PARENT FAQs

Who can come to camp?

St John Bosco is a mixed sex camp for children aged 9 - 12 inclusive.

When is camp?

Saturday 26th July 2025 - Saturday 2rd August 2025

How much is camp?

We will ALWAYS call you in case of emergency. If you do not hear from us then you should assume that your child is happy and having a fantastic time at camp. We discourage regular phone contact as it is usually the main cause of homesickness. We are very experienced in dealing with this issue and if a child is distressed we will make sure they contact you. The Camp is also set in over 50 acres and the children follow a rich activity schedule for the week sometimes away from the phone line. A call may result in Children missing out on an activity.

Who is looking after my children

The helpers at the Camp are all volunteers who give their time and services freely. All helpers are subject to an enhanced DBS check (involving Police Clearance) and no helper is allowed on Camp until this check has been successfully completed. A selection process is in place and all staff undergo annual training in Safeguarding, Health and Safety and Ethos. The helpers are motivated by the fantastic impact that the Camp can make on the children who attend. They work as hard as they can throughout the week to make sure that all the children in their care are safe and having a brilliant time. We want the week that the children spend at the Bosco Camp to be one they will remember fondly for the rest of their lives. Helpers come from a range of background, some even came as children when they were younger! Helpers outside come from a range of sectors/ job roles and generally comprises; Headmasters, Primary and Secondary Teachers, Lecturers, Policemen, Builders, Mentors, Engineers, Surveyors, Nurses, Students and many more.

We follow a structured timetable with morning and afternoon led sessions. There is some free time available for the children to undertake supervised activities. Activities include:
- Archery
- Football Tournaments
- Rounders
- Adventure Playground
- Arts and Crafts
- Swimming
- Bosco Bingo
- Bosco fair and disco
- Film night
- Talent show
- Table tennis

St John Bosco camp is run on a voluntary basis and our main objective is to ensure the lowest possible costs for children attending. We additionally carry out fundraising activities throughout the year to contribute towards the camps operational expenses. The cost of 2024 camp is £185.00.

We are a Catholic Camp and Mass or a Communion service is held each day. Children and helpers are encouraged to attend. All children are required to attend Sunday Mass. Above all, the Catholic faith teaches us to treat each other with respect and kindness, something that the children are encouraged to do.

What activities are there at camp?

Can I call my child?

How does the Catholic ethos affect the Camp?

Where is camp?

You can find the address for camp here.

What are the transportation arrangements?

The Camp is able to cater for restricted diets. Please give full details of any allergies, intolerances etc. on the application form.

Is the Camp Safe?

The Camp gives the utmost priority to the safety of the children. Usually two helpers are assigned to each tent of children and they are responsible throughout the week for their general welfare. The children are never allowed off the site other than on organised swimming trips. All helpers, in accordance with child protection procedures, are carefully vetted with references and an enhanced DBS record check. All helpers must also attend a training day to learn the Camp procedures and protocols. All the activities at Camp have undergone rigorous risk assessments and a review and inspection of facilities is carried out annually.

Children need to be sufficiently independent to attend St. John Bosco camp and capable of following basic rules of safety, e.g. not to climb over fences. We do have a code of conduct for children which we will send to you with the booking confirmation. We ask parents/carers to go through this code of conduct with the children attending our Camp prior to attending.

What should my child bring to Camp?

A full list of the required equipment and suggested clothing will be sent with confirmation of your booking, and you can also view the packing list here. This will include a sleeping bag. A time is set aside each day to enable everybody to tidy up and check their personal belongings. Please ensure that all belongings are marked with the child's name. As this is a Camping holiday, please do not bring do not bring designer clothing, expensive watches, rings, iPods, mobile phones, hairdryers, cameras, electronic games etc. as these may be easily lost or broken. Mobile phones are not allowed because of child protection. if you wish your child to bring a mobile phone they MUST hand this in at the beginning of camp. Every child has the opportunity to ring home if they wish using the office camp phone.

Does my child need to bring any money to camp?

TBC

My child needs to take medication. Will there be provision for this?

Yes. A more detailed medical form will be sent with confirmation of your child's booking and this must be completed and handed in on arrival at Camp when the children are being booked in. All medicines must be clearly marked with your child's name and clear instructions provided on the dosage.
We have a First Aid point on site and a doctor and general hospital are available locally.

My child has food allergies. Can the Camp provide a special diet?

Outside of meal times a tuck shop opens once a day for the children to purchase items. The camp operates a bank system where we collect the money at the start of the week, track the spend and then return any unused money before the children go home. A reasonable amount to bring would be in the region of £10-15.