ACADEMIC CAMP HOLIDAYS, BRISTOL

Where Fun Meets Knowledge: Redefine Your Holidays!

About the Programme

Enjoy Academic Camps during the holidays that allow you to unwind while empowering you to develop new skills for life and study.  

Our Holiday camps are tailored to students aged 12 to 18 and are ideal for those who want to explore the beautiful South West of England or international boarders who prefer to stay in the UK during their holidays.

Join us during the October half-term holidays or your spring holidays during Easter and experience the lovely campus of Sidcot School, a boarding school in the beautiful Mendip Hills near Bristol.  

Our camps are inspiring and challenging, offering opportunities to discover new passions and enhance your communicative language. Enjoy a dynamic and fun learning environment where you can explore your creativity and have an adventure. STEAM, Culinary Arts, Creativity and Innovation, and Entrepreneurship—there is something for everyone!

LOCATION

Experience the scenic beauty of the British countryside with the captivating Mendip Hills as the backdrop. Our host school is Sidcot School, a traditional boarding school with a large, beautiful campus. The school is 45 minutes from Bristol city centre and takes under two hours to reach London. Sidcot is an ideal location to enjoy the safe and tranquil countryside and experience the adventure of campfires, archery and bush crafts. It is a stone's throw from Cheddar Gorge, a national heritage site where the famous cheese is produced.

Bristol is a vibrant city that is fashionable and free-spirited, so it is no surprise that Banksy started here with a spray paint can. Bristol's famous Clifton Suspension Bridge is a testament to the innovative engineering of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and has shaped the city's landscape and historical importance. It is also home to the renowned Cabot Circus, a great place to shop, so there is an opportunity to enjoy city life and the amazing countryside.

Accomondation Bristol Academic Summer Summer
Front of accommodation students
Common area academic summer Newcomb
Pond
Common room student accommodation
Hub
Newcomb accomodation bedroom
Science
Academic summer student room entrance
Hub 2
Academic Summer Holidays - Library
Dining room
Nature at Bristol campus

ACCOMMODATION

We extend a warm welcome to boarders during the holidays. This is for students aged 12-18 who are seeking an exceptional holiday experience. Our comfortable boarding houses feature shared bedrooms, common rooms and well-equipped kitchens, ensuring a homely atmosphere. We want you to feel part of our family during the holidays, and a place to relax and chill out after a busy term.

Boarding includes full board in our school dining room, but there is also the occasional meal out when we are in London. 

Whether you're a boarding student already in the UK who wants to join us for your holidays, or you require an extra night or day to work with your travel arrangements, or you're an international student wanting a short course to get a taste of boarding, or you just fancy something difference, then Academic Camp Holidays offers a memorable holiday for you. 

The Weekly Schedule

TIMEWHAT IS HAPPENING?
8.00Breakfast (Optional if you want a lie in!)
9.00Fit, Fun and Fabulous (Optional activities)
10.30Break 
11.00Morning Camp Session 
13.00Lunch 
14.00Afternoon Camp Session 
16.00Camp Team Games: Unleashing Fun and Friendship
17.00Chill out time
18.00Dinner
19.00Free time on Campus / Swimming and Sports Hall
22.00Time to Get Ready for Bed (you must be in your own rooms and quiet by 23.00)

 

Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays!

During your holidays, we offer full-day exciting trips on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, ensuring you get a great taste of the beautiful South West of England. Sundays are a shorter trip in the local area so plenty of time to relax and have some free time or study.  Each holiday you will get a chance to visit London for some shopping and sightseeing.

 

LEARNING

Enjoy a Learning Adventure During the Holidays: Where Fun Meets Knowledge

Learning should be dynamic and engaging, and we are committed to breaking away from the traditional classroom setting. We understand that you are looking for something different after a busy school term. Our holiday approach is centred around fun, challenge and personal growth. We believe in the power of trying new things, working as a team and gaining practical skills that will be good for your future. Let's embrace imagination, foster creativity, stay active, and embark on exciting journeys during the holidays while creating memories and making great friendships. We want to ensure your holiday is enriching and enjoyable. 

Giedre in Class
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Girl learning
Food boy

Redefine your Holidays!

