Donate to help more children have access to summer camps. The Summer Camps Trust supports the running of week long residential summer camps for children across the UK.

In December, to raise money for more children to be able to go on summer camps, I will be livestreaming a 24hr cycle with 2 of my friends to try and raise awareness about summer camps, and promote their benefit.

I will be documenting my training and cycling on Instagram @cycl1ngs1nger

https://www.instagram.com/cycl1ngs1nger?igsh=MXc5OXIwY3B4eXViNQ==

Camp Information:

All camps are full of fun indoor and outdoor activities for children aged 8-15, including loads of games, crafts, exploring the countryside, den building, songs, and stories around campfires plus much more.

Children on camp are looked after by young adults that have all completed a week long residential Young Camp Leader training programme. This is an intensive course that teaches our Young Leaders all the fun games, songs, activities and skills they need to lead an engaging and enjoyable camp. They also learn extensive safeguarding skills.

My story:

Hiya, My name is Simeon.

I'm 19 years old and I'm currently doing an apprenticeship in outdoor activity instructing. I work primarily with school children and people with SEN. But what motivates me and what I do is a dream. I've got a dream that every child should have access and opportunity to spend time outdoors. From working outdoors I've noticed more and more that children nowadays are lacking spaces to explore the outdoors. Not just lacking the spaces but also the opportunity to.

I know I'm young, but even in my lifetime areas of greenery I played in as a kid have already started disappearing. In my short life so far, its difficult to imagine how much has changed over the last 90.

Last year I met one of the most amazing, inspirational people I have ever met. His name is Chris Green.

Chris has been involved with summer camps since the 1950s. Helping establish and run a company called Colony Holidays (1960s-1980s) which then evolved into Active Training and Education which still runs today. Then in 2015 he set up a charity called the Summer Camps Trust, which aims to act as a body for summer camps companies to communicate and work with each other, also running a few camps of their own.

Many parents struggle to afford mainstream camps, so The Summer Camps Trust aims to not just create camps but make them accessible to all. Lowering costs for those that can't afford made possible by donations, and providing as much support as possible.

Just a few weeks ago Chris decided to walk the length of the Malvern Hills to raise money for The Summer Camps Trust. The last thing to mention is that he planned this walk for the day before his 90th birthday. And he still managed to walk a fair distance, despite also just having had a new hip a few weeks before.

When I met Chris I was training to become a summer camp young leader, he was leading my training course along with a few others. All those people in one way or another helped me realise the benefit of summer camps and outdoor education.

So to think how much the world has changed since Chris first started helping out on and running camps is pretty mind boggling.

Since my training course in 2024 I've taken part in 3 summer camps, attended a leaders weekend and helped out in supporting Chris's walk in the Malvern Hills. Despite these events being few, they have all left a mark on me. Each one has left me buzzing with excitement to do another.

On each of the summer camps I've volunteered on, I've interacted with many different kids from different backgrounds. To me that is joy of summer camps: lots of different children from different places and backgrounds all shy at first, but by the end of the week everyone leaves feeling like you've built a mini family. You don't only see a community building throughout the week, but also a development in the kids emotional intelligence and confidence. Skills that are so integral to life.

Not only do summer camps give kids from different backgrounds to meet and connect, it also helps them disconnect from the crazy world of technology and screens, and return to playing games, telling stories and singing songs outside.

Donating will enable for more and more children to have access to this experience. It will enable children to gain numberless life skills, and friends that might last a lifetime. Any amount you're able to donate will be greatly appreciated. One of the greatest things to help us out would also be to spread the word, let people know about The Summer Camps Trust and how it helps children and young adults find themselves.

If anyone has any questions regarding summer camps or our 24 hour cycle please contact me.