Summer Courses Guide
Some children struggle to achieve at school and, over time, can become increasingly disconnected from academic life. Lessons may feel unrewarding, confidence can fall, and learning itself can start to seem like something they are simply not good at.
What can summer schools offer?
Adventure and outdoor summer schools offer a very different experience. Instead of asking a child to succeed in the same environment in which they may already be struggling, they introduce challenge, discovery and learning by doing. A young person who succeeds on a hike, solves a practical problem, masters a new skill or becomes absorbed in a real-world subject may begin to feel more capable of tackling things they once found difficult at school.
Can success outside the classroom build the confidence, curiosity and motivation that help a previously disengaged child begin to achieve academically?
Learning Without It Feeling Like School
One reason it can carry over into school is that adventure-based learning gives children a chance to experience success in a different way. Learning has an immediate purpose:
- navigation involves geography and problem-solving;
- exploring an unfamiliar environment encourages observation and curiosity;
- using a language to communicate with new friends makes it more meaningful;
- science can become far more compelling when it means investigating the natural world rather than simply reading about it.
This matters particularly for children who have begun to associate academic work with marks, tests or failure. Remove some of those associations and curiosity can re-emerge. The objective is not necessarily to provide extra tuition over the summer, but to help a child experience the satisfaction of understanding something new.
From ‘I can’t’ to ‘I can’.
Once a child experiences success in a different kind of learning environment, confidence can start to shift. A young person who has become used to feeling unsuccessful at school may discover that they can solve problems, master new skills and keep going when something is difficult.
That matters. Completing a tough hike, contributing to a team or working out a practical challenge gives them proof that effort can lead to progress. And that sense of “I can do this” may be the first step towards approaching schoolwork with more confidence too.
That new confidence can matter when they go back to school. A child who learned at summer school that they could keep going on a difficult hike, solve a practical problem or master a new skill may start to approach schoolwork differently too.
- In maths, they may stick with a problem for longer instead of giving up
- In English, they may be more willing to put their hand up or share an idea;
- In science, they may approach an unfamiliar topic with curiosity rather than assuming they will not understand it.
Discovering What Makes a Child Curious
Perhaps the greatest value of the right summer school is discovery. Away from the normal curriculum, children can encounter subjects through experiences that connect them to something they already enjoy: oceans, mountains, wildlife, technology, languages, exploration or practical challenges.
For some, that experience provides the missing connection between an interest and an academic subject. Adventure can lead to an interest in environmental science; travelling can create a reason to learn another language; technology can make mathematics suddenly relevant.
The aim should not be to turn every outdoors-loving teenager into a conventional academic. It is to broaden their idea of what learning can look like—and perhaps help them discover that they are more academic than they thought.
So what might this look like in practice?
The most interesting programmes are not simply outdoor camps with a little study added on. They use adventure, practical challenges and unfamiliar environments as a way into learning—whether through science, technology, languages, leadership or exploration. We’ve selected five very different summer experiences for children and teenagers that illustrate how an existing enthusiasm can become a gateway to greater curiosity, confidence and academic engagement.
Shoals Marine Laboratory
Best for: Teens who love the sea, wildlife and hands-on discovery.
Why it works: Marine science becomes something students can see, test and explore rather than simply read about.
Academic spark: Field research, lab work and close contact with university faculty can help practical learners see themselves as capable scientists.
Good fit for: Ages 15–18 who are curious, independent and more engaged by real-world investigation than traditional classroom study.
IBWISE Leadership & CAS Trip in the Austrian Alps
Best for: Older teens who respond well to challenge, responsibility and learning by doing.
Why it works: Hiking, volunteering, cultural activities and team challenges turn leadership and reflection into lived experiences rather than abstract ideas.
Academic spark: The CAS framework encourages students to connect activity, volunteering and creativity with structured reflection — useful for building confidence, independence and a more thoughtful approach to learning.
Good fit for: Ages 16–19, particularly Pre-IB and Mid-IB students who are motivated by real-world experiences more than conventional classroom study.
English Immersion Robotics and Adventure Academy with Euroclub
Best for: Younger children who enjoy building, experimenting and solving practical problems.
Why it works: Robotics lessons, team challenges and English immersion make learning active and purposeful, with technology balanced by sports, beach time and outdoor adventure.
Academic spark: Programming and LEGO robotics develop problem-solving, critical thinking and basic engineering skills, while working in English adds an extra layer of communication and confidence.
Good fit for: Ages 7–12, especially children who are more motivated by making and doing than by traditional classroom study.
Teen & Surf Camp – Spanish Immersion Course
Best for: Active teens who learn best through movement, conversation and real-world experiences.
Why it works: Surfing, creative workshops and daily life in Spain give students constant reasons to use Spanish outside a conventional classroom setting.
Academic spark: The “learning by doing” approach can make language learning feel more relevant, while building communication skills, confidence and cultural awareness.
Good fit for: Ages 12–16, especially teens who may switch off in formal lessons but become engaged when learning is social, practical and connected to an activity they enjoy.
Overnight Camp with Lakefield College School
Best for: Young people who thrive on physical challenge, nature and practical experiences.
Why it works: Canoeing, hiking, climbing and farm activities turn learning into something active and tangible, with outdoor education woven through the programme.
Academic spark: Experiential learning can strengthen problem-solving, teamwork and confidence while helping students see that learning can happen far beyond a desk or textbook.
Good fit for: Ages 11+, particularly children and teens who engage more readily through doing, exploring and working with others.
A child does not have to love the classroom to love learning. The right summer experience can build confidence, spark curiosity and help them return to school with a stronger sense of what they can do.