summer camp

L&E Canada Launched

We are thrilled to announce the launch of L&E World Camp Canada, set to take place at the stunning Shawnigan Lake School on Vancouver Island this summer 2024!

After months (years even!) of preparation and anticipation, we are delighted to bring the magic of Learn & Experience to the breathtaking landscapes of Canada. Our partnership with Shawnigan Lake School promises an enriching experience for campers, combining the renowned L&E ethos with the unparalleled beauty and adventure opportunities that Vancouver Island offers.

At L&E World Camp Canada, campers will embark on a journey of discovery, learning, and fun like never before. Surrounded by lush forests, crystal-clear waters, and majestic mountains, they will have the chance to explore nature, develop new skills, and make lifelong friendships in an immersive international environment.Whether it’s outdoor adventures, creative arts, sports, or cultural experiences, there will be something for every camper to enjoy. Our carefully crafted program will foster personal growth, resilience, and a global perspective, empowering campers to become confident and compassionate global citizens.

We invite you to join us in this exciting new chapter of the L&E story. Spread the word, mark your calendars, and get ready for an unforgettable summer adventure at L&E World Camp Canada!  There will be 2 weeks available this summer with 4 weeks planned for 2025

21st July – 3rd August, 2024

Registration is now open. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to us with any questions or expressions of interest.Let’s make summer 2024 an experience to remember!

Warm regards,
Sam Ridgway
L&E Founder & Director

World Camp Uk Week 4

Monday 31st July

The last Monday of camp is here! While it’s always bittersweet for both our campers and tutors we all know that we have a week full of fun filled adventures awaiting us and we definitely started the week off strong today. The campers woke up bright and early for a nutritious breakfast of scrambled eggs on toasted muffins which the campers devoured in an attempt to fuel up for another famous dodgeball tournament! The children dodged and dived showing their new and improved skills from last weeks practice: we’ve never seen dodgeballs thrown this fast before!

After a long and competitive game of dodgeball against the tutors they all sat down to choose their morning activities. We started the week off strong with a stellar choice of activities.

In adventure we set out geocaching. We had a brave group of 10 adventurers – not only were they on the hunt for a series of 12 hidden treasure troves – they were also on the hunt for a hiding place to use for our first ever L&E geocache! The campers climbed over fences, through hedges and dug around with great determination to find all of the hidden boxes as well as finding the perfect hideaway.

Rounders kicked off with some practice games of throwing and catching as well as an intense warm up of bulldogs. The campers showed quick improvement and were eager to move into their first of four matches. Both teams battled it out with some hitting the ball straight out of the field while others were unlucky enough to get caught out by their competitors. After a very close back and forth the game ended in a draw of 8 all.

We kicked off creative this week with an energetic session of just dance and karaoke. The campers sang and danced their hearts out to all their favourite songs from musical classics like Mama Mia all the way to a bit of Celina Dion. It’s safe to say the campers had worn out their dancing shoes by the end and were ready to sit down and refuel.

For lunch the kitchen treated us to a delicious chicken korma with a side of naan bread and a full salad bar for us to help ourselves to. After the campers filled their boots and their stomachs the campers set out choosing how they would spend their afternoon.

For adventure we had another intrepid group of explorers set out on a treasure hunt in the wind and the rain this time. Through their determination and endurance they managed to make a record time finding all the boxes as well as hiding our own in the location that had been scouted out this morning! Feeling very proud of themselves, they were able to have a small break and recharge their batteries with a few biscuits.

In creative we had an all time favourite with bracelet making. For many of our campers this was a skill they were happy to dust off and improve. For the rest of the campers they were fast learners, quickly weaving more and more complicated patterns either for themselves or for their newfound friends!

In sport our young athletes tried their hands at netball. To start off they had a warm up of the numbers game to keep them on their toes and get them ready for full team matches. The campers quickly conquered the nets and were shooting hoops left right and centre in a fast paced match that ended with a score of 2-3 to the non-bibs team.

After such an exciting day the campers were ready for a bit of rest and relaxation with a scrumptious dinner of sausage rolls and herby potato squares. This led to full bellies and happy campers ready for the evening activities ahead…

The evenings theme: game show night. This led to the campers testing their skills in a variety of challenges based on old classics like CBBCs ‘Trapped’, ‘Family Fortunes’ and ‘Heads Up’ all the way through to current favourites like ‘Would I Lie to You?’ and ‘Carrot in a Box’. The campers showed us their knowledge, creativity and deception as their groups battled it out in each of the mini games.