Enriching Learning Environment: Our camps are crafted to ignite a passion for learning. Through interactive and hands-on activities, we provide an environment where creativity is unleashed

Challenging: We offer camps that push boundaries and encourage you to try something new

A Global Community: By collaborating with locals and students from all over the world, you will gain cultural insights and develop teamwork and communication skills

Dedicated Staff: Our staff team are passionate about inspiring you, and most importantly, they want you to have a great time during your holidays

Examples of the Camps we Offer:

Adventure Camp

Get ready for the ultimate adventure. We've covered everything from team sports to mastering bushcraft skills, survival techniques and boosting fitness levels. Our campers will embrace the great outdoors and build resilience, teamwork, and self-confidence while facing challenges. Join us for a week of unforgettable experience where the spirit of adventure knows no bounds and lifelong skills are learned.

Academic Skills Camp

Sharpen your critical thinking, essay writing, research skills, revision and exam techniques, presentation and interview abilities - essential skills for success. You will participate in discussions around current affairs, global issues, and cultural topics to learn how to analyse, express, and impress as you enhance your academic ability. This camp is usually offered during the Easter holiday to help students during the exam season. 

Creative Expressions Camp

The Creative Expressions Camp offers a vibrant experience where you can unleash your artistic potential and build confidence in your self-expression. You will enhance your communication skills through a diverse range of areas, including public speaking, performance and body language workshops. You will also explore hands-on crafts like jewellery making, origami, clay modelling and still-life drawing. This camp offers an environment for creativity to flourish.  

Entrepreneurship Camp

This camp focuses on entrepreneurship and innovation to nurture future visionaries and equip them to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Through academic and practical activities, you will develop essential life skills and leadership abilities and build the confidence to lead and shape the world. The camp is structured to build skills and knowledge, providing an engaging learning experience. 

STEAM Camp

The STEAM camp is perfect for learning about how the world works. This camp is excellent for budding engineers, software designers, or anyone interested in the exciting areas of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). You'll gain practical experience through hands-on learning and problem-solving. You'll learn about AI, programming, robotics, architecture, mechanics, technology, culinary skills and much more. Join us and develop your skills to be our future innovators!

We want to inspire and challenge you on our Spring Holiday Camps and you can enjoy our Robotics and Entrepreneurship Camps. Join us for an unforgettable experience that combines learning with creativity and exploration, leaving you inspired and ready to take on new challenges.  Of course, you will have plenty of time in the programme for individual revision and study.

Spring Holiday Camps 2025

Week 1 -  Robotics Camp

TechStudy at Academic Summer Camp

Join us for an exciting, hands-on robotics camp in partnership with Tech Study UK. Dive into the world of robotics, coding, and electronics through engaging challenges that make learning fun. Throughout the week, participants will learn to work with Arduino, develop essential coding skills and complete interactive hands-on projects. This camp combines hands-on learning with real-world challenges in engineering, robotics, and technology, making it both exciting and rewarding for everyone.

 MondayTuesdayThursdayFriday

Week One

 Robotics Camp

Arduino Environment

LED Control and Basic Electronics

Sensors Coding: Conditionals Lists 

Soldering Techniques 

Displaying Information

 Sensors Coding: Loops 

Building a Robot Arm

 Hands-on project

Using Motors
 

Building a Robot Car

Competiton and presentations

 

 

Week 2 - Entrepreneurship Camp

We aim to nurture future visionaries and equip you for a rapidly changing world. The focus will be on entrepreneurship and innovation within a business context. We will help you develop essential life skills and tools to be successful in the future. We want to inspire future innovators, empowering you to lead and shape the world. You will grow in confidence and develop your leadership and teamwork. 

 MondayTuesdayThursdayFriday

Week two

Entrepreneurship Camp

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Personality type and building your team

Generating ideas and business planning

Marketing and branding

Market research and competition

Building your personal brand

Budgets, cash flows and financial planning

Personal budgeting

Presentation Skills

Corporate Social Responsibility

AI and technology

Dragons Den and business pitches

Join us for two exciting weeks of discovery and growth. Whether you want to develop your innovative mindset or express your creativity, this October half-term is for you. 

In week one, be inspired by our Entrepreneurship Camp and develop essential skills for your future.

In week two, develop your creativity at the Creative Expressions Camp.

October Half-Term Camps

Week 1 - Entrepreneurship Camp

We aim to nurture future visionaries and equip you for a rapidly changing world. The focus will be on entrepreneurship and innovation within a business context. We will help you develop essential life skills and tools to be successful in the future. We want to inspire future innovators, empowering you to lead and shape the world. You will grow in confidence and develop your leadership and teamwork. 

