https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:41:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summer-camps-abroad#post-2863620 Wed, 26 Dec 2018 15:35:24 +0000 PinkElephant 2863620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: Gotcha! If you were thinking sleepaway (and I have a 6.5 year old who is DEFINITELY not ready for that, so I understand why you're not), I was going to suggest checking out camps around Lake Placid, NY. There are a lot (my sister worked at a few during her college summers) in that area, they start pretty young, so you could probably find something for your son. Even if you're only looking at day-activities, that could be a really fun place in the US to consider.</p> <p>I really like this idea you have - it might take some work to execute, but has a potentially really fun outcome for your whole family. I also think @808love: has the right idea, which focuses on programs designed for vacationing families rather than summer camps designed for "local" kids. Not to be a downer, but I think securing a place in a summer camp could be a little trickier, just based on my own experience with pre registration for my kids' daycamps - the best ones give priority to local people/"members" of the organization, and fill up within minutes of registration opening (greater NYC area/suburbs, so maybe it's not like this everywhere)...and this process happens early, like Feb or March for summer programs starting at the end of June. That doesn't make it impossible, but does mean that you'll need to plan ahead (which you're doing!), and that you might not want to book your air travel until you're sure DS has a place in a camp.</p> <p>Also, having been an expat in Hong Kong and Tokyo, my experience was that most expat families with kids and international school staff head home for an extended summer holiday - so there may not be a high demand for camps put on by those institutions. While it wouldn't hurt to check with international schools, I think your best bet might be to look for programs offered by organizations (like the YMCA, which actually does exist in some other countries), community centers, and private clubs (Hong Kong examples would be the Football Club, Ladies Recreation Club, American Club, etc.). </p> <p>I think if you want to go to another country, your best bet might be to choose that location, then try to join a forum or Facebook group for expat parents in that city. I was part of several of these in Hong Kong, and they were such valuable resources. The moms in those countries will know which direction to point you!</p> <p>Singapore and Bangkok are good cities for English speakers, and you might find something in Mumbai as well. I adore Tokyo for both adults and kids, but you'd probably be a bit more limited there for English speaking camp options due to the issue of many English speakers going home for the summer, and Tokyo families seeming less focused on their kids learning English that Hong Kong families - you could check with American School in Japan, Tokyo Montessori School, and the GaijinPot forum.</p> <p>WOW that was long - sorry! Hope some of it is helpful. If you want Hong Kong ideas, let me know...but I am assuming since you were there last summer, and have family there, you may want a different location this time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summer-camps-abroad#post-2863614 Wed, 26 Dec 2018 14:23:06 +0000 808love 2863614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've done this before and plan on continuing to do this. DD took a week long Pacific Science Center camp in Seattle and Ski Adventure Camp in Whistler. When we go to Europe she's going to take a French cooking class. Declined a week's worth of courses because I wasn't sure if it was worth it. This is definitely the way to travel. Your child gets enrichment and you have time to explore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summer-camps-abroad#post-2863583 Wed, 26 Dec 2018 05:42:33 +0000 lamariniere 2863583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: there are a ton of summer programs here. It’s all info from 2018, but I imagine most of them will have similar programs for 2019. <a href="http://www.bkkkids.com/blog/summer-day-camps-kids-2018/" rel="nofollow">http://www.bkkkids.com/blog/summer-day-camps-kids-2018/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summer-camps-abroad#post-2863573 Tue, 25 Dec 2018 20:07:26 +0000 irene 2863573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Ooo, Australia is a good thought! I have friends there, and DH has said it several times we should go back again (we went when DS was 5 months. Great times even though we had breastfeeding dilemma we had back then. So glad I no longer have to do that lol :grin: ). I can even reach out to my friend and see if she has any leads (she has a same age child as I do). And wow for the broadway singing camp! </p> <p>ETA: Just mentioned to DH about Australia and summer camp, and he said it would be winter there and do they have "winter camp" lol. Good point. hmm </p> <p>@Amorini: Wow, thanks! I'd love to go to Switzerland - I will definitely check it out!</p> <p>@looch: Yeah right? All of us should pick a place and do a hellobee meet up that way, haha. And good for you for sending your DS to Europe for a couple of weeks! And thanks for the link . I will check it out!</p> <p>@PinkElephant: For now day camps (he's going to be 7 and we'd first have to do a US sleep-away camp before going international.... and we are not quite there yet), but I'd love your thoughts on both day camps and sleep away!</p> <p>@lamariniere: Bangkok would be so lovely-- If it is not too much trouble please do share! DH has some sort of unexplained reluctance to go to Bangkok (I have suggested it so many times and we never ended up there, Bangkok and Vietnam, I don't know why), but I am sure others who is following this may be interested!