Summer Residential Camp

The camp follows an experiential, outdoor‑based learning approach with a focus on fun, teamwork, and building confidence. There are no traditional language or grammar lessons. Children are divided into groups of approximately 12, grouped by age. Each group stays with the same two instructors (one female, one male) for the whole week. The programme is intensive: at least six activities are offered every day, designed to encourage independence, challenge participants, and develop new skills.

The package includes all meals, accommodation, at least six activities every day, 24‑hour on‑site staff support, and full use of camp facilities. A non‑refundable deposit is required at booking. Optional extras available for an additional charge: staying the Saturday evening and Sunday morning between two weeks (for children staying for two weeks), a seat on the private coach from London (one‑way or return), and ordering T‑shirts or hoodies. Pocket money for the tuck shop is recommended.

Children sleep in bedrooms located in the main Victorian house, the Clubhouse (a converted barn), or the Garden Cabins. Rooms have bunk beds, most with en‑suite bathrooms, and accommodate 4 to 12 children of similar ages. The camp provides a drying room and washing lines for wet clothes; for children staying two weeks, laundry is done at no extra charge at the end of the first week.

All meals are included (full board). Food is home‑cooked, locally sourced, with most vegetables grown in the camp’s own garden. Special diets (e.g., dairy‑free, coeliac) are catered for – the kitchen is made aware at mealtimes by the group leader. Each Friday there is a themed banquet.

At least six activities are offered every day. The extensive list includes: abseiling, archery, archery tag, axe throwing, animal feeding, assault course, bridge building, Burmah bridge, bushcraft, camping, canoeing, pizza making, climbing tower, crate stack, crafts, crazy Olympics, crossing the river, disco, entertainments, escape room, expedition, garden to table, grass toboggans, gladiators wall, gun run, great wall, great egg race, high all aboard, hunt the instructor, leap of faith, low ropes, night line, night walk, orienteering, parachute games, pirates plank, raft building, search and rescue, survival game, swimming, treasure hunt, tunnelling, water slide, wide games, and zip wires. The oldest group (“Otters”) takes part in a 24‑hour challenge involving map reading, hiking, bushcraft, abseiling, and paddle boarding. The focus is on fun, team building, and trying new challenges.

The camp is set on a site with a river, large zip wire, high ropes course, climbing tower, assault course, water slide, and outdoor activity areas. There are no smart classrooms, Wi‑Fi, or indoor sports halls – the camp promotes a “Total Digital Detox” with no electronic devices. On‑site facilities include a kitchen, dining area, bedrooms, a tuck shop, washing lines, and a drying room.

Mill on the Brue has been running summer camps since 1982. It has a “home from home” atmosphere, with many children returning year after year and forming lasting friendships. The staff – including instructors, group leaders, and housekeeping – are fun, encouraging, kind, and experienced. Children gain independence, confidence, and new practical skills through a screen‑free, nature‑immersed week. They learn teamwork, overcome fears (e.g., climbing, zip wire), try activities like bushcraft, canoeing, archery, and raft building, and form lasting friendships in a caring, “home from home” atmosphere. Many return year after year, and the oldest group enjoys a special 24‑hour challenge involving map reading, hiking, bushcraft, abseiling, and paddle boarding. The camp is known for its warm, energetic staff, themed banquets, and a strong sense of community that helps children feel safe, supported, and truly present in the moment.