 MondayTuesdayThursdayFriday

Week One

Entrepreneurship Camp

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Personality type and building your team

Generating ideas and business planning

Marketing and branding

Market research and competition

Building your personal brand

Budgets, cash flows and financial planning

Personal budgeting

Presentation Skills

Corporate Social Responsibility

AI and technology

Dragons Den and business pitches

 

Week 2 - Creative Expressions Camp

Get Ready to unleash your creativity at our Halloween-themed Creative Expressions Camp. Enjoy activities like drama performances inspired by classic horror tales, public speaking sessions that bring spooky stories to life, and body language workshops to master the art of suspense. Explore Halloween crafts such as haunted jewellery, eerie origami, or ghoulish clay sculptures, as well as still-life drawings with a spooky twist. This camp is a perfect blend of creativity and Halloween fun, offering a thrilling experience if you dare to join us! 

 MondayTuesdayThursdayFriday

Week Two

Creative Expressions Camp

Performance

Public speaking

Presentations

Body language 

Crafts

Origami

Clay sculptures

Halloween crafts

Performance

Drama

Debating

Interviewing 

Crafts

Jewellery making

Still-life drawing

 

CLIL APPROACH

Our teaching and learning approach is centred around Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) which gives a holistic approach to learning. According to Coyle (1999), the CLIL is based on the four Cs: 

1

CONTENT

2

COGNITION

3

COMMUNICATION

4

CULTURE

JOIN US AND UNLOCK THE BENEFITS OF CLIL:

  • Enhance your  Content  knowledge
  • Develop your  Cognition  skills - your thinking and learning
  • Improve your  Communication  skills in language 
  • Understand  Culture  and your role as a global citizen 

LEISURE

LEISURE

Academic Camp Holidays promises the perfect blend of learning and leisure (see schedule).  We believe in crafting a unique experience.  

Your days will be filled with engaging and enjoyable activities on campus.  Our expert instructors and camp counsellors will lead you through captivating lessons, interactive workshops and exciting challenges that will expand your knowledge and ignite your curiosity.

You will explore the beautiful South West, which will take you to some of the region's most iconic destinations, such as Exeter, Bristol, Bath, Cardiff and Oxford. For thrill-seekers, test your mettle with surfing at Saunton Sands in North Devon. 

Every half term, we have a special treat for you—a trip to London! Dive into the world of culture and history as you explore the world-famous museums, indulge in some shopping in Oxford Street, and stroll along the Southbank, taking in some of the famous sights.

At Academic Camp Holidays, we believe in creating a balanced and enriching experience that combines education with adventure.  Secure your spot today and embark on a break from school that promises growth, fun and lifelong memories.  

DATES AND FEES 2024/25

BOARDING STUDENTS

Age 12-18

 

October Half Term: 

Saturday 19 October to Saturday 2 November 2024

Spring Holidays:

Friday 4 April to Tuesday 22 April 2025

£165 / PER NIGHT 

Includes tuition, teaching materials, accommodation, meals, trips and activities. 

 

Are you already boarding in the UK? You can arrive on Friday 4th April  from 17.00 and depart on Tuesday 22nd April before 10am.

Booking Terms

To book, please complete our online application form. After booking, you will receive a confirmation letter and an invoice.

Payment details are on your invoice; full payment is due to secure a place on our course.

It is possible to join us as a day student, and the daily rate is £65

USEFUL INFORMATION

Boarding Students

Boarding students can arrive on Friday evenings from 17.00 during the half-term holidays.

On departure day, boarding students should move out of their bedrooms by 9.00

Boarding is counted per night of stay.

We are happy to arrange transfers from a UK airport or your boarding school in the UK (charged as extra). Don't hesitate to get in touch with us for a quotation.

Arrival and Departure Transfers

Transfers are not included in the fees. However, we can help you arrange a transfer and here are the extra charges for this:

Luton/Stansted/Gatwick: £510 each way

Heathrow: £410 each way

Bristol Airport: £120 each way

Bristol Temple Meads Train Station: £120 each way

We can also arrange your transfer from your boarding school, please contact us for a quotation. 

WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY ABOUT US?

Mohamed enajoyed Academic Summer Camp quote
12 years old girl enjoyed Academic Summer Bristol quote

It is my second time attending Academic Camp. I really enjoy the diverse activities, like city visits and paddleboarding. I've made friends from various countries, like Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Iran, they are interesting and different from the friends I met at school.

Click on the photo to watch Mohamed's interview

Mohammed (14) Afganistan

The best is getting to eat after the activities.  The food is amazing!!  I learnt lots of different things and had a lot of fun with new people.  I loved the climbing and archery.  My favourite moment was when we played hide and seek.

Clemence (12) France

BOOK NOW

Please complete our online application form. You will receive a confirmation letter and invoice shortly after booking.

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