After a long night full of laughter and fun we all settled down for a well deserved cup of hot chocolate to relax before bed ready for the Tuesday ahead.

Tuesday 1st August

It was pancake day at L&E to fuel yet another competitive game of dodgeball. The tutors didn’t stand a chance today against the energised campers, who won the final match again. Scuba day at this point was off to a great start, with all our campers having the opportunity to submerge into the swimming pool’s depth for a game of throw and catch. This took place in tandem with our other morning activities of postcard making in creative and tennis for sport. Be ready to receive a postcard through a lucky few of your doors articulating our camper’s favourite activities this summer. Tennis saw a fair few emerging Andy Murry’s take to the pitch.

Lunch in and tuck in bellies, and the afternoon activities commenced. More budding divers had the chance to explore the swimming pool’s depth. This is while the field saw the sports taking up bows and arrows in a compelling archery session. A competitive football game followed this to round off the sport for the day. This afternoon, creative took this afternoon to practise and explore their portrait painting skills, refining and developing new ones. Tutor Sam was drawn by our campers 60 times between them using various techniques with great success and engagement. Swim time was a great splash, as always, closing another afternoon at L&E. 

Our day concluded with my favourite night of the week, the campfire! What an array of talent displayed through song, dance and more. 

Wednesday 2nd August

The campers woke up to the delicious smell of sausages for breakfast which were quickly devoured to gain the strength needed for our traditional dodgeball morning! Once again the campers were unbeatable but tutors put in a strong performance.

After their triumphant win, the campers headed to their morning activities. Some enjoyed benchball, the more creative campers enjoyed creating amazing stop motion videos using plastercine and creating sets. Finally, our more adventurous campers braved the traditional ‘British weather’ and kayaked along the river in the pouring rain. They didn’t let the rain dampen their mood, camp songs were sang whilst paddling along the river, making it an unforgettable experience.

For lunch we enjoyed hunters chicken with potatoes and veg. After a busy morning this was a well deserved lunch which campers devoured. The afternoon kicked off with waterpolo, a very intense game with only 3 points between the teams! In the pool they also competed in a backflip and diving competition, with strong competitors in each section! In creative, they enjoyed making prints out of styrofoam. Another daring group of campers faced the afternoon rain to go kayaking, with not one, not two but all campers and tutors falling into the water from their kayaks! They were welcomed back to camp with paninis for dinner in order to refuel before our highlight of the day…. Trash fashion show!

The evening hit off with inspirational fashion quotes from our one and only Hope! The camp then scavenged for the best materials in the pile to show the world that almost anything can be fashionable. The campers rose to the occasion and created stunning outfits to walk the catwalk. Our judges had some very tough decisions to make and didn’t hold back on telling everyone how the truly felt about each individual outfit modelled! The evening ended by watching The Smurfs followed of course by hot chocolate!

Thursday 3rd August

When Nigella Lawson was once asked for her perfect breakfast recipe to warm up for a game of dodgeball, she reportedly said it would be baked beans, boiled eggs and lightly toasted bread. Well, well, well…it would appear our resident chefs are big fans of the great woman, because that is exactly what we had. And by Jove did that put us in the spirits for what was one of the greatest of all time (or GOAT as our campers would say) dodgeball sessions. It was the dodgeball equivalent of Andy Murray vs Thanasi Kokkinakis in the Australian Open 3^rdround earlier this year. There was dodging, ducking, dipping, diving, and even dodging. The campers, as they always do, rose to a commanding lead. Tutors dropping like flies. Young stars such as Lucas, Amaris and Ernest leading the charge in a ruthless display. But up stepped tutor Matt, like Gerard Butler in 300, single handedly fuelling a resistance as his colleagues fell beside him. Alas, after 15 minutes of balletic dodgeball, the campers conquered. One more day, once more chance for the tutors to finally get a dodgeball victory after 4 long weeks struggle. We’ll revisit this one in the morning.

For creative this morning the campers devised, designed, and created bespoke picture frames that wouldn’t be out of place in Musee d’Orsay. On the week of Yorkshire day, what better to do for our adventurers than scale some of yokrshire’s finest quarries. The reward, a view from the top where you could see the whole rhubarb triangle in actions! Sport this morning took swimming to a new dimension. There were synchronised dance routines. No leg races. Whirlpools. More cannonballs than Damien Rice!

