert dance training for 6-10 year olds. The fully trained experts will work with the group to learn a themed routine each day. Children will gain strengths in popular dance styles and have the freedom to develop their creativity and confidence.
Get full details.
Bite Size
Kids will be kept entertained during the school hours in this course available to book for single days, or the full week. With 4 sessions between 9am and 3pm, this will keep them in the routine, but with a chance to play. They'll enjoy a sports session, a creative session, a teambuilding session and a life skills session each day.
Get full details.
All in all, we've got lots of things to look forward to at camp this summer. We can't wait to see you there!