03/02/2022
Barracudas Activity Day Camps will have been giving children an amazing time in the school holidays at our Easter camps and summer camps for 30 years this year!
As we reach this exciting milestone, we wanted to share some insights into how we started, where we’ve come and what’s coming up. You’ll get an insight into the workings of Barracudas and everything that goes on behind the scenes so we can deliver the UK’s favourite activity day camps, year by year.
In this series, we’ll be offering a sneak peak into the workings of Barracudas; our values, our purpose, our development and what this means for our parents and kids! From how we came about and our first school holiday camps right through to where we are today.
Where it all began
We introduced our camps back in 1992 when the activity camp landscape was very different to today. Our company founder, Neil Greatorex had worked in the industry for several years both in the UK and rolling holiday camps out in Australia. With this experience behind him he had a vision for creating a new opportunity for school holiday activity camps. Right from the beginning he was committed to quality camps offering exceptional fun and new experiences for kids.
Strong set of values
Barracudas Activity Camps began with a set of uncodified values: communication, fun, innovation, personal development, professionalism and teamwork. As the company grew it was clear that these are the principles which shaped us and continue to drive forward the development of Barracudas, so in 2005 they were confirmed as our guiding values. These are embedded in everything we do - from the activities we offer at camp, to the booking process and parent support right through to our recruitment process and camp management.
First camps
Beginning with one summer camp in London and one in Surrey, Barracudas really did start as a small fish in a big pond. There weren’t many holiday clubs available to children in these early years but even then, we offered something different. Barracudas didn’t follow the pack. Our activity day camps went above and beyond to offer the widest range of activities to suit every child’s interests.
Barracudas was committed to delivering maximum fun to kids and giving them the chance to try things they’d never done before. We wanted kids to keep active and entertained in the long school holidays, and for parents to be able to send them to camp with peace of mind. Barracudas’ success has largely been down to our promise to give them such an amazing experience at camp that they can’t wait to come back. No reluctant children dragging their heels in the morning rush!
Going strong
Over the decades we’ve been offering school holiday fun for kids, and we’re pleased to say that as we enter our 30th year Barracudas has never stopped developing. Now with 45 summer camps and 37 Easter camps, we’ve carefully managed our growth to make sure we offer the same exceptional experience at each camp and that every child has maximum fun.
Our core values have guided us through periods of growth and are at the heart of how we operate. Also at our centre are the key relationships we’ve made, from children at camp, to our host schools and seasonal staff. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved and look forward to the next phase of Barracudas Activity Day Camps!
Look out for more insights from our 30 years of fun weekly series! Here's Part 2 - Starting Out, Part 3 - Growing up, Part 4 - Expanding the Family, Part 5 - Latest Years and Part 6 - The Future's Bright.