Lunchtime dawned upon us quicker than you can say chipotele mayonnaise! Chicken goujons, Moroccan couscous, sweet chilli and more greens than Plymouth Argyle.

Replenished and ready to go, the afternoon brought even more excitement. Once again our adventurers went climbing to look at the rhubarb. What do you get when you cross SiiyaKolisi with Breanna Stewart? You get our afternoon’s sport activity! Tag rugby and basketball, bringing out every motor skill. And creative, heck – what didn’t they create? Masks, dance routines, karaoke performances and theme night props. Majestic stuff.

Aaaaaaaah! I scream. You scream. We all scream for ice cream! That’s right, after a humble pasta bake for dinner we were treated to a glorious desert of orange and strawberry ice loolies. And they were, to quote Gary Barlow, absolutely fantastic.

All aboard the bus to carnival. Take all the classic toys and games, and scale them by 10! Gigantic Jenga. Humongous dominoes. Extraordinary human hungry hippos. An inflatable vertigo running competition the likes of which we’ve never seen before. Top that off with a side of the signature L&E candy floss and you have a tremendous finish to a tremendous day.

There’s one day left of our camp adventure this year, and there is a bittersweet determination to finish together with the best day yet tomorrow. However, as Thursdays go this was as good as it gets.

Friday 4th August

The last day. The Finale.

The day kick started with a crowd pleaser breakfast of pancakes, what a great start to what will be the best day of the week!

We all wolfed down our breakfast as quickly as we could; all of us just can’t wait for the grand finale of Dodgeball!

Once again both campers and tutors put in their all in an attempt to annihilate the opposing team. In our very last game of our flagship game of Campers vs Tutors of 2023, once again our campers reigned supreme. Spirits ablaze, our tutors have put up an amazing fight, having caught the camper’s ball multiple times and bringing multiple players back in the game. The atmosphere was absolutely electric, and everyone very much enjoyed this very final game of Ultimate Dodgeball.

After an extended game of dodgeball, our creative stars went on to design the most engaging comic strips, showing off both their flair for drawing the most animated characters and their aptitude for humour.

Our adventurers meanwhile went on to produce the most gourmet bread and chocolate bananas and then went on to enjoy their fruits of their labour.

Our athletes meanwhile went through bowling and batting exercise which culminated into an exciting game of diagonal cricket, what fun!

After being refuelled by a scrumptious lunch of classic fish and chips, some of our campers transformed into army generals as they strategised and battled in a game of capture the flag. Others spent their afternoon gearing up for their evening performance in our very last Oscar’s, or partook in a game of indoor hockey.

Patriotism was in the air as our campers then went on to take part in the L&E Olympics, consisting of games of table football, indoor football, basketball and a dizzy relay! Thailand was triumphant at last, much to the delight of our very own Cam.

The day wrapped up nicely with the L&E Oscars, where the best of the best were awarded for their efforts in adventure, sport and creative activities, and for their positivity, kindness and sense of humour. Of course, our rising stars and star camper of the week was revealed in this very last L&E Oscars of 2023. Many of our campers have prepared the most exciting performances for this most formal event of the week, ranging from stand up comedy, to dances and piano and singing showcases. The event then descended into a full on disco, featuring classics such as the Macarena and the limbo, and not to forget various bops from various all time favourite pop stars, from Taylor Swift and Katy Perry to ABBA and Adele.

Under the shroud of music, our campers brought their sleepy heads to bed, ready to bid farewell to the delights of camp until next year!

World Camp UK Week 3

Sunday 23rd July

1st Night

Monday 24th July

New week, new campers! We started the day with a nutritious breakfast of scrambled eggs on toast and, as a special treat, Tess surprised us with a side of mackerel for those who wanted to give it a try.
With full bellies we set off to the first dodgeball session of the week. After a few intense games of dodging, ducking and diving the campers were left with a difficult decision- picking their morning activities.

For adventure we had ultimate den building. The campers split into two teams and got to work fortifying their defences for an intense battle in capture the flag. After the walls were built and traps had been set, the campers fought tooth and nail to steal the other teams flag. After a long battle, one teams strategy beat the other and the flag was captured!
For sport we had basketball, Troy Bolton possessed our campers and the wildcats really took over the sports hall – some campers even managed to get a few dunks in.
For creative we made some fantastic pot like sculptures in a variety of shapes and sizes. Stay tuned for the days ahead for them to have a makeover with paint and glaze and maybe they might even make it home to a kitchen shelf near you.

