Summer Holiday Camps 2025 - Keep Those Little Ones Busy! 🌞

Right then, parents of Harpenden - it's that time of year again when the six-week summer holidays loom large and you're frantically googling "how to entertain children for 42 days straight" 😅 Well, fear not! We've rounded up all the brilliant holiday camps happening right here on our doorstep this summer, and honestly, your kids are going to have an absolute blast!

Cascade Camps have taken over the gorgeous Katherine Warrington School with all its shiny new facilities 🏫 We're talking sports halls, dance studios, drama spaces, tennis courts, astro turf, art rooms AND acres of fields surrounded by woods (perfect for wearing out those energetic little monkeys!). They're welcoming ages 3-14 from 21st July right through to 22nd August, running weekly sessions that'll have your children bouncing home with stories of their adventures. Check them out at cascadecamps.com - seriously, with facilities like these, you might want to sign yourself up too!

For all the budding scientists out there, Mad Science is bringing their hands-on holiday camp to Roundwood Park Secondary 🧪⚗️ Perfect for ages 4-11, they're running from 28th July to 1st August with a different exciting topic each day. Your little ones will be solving problems, investigating mysteries, and creating take-home projects that'll have them explaining the wonders of science over dinner (prepare for some very enthusiastic show-and-tell sessions!). Book through madsciencehb.classforkids.io because let's be honest, anything that gets kids excited about learning deserves a gold star.

Tennis fans, rejoice! Elliswick Lawn Tennis Club is serving up some serious fun with their summer holiday tennis camps 🎾 They're welcoming both members and non-members across different age groups - the 5-8 year olds and 8-10 year olds get morning sessions at Sir John Lawes from 10am-12pm, while the 11+ crowd hits the courts at Elliswick from 12:30-3:30pm. Running from 28th July through to 29th August (with a sneaky extra week at the end), these camps are perfect for getting the kids active in the fresh air while actually learning proper skills. Pop over to bookings.elliswickltc.co.uk to secure your spot!

Harpenden Kids Multi-Activity Holiday Camp at Roundwood Primary is bringing the full works 🎪 Ages 5-12 can dive into sports, team challenges, inflatables, and battlezone action from 9am-4pm, Monday 28th July through Friday 22nd August. The brilliant thing? You don't need to be a pupil at the school to join in the fun! Check out apex360.co.uk/holidaycamps/roundwood for all the bouncy, active goodness your children's hearts desire.

The Little Gym is keeping things moving rain or shine for ages 3-12 with their themed camps combining sport, creativity, and learning 🤸‍♀️ Running from 21st July to 31st August (closed on Bank Holiday Monday 25th August because even camp organisers need a breather!), they offer both half and full-day options. These camps are legendary for building confidence while keeping kids active and laughing - what more could you want? Head to harpenden.thelittlegym.co.uk/camps to get your little gymnasts signed up.

Music lovers, Musicale has got you covered with proper orchestral and musical theatre magic at Katherine Warington School 🎵 Week one (28th July - 1st August) focuses on Orchestra & Windbands plus Step Up to Music, while week two (4th-8th August) adds Musical Theatre into the mix. Running 9:30am-3:30pm for ages 5-18, they welcome everyone from Grade 1 beginners right up to diploma level musicians. Visit musicale.co.uk/holiday-course-information-2025 to give your young maestros the summer of their musical dreams!

Artshed Holiday Camps are perfect for your creative souls aged 6-12 (5-year-olds welcome at their discretion) 🎨 Running 9:30am-3:30pm from 28th July to 22nd August, they guide children through different art projects each day. The typical format is brilliant - 2-day camps Monday-Tuesday and Wednesday-Thursday with canvas painting one day and watercolour the next, plus single-day Friday sessions. They even offer wraparound care from 8:30-9:30am and 3:30-4:30pm for busy parents. Check out shedloadsoffun.com/art-camps.html - because every child deserves to create their masterpiece!

Barracudas at Aldwickbury School is bringing the ultimate summer camp experience for ages 4-14 🏊‍♂️ With an indoor pool, sports hall, performance hall, art studio, archery range (minimum age 7), and even a motorsports track, this place has everything! Running 21st July to 22nd August with standard hours 8:30am-5:30pm (or extend to 8am-6pm with Early and Late Clubs), they'll swim as often as possible subject to lifeguard availability. Book at barracudas.co.uk/camps/harpenden for the full works!

FizzBug School Holiday Clubs welcome ages 3-11 with exciting opportunities to build confidence and make friends 🐛 They're running multiple themed clubs including Grove Cookery Club, Multi Activity Holiday Club (at Grove, Crabtree & Harpenden Leisure Centre), Football Fun Holiday Club, and Arts & Crafts Holiday Club. These sessions are designed to help children become part of a team while getting fitter and having tremendous fun. Visit fizzbug.co.uk/holiday-clubs for all the buzzing details!

Football mad? Titans FA Holiday Camp at St George's School caters for ages 5-14 from 21st July to 29th August ⚽ With incredible indoor and outdoor facilities, they play rain or shine, and their tailored programme ensures every child has fun while learning and developing throughout the week. Daily prizes add extra excitement to an already brilliant setup. Book through activities.bookpebble.co.uk - your future Premier League stars will thank you!

Baking Buddies are whisking up some serious fun for ages 5+ with all-day baking experiences from 9am-3pm 👩‍🍳 Running 23rd July to 29th August at High Beeches Primary and Manland Primary, they split into age-appropriate groups: Mini classes (5-7), Midi classes (6-11), and Maxi classes (9+). These sessions teach practical life skills while boosting confidence and independence - plus your kids come home with delicious treats! Book at bakingbuddiesfun.co.uk/club-and-holiday-camp-bookings for some tasty summer learning.

Finally, Showtime Circus is bringing the magic to Roundwood Park School with not one but TWO incredible camps! 🎪 The first runs 28th July to 1st August for ages 6-17 with aerial hoop, silks, acrobatics, hand balancing, contortion, hula hoop, poi, juggling and more - it's a full day of circus wonder! Their second camp runs 25th-29th August for ages 5-14, where children will "climb high, twirl with delight and giggle with glee" learning aerial arts, trapeze, and juggling with awesome circus instructors. Book through showtimecircus.classforkids.io/camps because who doesn't want to run away and join the circus for a week?

There you have it, Harpenden - a summer's worth of adventures, learning, and memories waiting to happen right here in our lovely town! Your biggest challenge now is choosing which amazing camps to book (or convincing the kids they can't do ALL of them... though honestly, why not give it a try?). Happy summer holidays, everyone! 🌟