If you’re wondering how to entertain your children this summer holiday and are looking for something a bit different, High 5 holiday camps in Plymouth are hosting a range of new clubs that could suit your children, whatever their interests.
You may have already heard about High 5 holiday camps that have been running across the city for several years. My boys have been for the last 2 years and loved them.
But this year Ofsted-registered High 5 have expanded their offering even further with all sorts of great clubs going on. It’s no longer just a holiday camp you drop your kids off to for childcare each day. (Although what awesome childcare it actually is!)
This year High 5 are running more clubs than ever, so whatever your kids are into, I would bet they’d love one of them.
High 5 Basketball Camp
My eldest is obsessed, OBSESSED I tell you, with basketball at the moment. He’s been going to a club every Wednesday for the last 4 months and is pretty much setting his sights on being the next huge NBA player. In 10 years’ time.
So he is over the flipping moon, that High 5 is running a three day basketball camp this summer in Plymouth. And quite frankly, so am I.
The Slam Dunk Basketball Camp is 3 days of epic basketball fun, from August 1 to 3, 2023 at Eggbuckland Community College. But don’t worry if you can’t send them for the whole 3 days, kids can go on single days too.
Boys and girls aged 6-8, and 9-12 of all abilities will have a ball (excuse the pun), developing their skills and being taught by Basketball England qualified coaches and PE teachers.
The Daring Dribbling sessions will show the kids how to improve dribbling skills with fun drills and techniques. Perfect Passing will show the children how to pass like a pro and nail one of the most crucial elements of basketball. The fast-paced Basketball Speed sessions will encourage quick feet and even quicker thinking. And the Shooting Stars lesson will teach the players how to perfect their shot and take part in scoring challenges.
After all that, if my eight year old isn’t on course for being the next LeBron James, I’d best give up on him buying me a huge retirement mansion now!
Anyone For Tennis?
Children who want to learn or improve their tennis skills are invited to take part in High 5’s Top Bounce Tennis camp this summer. Taking place at Mannamead Tennis Club from August 7-10 and 21-24, children will be in age groups of 5-8 year olds and 9-11 year olds. Games, drills and fun will be the order of the day at the sessions which run from 9am to 12pm for beginners or those who haven’t played for long. They are designed to develop agility, balance, and coordination through a wide range of different sporting activities.
And for those kids who already know their way around a tennis court, High 5 are holding a Summer Intensive Pro Camp on August 9 and 10, and August 21 and 22 between 1.30pm and 4.30pm. Wimbledon will be coming to Plymouth with three hours of training and match play with LTA Youth certified coaches and champion players.
Move over Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic!
High 5 Football Camp
If neither basketball or tennis is their thing, then what about football? High 5 are running expert coaching sessions this summer too.
First Touch Football camps are being held at Eggbuckland Community College and if you have a footie fan who can’t get enough of the beautiful game, then you’re in luck, as it’s on for two whole weeks. Two whole weeks of glorious childcare sorted! You know what I’m talking about…
They’ll run from July 31 to August 3, then August 14 to 17 and are open to children aged 5 to 12. Each action-packed camp will focus on supporting the individual player’s needs, developing skills and having shed loads of fun! There will also be daily football masterclasses designed to test their ball skills in various areas. Similar to basketball there will be lessons in dribbling, passing, speed and shooting.
Worldwide Freestyle Football professional Jamie Knight will be making an appearance at a special two day camp at Plymouth College too. The Freestyle Football Camp will take place on August 29 and 30 for children aged 6 to 13. It’s every footie fan’s dream summer!
High 5 Holiday Camps
For those children who want a mixture of everything, a High 5 Holiday Camp is for them. Now operating at 7 sites in and around Plymouth, it’s one of the most fun holiday clubs available in the city and nearby.
Back by popular demand, the theme of the 2023 summer High 5 holiday camps is Around The World in 30 Days. And they will be operating at:
- Elburton Primary School
- Widey Court Primary School,
- Plymouth College
- Stowford Primary School,
- Mount Kelly Prep School, Tavistock
- Stover School, Newton Abbot
- China Fleet Country Club, Saltash (new for 2023)
This year they have an exciting new flight route with different destinations waiting for the kids to visit each week, complete with new exciting activities. The young adventurers will be exploring the culture of each place with dedicated activities and the focus is on FUN.