After a busy morning we settled down for a delicious curry to refill our energy reserves we headed back out for a fun filled afternoon.

For sport our campers had an energetic session of rugby filled with games like rugby tennis, passing drills amongst others. After the campers had completed their training they broke out into a competitive game of touch rugby which was an absolute hoot.

In creative our artists set out on jewellery making, creating beautiful necklaces, bracelets and earrings to share with their new friends and show off for the rest of the day.

After a brilliant afternoon we sat down again to Tess’ delicious cooking. This time a banquet of sausage rolls, sandwiches, potatoes and salad. The campers filled their boots ready for one of our favourite L&E traditions: ICE BREAKERS! From singing games where the campers had to think on their feet to remember songs from a variety of categories to the famous chubby bunny challenge, the competition was neck and neck. The tiebreaker as always was the egg toss. With only limited supplies and their creativity save their eggs the campers got to work building the ultimate transportation to get them down safely from the second floor window. Many eggs survived the journey down however at the end there were only two teams left in the race. The decider was a game of egg toss and after a few rounds, the winner was decided, and sadly the Tesco club card team were left only with a silver medal.

To end the day the campers relaxed with some delicious hot chocolate and went to sleep ready for their second day at camp.

Tuesday 25th July

Following our ice breakers last night camp really kicked into full gear this morning. Though some campers were still riding high on their egg drop success, it was clear last nights defeat was still on the rest of the campers minds. Nevermind, all were happy that hash browns not scrambled eggs were on the cards at breakfast.

No mercy was shown at morning dodgeball with stars beginning to emerge. The dodgeball award will prove to be a hot contest at oscars later in the week. Some contestants were out early doors but proved themselves talented in other areas- the cha-cha slide in particular consumed camp, taken more seriously by some than the main event.

Tuesday meant the first visit by Scuba Steve for our new campers and the excitement was palpable. Think underwater races, backflips and frisbee!! An adventure experience that will surely be remembered by all. Our budding Picassos put their painting skills to use in creative while our future olympians took to the sports hall for a fierce morning of netball.

Our sporty campers left it all of the field at football where their competitive sides came out as they battled it out. Warm-up games of knee tag and cone flipping prepared them for an intense match which came down to the wire in penalties. Creative afternoon activities were somewhat slower paced but no less fun with campers adding to their jewellery collections. Dazzling earrings and friendship bracelets no name a few.

Our evening came to a close with the best activity of the week- campfire!! Camp songs were belted, of course, along with some individual performances, national anthems and toasted marshmallows. We finished off our night in traditional L&E style with some gordon Ramsey level hot chocolate, whipped up by our now expert level hot choc maker tutors. A final camp song could be heard sung by happy campers leaving the dinning hall. A fun filled day all round

Wednesday 26th July

As the campers get more comfortable, the early rise in the morning proves easier and easier as they show just how keen they are to start the day. All were happy when they walked downstairs to find an assortment of pastries as well as pancakes. Breakfast doesn’t get much better than that.

Starting activities for the day, we sent off our first group of brave adventurers to try their hand at kayaking. By all reports it was a resounding success, though some may have struggled to keep themselves dry during their endeavours. Those who remained at the campus had to choose between badminton/volleyball and volcano making. Those in sport showed off their skills and athletic ability in sports that were fairly new to most that were partaking. Improvement was seen across the board and many who participated will be in the running for the hotly contested prize of the sports award. We saw creativity explode as the campers split into groups to produce a variety of unique looking volcanos. The groups all coming together just before lunch to watch the culmination of a mornings hard work… the inevitable explosion of each volcano.

The afternoon saw two different groups leave their comfort zones to go either horseback riding or kayaking once again. It’s been reported that the kayakers achieved similar levels of success to their predecessors. Those who have been working on their horseback riding have been showing consistent improvement and continue to impress as they build a bond with their horse.

The variety of activities didn’t slow down in the afternoon as the campers had a choice between water aerobics / synchronised swimming and baking. Baking was a resounding success as all of the camp was treated to some delicious cupcakes. Excitement and energy levels were through the roof in the pool as the groups all formed their own routines to the song “Here comes the hot stepper”, each team vying to come out on top. That wasn’t the end for those in the pool as they performed the cha-cha slide as well as attempted a challenging run across the floats in the pool, albeit with varying levels of success.

