Your child
Q: What should my child bring?
Q: What shouldn't my child bring to camp?
Q: My child has a specific medical condition. Do I need to tell you?
Q: What if my child has an accident at camp?
Q: What if my child is badly behaved?
Q: What if my child has diffculty settling at camp?
Q: Do they need to bring any spending money?
Q: Should my child bring a lunchbox?
Q: What should my child bring? [back to top]
Children should dress in comfortable clothing appropriate for the weather and we suggest you do not send them with new or valuable clothing or belongings. Long trousers are essential for motorsports and fencing. Staff cannot apply sun protection cream, and we advise that you show your child how to do this before they attend camp. Spray on sun lotion is a good option for younger children as the staff can do this for them. Children are reminded at break times to apply sun cream. Where we have outdoor swimming pools, it is a good idea to provide your child with an additional T-shirt to protect their backs from the sun. All children should bring a lunchbox to camp, however, as we do not have refrigeration facilities at the camps, we suggest you provide a small cool bag (lunch box size) containing a frozen carton of juice or a small ice pack. This will keep the contents cold until lunchtime. We provide any equipment necessary for all the activities, from armbands to tennis rackets, so there is no need to send your children with anything other than packed lunch, additional clothing for motorsports, swimming kit and sun protection.
Q: What shouldn't my child bring to camp? [back to top]
We strongly advise that children don't bring mobile telephones, watches, computer games, walkmans and such like on to camp. There is no real use for these items, and they are often mislaid as children are busy and excited doing other things. Staff are trained not to put themselves in a difficult position by taking care of such items, and we cannot accept responsibility if they are lost or stolen.
Q: My child has a specific medical condition. Do I need to tell you? [back to top]
If there is anything we need to know about your child's health e.g. diabetes, epilepsy, serious allergies and such like, it is essential you tell us at the time of booking. In some cases we may need to send you some more forms, and get additional information from you regarding your child's needs. At the time of booking you will be asked to complete a simple questionnaire, detailing any relevant medical history.
Q: What if my child has an accident at camp? [back to top]
Understandably, one of the main concerns for any parent when booking a holiday for their child is what would happen if they were to fall ill or have an accident. At Barracudas we recognise this concern and are well prepared for such eventualities. There are a number of qualified first aiders at each camp who carry a basic first aid kit and are trained to deal with any accidents or illnesses in strict accordance with our approved procedure. Fortunately, most of the accidents we deal with are knocks and bumps, grazes on knees, stings and so on. However, should a child suffer a more serious injury, or fall ill at camp, requiring hospital treatment, you will be contacted as soon as possible.
Q: What if my child is badly behaved? [back to top]
At Barracudas we concentrate on encouraging good behaviour and ensuring children enjoy their time at camp. Staff treat children with respect, promoting an atmosphere of trust. The Barracudas Code of Behaviour will be displayed at each camp and staff will explain to children at the beginning of camp what is expected of them in terms of behaviour. Should the positive atmosphere of camp be compromised by disruptive or inappropriate behaviour, our staff will explain to the child why it is unacceptable. If the problem cannot be resolved, staff may have no choice but to exclude the child from the camp.
Q: What if my child has diffculty settling at camp? [back to top]
You may be amazed at how much your child's confidence will grow at Barracudas. Time and time again parents have told us how their children start camp very nervous, but by the end of their first day all signs of nerves had disappeared and they can't wait to come back! We have been told of children who subsequently found settling into new situations far easier, for example into a new school. Our staff are aware children can be worried about coming to camp, and are trained to deal sympathetically with these situations. In the unlikely event that your child doesn't settle at camp on their first day, please let us know. Very often by speaking to either our Central Office team or the camp staff the same day or following morning, we can resolve any problems related to your child not settling. For your further reassurance, if this is your child's first visit to Barracudas, and if they are still not happy on the second day of camp or if you don't want to try them again after the first day, you can call us by lunchtime after the last day they attended and we will refund your booking in full. What's more, we will give you a £10 voucher for the same child to use when they feel ready to try camp again. This money back guarantee is a genuine offer that applies to all children who are attending Barracudas for the first time. No matter how much we try to reassure you that your child will settle in, we appreciate that in some cases this is a major concern. Therefore, we want you to be able to book your child's first holiday at Barracudas, safe in the knowledge that should it not be right for them at this time, you will not lose out financially.
Q: Do they need to bring any spending money? [back to top]
Due to feedback from Ofsted and parents we have decided to withdraw the tuck shop from Barracudas sites in order to help promote healthier eating habits for children. We will, however, have fresh fruit available to purchase at lunchtimes. If you would like your children to purchase any of these items we suggest that you send them with no more than 50p -£1.
Q: Should my child bring a lunchbox? [back to top]
Yes they should. As we do not have refrigeration facilities at the camps, we suggest you provide a small cool bag (lunch box size) containing a frozen box of juice or a small ice pack. This will keep the contents cold until lunchtime, (and the juice box will be ready to drink!).