There’ll be outdoor adventures, incredible inflatables, wall-to-wall action and a huge variety of multi-sports activities. The daily creative options will also follow these continental themes too.
Destinations planned for the children include the Arctic, Hawaii, Japan, Africa, South America, Nepal and India. Not that I’m at all jealous!
Staff at High 5 are promising some ‘Xtra’ special surprises too, to keep the mini travellers on their toes.
Activities in each destination at High 5 Holiday Camps
Arctic
Adventures include ice hockey, volleyball, Arctic golf, winter games, Nordic dodgeball and handball, snow zorbing, giant skittles, building an igloo, race to the pole, snow tunnels challenge, staff ice bucket challenge, and swimming.
South America
Kids will love the football, hockey, basketball, rugby, swimming, human table football, festival of colour, rainforest tracking, zorb wars and battle arena, Chilean handball, jumbo kick darts, go karts and a Mexican themed day.
Hawaii
Activities include American tag football, dodgeball, ultimate frisbee, tennis, mini golf masters, Iron Kids alternative triathlon, Surf’s Up slip-n-slide antics, balance board surf skills, circus skills, splat a coach, magic sand and keepsakes, beach games, sand art and pebble painting.
Africa
On Africa week, kids will be trying out football, athletics, cricket, basketball, swimming, animal encounters and the Bug Man, jungle races, tribal totem pole creations, safari nerf wars, African drumming and tribal dance, animal tracking and manhunt games.
Who can go to High 5 Holiday Camps?
Children aged 5 to 15 can attend High Summer Camps and are split into various age groups.
- The ‘Rookies’ are the 5 to 7 year olds and are given loads of support if they’re nervous about being away from parents. High 5 Rookies staff are specialists in Key Stage 1 childcare with play work or qualified teacher status. The kids are helped to develop their body awareness and core skills to help them become proficient in physical activity and play.
- The ‘Semi-Pros’ are the 8 to 9 year olds and classed as fully fledged High 5 campers. All campers who are 8 and over can access pretty much all of High 5’s additional activities including those that run off-site. But if non-stop high-octane sports is not your child’s thing they can also enjoy the creative arts and crafts sessions. Whilst Semi-Pros are a little more independent, High 5 staff know they can still get nervous so operate a ‘buddy system’ where they can team some of the newer kids up with more experienced campers to help them out. So us parents needn’t worry!
- The ‘Pros’ are the 10-12 year olds, some already at secondary school, and are quite independent. So at High 5 they are given much more freedom to pursue the activities that interest them most at the same time as being encouraged to step outside their comfort zone. They get access to their own common room, separate from the younger ones where there’s a Bottle Flipping Tower Challenge, table tennis table, and sound system for music.
- Those youngsters aged 13-15 are given special duties at High 5 summer camps. They are given the opportunity to be Sport Monitors and gain experience and responsibility assisting staff with activities. They get to have loads of fun with their favourite activities whilst learning valuable mentoring skills. Perfect for those interested in becoming sports leaders, coaches or teachers in the future.
For summer 2023, a standard day at High 5 is from 8.30am to 4.30pm and costs £35. There is an added option to pay for an extended day too, and discounts if you book a whole week.
Spaces are flying (excuse the pun) out the door quick, so if you fancy booking your kids onto the Around The World Adventure, or any of the High 5 holiday camps or sports clubs, get them booked on now. It looks set to be yet another summer of adventure, confidence-boosting, friends-making and skill-learning. My boys can’t wait to go again, and funnily enough, I can’t wait for them to go again too!
How did I do?
Did you enjoy this post? Keep an eye out for the latest Local Stuff here. And why not check out some of these:
- What There Is For Kids At Plymouth’s The Box.
- Top 20 Outdoor Spaces In Plymouth For Families.
- The 20 Best Things To Do Indoors In Plymouth With Kids
- Things To Do With Kids In The Summer
- Best Walks For Kids In Devon
- Pubs with play parks in and around Plymouth
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