The evening saw a more relaxed vibe fall upon the camp as we head toward theme night tomorrow. In preparation, campers followed Marty McFly as they watched the classic “Back To The Future”. Coupling a good film with some sweet and salty popcorn and there’s not much more you can ask for. As tradition states, the evening was finished off with hot chocolate and a chat before everyone made their way to bed. A resounding success.

Thursday 27th July

Our day started with yet another delicious breakfast cooked by our Head Chef Tess – mushrooms, bacon, tomato and porridge. This fuelled us for a full day of activities and fun! As the tradition of L&E, we kicked off our day with dodgeball. It was a full out war this morning, the campers and tutors gave themselves 100% for the tournament today. Waking us all up for the day ahead. 
Activities kicked off as usual; creative, sports and adventure. The adventure activity of the day was a weekly special of climbing! Groups climbed huge limestone rocks that the army use as a part of their training. All campers pushed themselves to reach the highest of heights and scales these ragged rocks, all tutors are incredibly proud of them and their efforts!
Creative for the morning was improv – dramatic improvisation for those that don’t know. It was a drama extravaganza, really pushing all the campers to show their true showmanship and creativity on the stage
Sports kicked off with a British classic of rounders. Once the teams were all warmed up after a few variations of tag, the games began. The pure determination of both teams throughout the game mixed with their skill made it an incredible to watch. 
A quick lunch break between activities of couscous and chicken filled our bellies for the rest of the day.
The sport for the rest of the afternoon was hockey where all campers showed their natural talent for the sport. From the beginning of warm ups to the final big tournaments campers were extremely enthusiastic to get going and win for their team!
Meanwhile in creative, the prep for theme night began. Campers painted their best props for a Back to the Future themed night! Cacti, Time Machine cars, backgrounds and all decorations were made by campers for our big evening activity. 
L&E’s big theme night this week was a Back to the Future themed murdered mystery where campers made to find out who capture tutor Paul in a time warp. Each tutor was a different character from the film and campers had to interview each character to collect clues to find who the real capturer was! After what felt like hours of interrogation, the campers cast their votes on which tutors they believe committed the crime; in the end it was Sam (Biff from Back to the Future) and Emily (the game creator where Paul was stuck). 
Campers chased out the criminals and ran all the way out to hot chocolate! A delicious and chocolaty ending to the day. 

Friday 28th July

Our day started right with a hearty breakfast of eggs and toast, with a side of enthusiasm from our happy campers. Only the best fuel to get us going for a mighty match of dodgeball.

Dreams were made (and caught) with our dream-catchers creation in the morning. Twine and beads met as one, and colour combinations popped as our creatives expressed their artistic talent in a unique way. Friendship bracelets were also underway and new friends were made as thread was shared and jewelery came to be.

Water polo was a hoot! Two sessions of fun and two intense matches in the waters of Aysgarth school confirmed our campers as pure aquatic legends. You’d think they had gills!

Our adventure activity took place on the sports field and was a Robin Hood-esque morning of archery!! Arrows were soaring and spirits were high as bullseyes were scored like no tomorrow. A tournament took place, and the improvement in our skills made us all winners in the end.

Fish n Chip friday left us on a high – thank u Tess! Now off to an insane afternoon of a mega challenge of multiple different stations of fun. From a paper airplane competition to getting super soaked by our tutors, the campers certainly explored every corner of the school and their energies.

Our day ended with the iconic Oscar’s, and our star campers were awarded with their very own certificate & sweets to celebrate. Our disco then commenced with bangers such as Katy Perry stealing the show, and the YMCA sending energy throughout the whole room. A day of new memories, and a whole lot of campers to be proud of.

Weekend 29th & 30th July (York & Whitby)

World Camp UK Week 2

Monday 17th July

The new week started strong with a delicious breakfast of eggs on muffins providing much needed protein and energy for the day ahead; fuel for the machines we call campers. We then worked our way to the sports hall to play the infamous dodge ball where tutors are sure still remaining unsuccessful, unable to match the pure talent that our budding athletes hold on the court. The hall was electric with pure unadulterated passion, a feeling shared between campers and their tutors alike.

Dancing found itself a new depth as synchronised swimming hit the camp, sending waves throughout our campers – literally. A hectic morning consisting of aqua aerobics was a sporting hit and there was a variation of breath taking routines performed by the one and only Bruno Mars Uptown Funk. While the energy remained wild in the pool, in creative the kids were reaching home while creating post cards to their parents exploring their time at L&E so far. As they explored their linguistic confidence and illustrated their words respectively, old memories were recounted and there was prospect of new ones to be shared. Over on the field for adventure, the kids were challenging their inner Robin Hood with a session of archery, arrows flying into the Bedale skies. 

