Updated: February 9, 2024
This summer we yearn to explore new places and international sleep-away camps could be just the thing to help your child develop life skills and have an unforgettable summer.
Below are 10 of the coolest international overnight camps around the world, ranging from soccer camps in Europe to cultural exchange in Costa Rica to horseback riding in England to a sports camp in Australia. The camps below allow a variety of ages, interests and experiences.
Atlas Tennis creates youth tennis camp experiences for teenagers to travel, compete, and grow both on and off the court. Athletes will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of official tournaments across various countries. This offers a distinctive chance to explore diverse tennis cultures worldwide and develop invaluable skills such as match endurance, mental resilience, and adaptability to triumph in various settings, surfaces, and against unfamiliar adversaries.
Whale Camp has marine science programs that are designed to be a hands-on, fun, experiential learning adventure, available for tweens and teens aged 10 – 17 years old. Campers can stay for one or two weeks of ecology lessons, with days for watching marine life at sea, data collection, research, and more.
Learn & Experience creates opportunities for kids to connect from different backgrounds and cultures to grow with a sense of adventure, curiosity, and empathy. ‘World Camp’ is available in both the U.K. and Canada, where kids from 8-15yo can take advantage of adventure, sport, and creative options for fun in the mornings and afternoons, International Campers can take time developing their language skills, and teens in the Young Global Leaders program can develop their leadership skills and enjoy wilderness experiences.
‘Teen Travel’ trips in the UK from Learn & Experience offer those aged 14-17 years old a unique experience where teens have control over their journey. Accompanied by L&E Travel Mentors, teens explore in groups of 8-10 with input on budget, itinerary, and food choices. These trips go beyond traditional education, combining immersive learning, cultural exchange, and thrilling adventures for personal growth and global awareness. With L&E Teen Travel, education becomes an adventure.
Soccer Camps International offers Elite International Youth Soccer Camps in England, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal with famous European soccer clubs like Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Atletico de Madrid, Juventus, AC Milan, Paris Saint Germain, Benfica Lisbon and more. Many of these Official Summer Soccer Camps provide soccer training sessions at the Exclusive Official Club Training Sites where the Clubs First Team and Academy players practice daily. Boys and Girls ages 7 to 18 years old can choose from residential or day camp sessions, goalkeeper sessions, and language options (Spanish and French). Players from all over the world participate at these elite camps each summer to experience soccer at their best!
Les Elfes Summer & Winter Camps. Les Elfes offers summer and winter camps in Switzerland. Summer students from 6-17 years old spend 2-4 week-sessions in Verbier, one of the most famous ski resorts in Switzerland! Students will enjoy their days with outdoor activities, language classes, sports, and excursions. Over 40 exciting outdoor activities are available, such as rock climbing, mountain biking, ropes courses, wakeboarding, tubing, paragliding, basketball, hiking, swimming, ice skating, tennis, golf, horseback riding and many more.
Les Elfes Winter Camp also offers ski or snowboard lessons, from very beginner to advanced level, combined with optional language lessons and exciting after-ski activities and excursions.
Camp Cooper. Camp Cooper is an overnight camp based in Scotland for kids 7-17 from around the world. Camp sessions range from one week to five weeks, and they offer a variety of activities, including dance, journalism, circus skills, mountain biking, film-making, sports, and more. Additionally, they offer English language sessions for those who need them.
Travel for Teens. Instead of an overnight camp based in one place, Travel for Teens allows kids 13-18 to travel the world, holding trips in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. These trips range from 6 to 23 days. The variety of trips is large – some include volunteering at an animal rescue in Costa Rica, scuba-diving in Fiji, and photography in Venice.
Lingua Service Spanish Summer Camps. While Teen Spanish only offers programs for teens and families, Lingua Service Worldwide offers a variety of summer Spanish camps throughout Spain for children ranging in age from 5 to 17. They offer 12 different camps, each held at a different Spanish school throughout the country. Camps vary individually in what they offer; some provide home stay opportunities and free time while others have on-site accommodations and 24/7 supervision. There’s likely to be a perfect fit for any child interested in learning more about the Spanish culture and language.
Sports Camp Australia offers summer camps in over 14 different sports, including tennis, golf, and swimming. There are camps available for those as young as 6 and international campers are welcome. Overnight programs typically include 30+ hours of sport practice along with all meals and housing.
Village Camps Summer Riding Program. Village Camp offers a high-end equestrian camp in York, England. The camp is held at the esteemed Follifoot Riding Centre and is available to riders of all levels, with at least an hour being spent in the saddle each morning for a lesson. Afternoons are available for down-time and games with the horses.
Regardless of where you send your child, an international overnight camp is something they are unlikely to forget. The experience will bring them more confidence, valuable life skills, and fond memories. If you do not think your child is quite ready to travel internationally yet, check out these sleep away camps in your area as another alternative to international overnight camps.