</p> <p>@Baby Boy Mom: :heart: :heart: :heart:<br /> Actually for the Hong Kong one we went to, it was advertised as an english camp and they said they were going to speak English, but it is for local kids to improve their English, so while instructors and leaders spoke English, the kids themselves spoke Chinese amongst themselves. My son doesn't speak but he understands Cantonese, so it was a pretty ideal scenario for us. I like that he gets to interact with local children, and we get to interact with Chinese tiger parents... (we got a complaint from an over-protective parent about DS the first day of camp about something ridiculous, it was hilarious. Even the camp supervisor said we could ignore it) but that's a different story :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summer-camps-abroad#post-2863569 Tue, 25 Dec 2018 19:25:50 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2863569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is an interesting idea. I’m following to see what people have to say. We have thought about doing an international day camp, but then it wouldn’t be in English...the point for us would be for them to improve in other languages. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summer-camps-abroad#post-2863562 Tue, 25 Dec 2018 18:25:06 +0000 lamariniere 2863562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: when we lived in Austria, that was true as far as international schools and local schools not mixing so much. DS did a few Austrian day camps the last year we were there (tennis camp and science camp), but they were all in German and the English language ones were more about learning English. <a href="https://www.teamactivities.at" rel="nofollow">https://www.teamactivities.at</a></p> <p>I know there are English language summer daycamps here in Bangkok, I remember seeing ads for swimming and tennis camps, and I could get more info if you are interested. There are also a lot of international schools here and they may offer summer programs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summer-camps-abroad#post-2863553 Tue, 25 Dec 2018 17:27:49 +0000 PinkElephant 2863553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: Are you looking for sleepaway (residential) camps, or day camps where you'd pick him up at the close of the day? I have a few thoughts depending which! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summer-camps-abroad#post-2863552 Tue, 25 Dec 2018 17:19:53 +0000 looch 2863552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is an interesting idea you have irene, I am intrigued myself. So, I started thinking about it and doing some searching and came across this website....</p> <p><a href="https://www.internationalschoolparent.com" rel="nofollow">https://www.internationalschoolparent.com</a></p> <p>My experience , particularly in Europe, is that you're either international school or local school and the two don't really mix. If you want that "local" flavor, you're probably not going to find it unless you know locals, not to discourage you.</p> <p>Share what you find! We are thinking of sending our son to Europe for a few weeks this summer to be with family while we possibly do an excursion to the side. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summer-camps-abroad#post-2863548 Tue, 25 Dec 2018 14:28:17 +0000 Amorini 2863548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My friends have a summer home in Crans-Montana, Switzerland and there is at least one summer camp there. I’ve come across this one while visiting them there. <a href="https://www.campmontana.ch" rel="nofollow">https://www.campmontana.ch</a><br /> It’s a beautiful location in the Swiss Alps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summer-camps-abroad#post-2863535 Tue, 25 Dec 2018 11:13:19 +0000 Anagram 2863535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am sure there are summer camps affiliated with international schools in s lot of countries. You could google for Dubai or Singapore. UK/Australia would obviously be English speaking. </p> <p>We live in the NYC area and there are some “broadway” singing/dancing/theater camps taught by actual broadway actors. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summer-camps-abroad#post-2863534 Tue, 25 Dec 2018 10:46:04 +0000 irene 2863534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thought this may be a long shot, but since we have international bees here thought I'd give it a try...</p> <p>Several summer camps has already sent me notification on their registration opening in January! This leads me to think if we can do something special and incorporate it into a traveling plan.</p> <p>Last year my mom was sick (and eventually passed away) and I had to travel to Hong Kong for a period of time. DH and DS came along toward the end. Thankfully DH somehow found an international summer camp where kids go to field trips and learn to write about the experience. They all collaborate to make a "magazine" at the end about their week. It was quite awesome and at the same time, it was nice because DS was taken care of when we had to take care of grown up things, such as going to the bank, arranging for the funeral...etc. While DS went to really exciting places, like the Ocean Park, museums, and such.</p> <p>This year I am thinking will there be summer camps abroad, that we can actually plan a trip out of, and enroll DS to one of them for a few days / week or so? Wouldn't it be nice if he gets to mingle with local children and doing kids things while we get to do some grown up traveling without worrying DS possibly be bored? I mentioned it to DH and he said "good luck, you will not be able to find any" but thought this resourceful community may have a lead to it. I am thinking something more reasonable will be Netherlands, or something in Europe and at least there is a higher chance I can find something that speaks English, or that are for kids of expats. Another thought would be Singapore, also a very decent city where people speaks English there.</p> <p>Or even any camp in your area (within the US) that you'd highly recommend, that you can probably not be able to find it anywhere in the US, I'd love to consider too!</p> <p>Thoughts? Thank you so much! </p>