Bellies rumbling after a fulfilled morning lunch was a scrumptious curry with rice and broccoli, kindly followed by the classic British dessert of a jam donut. Bellies refurbished with a hearty lunch, we headed off for an equally hectic afternoon – powered by an unbeatable meal.

Bourbon biscuits and custard creams restored energy levels like no other, and new activities were brought into play. The kids divided away for their chosen tasks consisting of, horse riding, tennis, geocaching and kite making. What fun!!

We rounded off the busy afternoon with an evening activity, where all of the kids were gathered for chalk war. A flurry of colour clouded our campers tshirts and adrenaline ruled their minds. We redecorated the field with paint of hues red, yellow, blue and the rest. No colour we left untouched! While an intense game began; chalk of all colours of the rainbow went flying. Only at L&E can a rainbow grow without the rain.             

To round of yet another superior day and an excellent start to a new week, we toasted the day with a hot chocolate. A tense battle of hot chocolate tasting dominated the dining room, with milk, sugar and chocolate ratios being rated with an iron fist. We had some professionals in the room! Another day rounded off on the high of the L&E spirit – smiles irresolvable and a good nights rest on its way. 

Tuesday 18th July

Our day started off in L and E style once again with a delicious breakfast of pancakes and a competitive game of dodgeball. I am proud to inform you that there was a draw between the tutors and the campers for the first time this summer. I’m sure this is the start of a winning streak for us tutors.

This was the perfect start to our action packed day with the older campers giving geocaching a shot with great success. With great map reading skills and even greater perseverance our campers pushed through a herd of cows, many different crop fields and even a long but adventure-filled detour through an overgrown forest! Their valiant attempt was well rewarded and our campers managed to find all 12 of the hidden treasure troves – all before lunch! 

The other morning activities included an astounding line up of picture frame decorating, scuba diving and a tranquil session of yoga. Mosaics galore as the children experimented with differing textures and shades whilst decorating their frames, complete with their very own custom printed L&E picture. The way that colours met realism would have rivalled Picasso, and no child was left without a souvenir to return with. As this went on, friendship bracelets performed alongside the friendships themselves. A ritual of kindness was passed on from camper to camper as they weaved colour and colour together. 

Scuba-diving took new highs today as the campers plunged, dove, and lept into the depths of our tiled coral reef aka the pool. With it being the secondary diving experience of most of our campers, the confidence soared and the children really established a good relationship with the diving tutors. 

Yoga and Zumba calmed the souls of our happy campers, though not dimming their enthusiasm as smidge. Calming rhythms filled the theatre and it was a nice break from the  havoc of the past week. 

After a hearty lunch, scuba diving reconvened and new activities were made present – flower crowns and volleyball/badminton. Our campers harvested freshly picked flowers from the Bedale countryside to weave into their headbands, emulating a true countryside style. Truly a nature filled fashion show! 

Volleyball and Badminton reached new heights in the sports hall, with beginners and advanced members coexisting under the same roof. An odd combination of sport could never be expressed better, with two skills being learned for the price of one! 

We rounded off our day with a show stopping ultimate game show –  British icons Ant and Dec would be jealous! From ‘Pear in the Box’ to a game of ‘Heads Up’, a vast amount of choice was present and the kids had a taster of the classic British television vibe!

 What a day!

Wednesday 19th July

What a delightful day it has been! Today was filled with unexpected adventures, creative endeavors, and thrilling sports. After filling our stomachs with a scrumptious breakfast of sausages and tomatoes, we embarked on a legendary dodgeball game. But this was no ordinary dodgeball game; our cheerleaders took the field, wielding their bodies like shields. We dubbed it “1D”, or “One Dodge”, and it was a sight to behold. Cheers and laughter filled the air as the dodgeballs flew and the cheerleaders danced their way to victory.
As the excitement settled, we moved on to a showcase of our creative genius. In an unconventional fashion show, we transformed ordinary bin bags, feathers and bits of cardboard into glamorous attire, embellished with feathers of every hue. The runway was ablaze with stunning creations, proving that fashion truly knows no boundaries.
Simultaneously, a heated football match ensued, and it all came down to penalty shootouts between the defenders. Dive after dive, the defenders showcased their acrobatic skills, keeping us on the edge of our seats. It was a nail-biting finish, but in the end, the defenders emerged victorious, claiming the glory of the final match.
Moreover, our explorers took to the waters for a thrilling kayaking expedition in adventure. The sun glistened on the surface of the water as she paddled with gusto, navigating through the twists and turns of the river. Under the blistering sun, the explorers played a challenging game of switching kayaks and passing ball on the water.
After all the excitement, the camper’s had a satisfying meal of fried chicken burgers. After lunch, the campers gathered around for a rock painting session and crafted friendship bracelets that would forever be a reminder of the bonds they are making at camp.
At the same time, we were drawn into the world of dance. Ballroom dancing took center stage, and we mastered the waltz in three basic steps.
Furthermore, a few of our campers had an exhilarating time galloping on their horses in their afternoon horse riding classes.
To cap off the evening, we savored a delectable dinner of mac and cheese and tomato pasta.
As the night sky enveloped us, we gathered around a crackling campfire. To pay homage to the spirit of unity, we belted out national anthems from different countries, Our very own boy band, “Old McDonald had a farm,” delivered a mind-blowing rendition of “Happy” that had us all singing along. “One Dodge” also did an encore of their cheerleading, with everyone joining in with the human train. At last, the campers were treated to warm smores.
Hearts full of happiness from the memories that will last a lifetime, the campers went to bed with warm bellies of chocolate.

Thursday 20th July

As the morning sun rose so did our campers, to a great british breakfast of fried bread and beans. As if this excitement was not enough the activities on offer only added to the pandemonium of our dining hall.

The campers took on new heights as they scaled and abseiled the cliffs of Aysgarth, agile as they come. Whether the kids were competent mountaineers of first time climbers, it was fun for all and no one left without a new challenge approached.

Back at camp, stop motion movies were in the works. Directing geniuses created productions such as ‘samurai warriors’ and ‘a growing flower’ – blockbuster films for sure. Wes Anderson wouldn’t have been able to stand again such cinema, and it really was a show of patience and creativity.
A cast of plasticine came to life and we really got a chance to see the children’s imagination blossom on a screen.

On the field, tag rugby was a go and backward passes were dominating the pitch. You would’ve thought it was a Twickenham match by the sights – the energy was palpable and the passion was electric!! Legends were made!!

Following lunch, another set of adventurers set off to conquer their climb, and a new set of activities were presented….

A few of our campers headed off-site to their horse riding session; horses such as Billy, Flash, and Stomp gaining an honorary mention. Galloping, trotting, and jumping – what more could u want?

In our sports hall, bench ball and hockey lead the afternoon with a split session of both games being performed. The classic of bench ball was instigated, and even with a couple of tutors on their side the campers thrashed the opposing competition. Orange Bibs vs Non Bibs truly rivalled Britain’s tensest sporting competitions. A game of ‘knee tag’ took place, and training warm ups lead to a full on match of hockey.

As our iconic ‘Alien Invasion’ theme night drew closer, mask making took place in creative. ET found his home in the art studio, and spaceships began spawning into the acres of Aysgarth School. Who needs Area 51 when you are in Bedale?

Later that evening, a group of aliens captured our campers and incited camp wide games to release our stolen friends. From pelting aliens with water guns to a full blown foam fight, this evening was simply out of this world!!

After a quick round of hot chocolate and a chat, our kids finally hit their beds ready for their final day. Saving the best for last!!

Friday 21st July

Today on the final day of two week camp we began our day with the breakfast of champions; boiled egg and soldiers. Served up by our amazing chefs Sue and Vanessa, celebrating the end of their 10 year rain in the L&E kitchen and the start of a happy retirement! We then ran to the most important dodgeball match of the season and battled it out for the last time. With a outstanding performance in our warm up games , when it came to campers verses tutors there could only be one winner. The campers one again in a fight to the dodgeball victory!!!!
After their gracious victory campers split off for their morning activities. For creative we had an improv drama extravaganza, and for sports a fast and furious football tournament. 
Improv proved to be full of high quality performances. We started off by playing a few games such as the famous werewolf, where we had to hunt down the werewolves and save the village from evil. This set the dramatic tone of the morning so we went off into our groups and began our improvisations. 
Out on the football pitch there was no messing around this morning! Our two teams got divided and started kick off immediately. The game was gripping and emotional for all watching. In the end, the non-bibbed team were the winners and took the trophy for this chapter of the L&E league. 
Once our morning and it’s activities were finished, we all spirited across to the dining hall to receive our FRY-DAY (Friday) treat of a British classic; fish and chips. The chefs out did themselves with the delicious and delectable meal! 
For afternoon activities, we had an adventure spectacular. SURVIVAL SKILLS. The whole camp was involved in this event; 4 groups split across a rotation 4 different activities. Fire building, den making, team building spider web and campfire cooking. This taught everyone the pillars of survival whilst bringing joy and laughter. Then the Yorkshire heavens opened and we had to run back to civilisation for shelter (back to L&E camp). 
As soon as we were clean and warm we headed straight to the dining room for our last dinner of the week. Not only was the dinner delicious but we had a classic British ice cream van pull up for desert! Serving out scoops of vanilla, strawberry, chocolate and bubblegum, all we could dream for and more. 
The final part of our day was what we were waiting for all day, the Oscars! The biggest and best event of the week, where we can celebrate our successes and achievements, and have a little boogie. Winners of the night were; Alex for happiest camper, Diva for creative, Alexandre for sport, Julia and Lara for be kind, Quinden for most helpful, Freddie camp joker, equestrian award for Suzanne, Paride for dodgeball, Ebba for open minds award, Mischa for rising star and a joint star camper duo, Niels and Harry! A lovely way to end a life changing experience for all our campers. We then danced the night away in a celebration of new friendships for life! 

World Camp UK Week 1

What a lovely first evening…it’s going to be a great week!

Monday, 10th July

The day of all days.

We started our first morning bright and early, with the ultimate breakfast of eggs and muffins, yum yum.
This geared us up ready for our very first, annual DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT.
The groups were great showing some amazing moves; dodging at every angles, catching and eliminating everyone around.
the staff are in need of an improvement session. But we will come back stronger than ever. Watch this space.
We then started our morning activities which consisted of ace den building, some of most unbelievable dens we’ve seen! They had many luxurious extras like hot tubs, rock pets and beautiful gardens.
In sport we defiantly put the ultimate in ultimate frisbee, throwing far and wide. The non bib team beating the others by 5 goals to 1.
In creative we put our moulding skills into test, creating pots, themed with faces on them. They turned out amazing and are drying, ready for plants, jewellery, or anything you like!
After this fun-filled morning we were treated to the ultimate curry for our lunch, cooked by Nobby the extraordinaire, we enjoyed this; replenished our energy ready for the afternoons events.
After getting our bellies filled some of us headed off for our first English class! We made posters all about ourselves, our countries, our favourite foods and our flags. The rain stopped us playing inside but we still did animal games to introduce ourselves, saying our name, our favourite animal and passing it along to the next person.
Our sport consisted of two huge games of bench ball, there was some serious competitiveness between the campers and the tutors.
The adventure was some serious boat building! We had to build a floatation device that survived the stormiest seas, which were tried and testing in the camp bucket. Every ship bar one survived our test, we were pleased to announce.
For dinner we enjoyed scrumptious sausage rolls, potatoes and extras!
This was needed for the money night Ice-breaker games! The chubby bunny contest was particularly tense; coming to the fine lines which left one champion with 14 marshmallows! We also did our very popular trash bag fashion show, where we saw outfits better than Gucci has ever headlined.
Of course we ended with the egg drop, a tense completion which saw many of our eggs scrambled….
Tonight we head to sleep happy with hot chocolate, ready for the next day ahead.

Tuesday 11th July

Our morning feast of grilled sausage and tomato awoke our campers appetites and minds to the excitement that awaited them on the dodgeball court.

With sprinting, dipping, and snipes galore, morning dodgeball was another sight to behold. Whether it be a campers vs students match or the classic 1 v 1, no mercy was granted. As usual, our star-stopping campers won against the staff, and did so with smiles on their faces.

The choice of a lifetime awaited the children as they picked between their sport, adventure and creative activity, each as tempting as the last.

First on the agenda was extreme deep pool scuba-diving with the legendary Scuba Steve!! Strapped with an oxygen tank on their back and enthusiasm in their heart, our campers explored the tiled depths of Aysgarth’s waters. A first time for many, it really was an experience for them all to remember.

Our English-learners took their time in recollecting their scuba experience in English. They also began planning the recipes of their favorite food for an exciting L&E bake-off held by the children themselves. Fun and linguistic talent met in the L&E English classroom and history made as usual.

British-history was made in the morning session of cricket, with wickets flying. Led by a cricket connoisseur himself, the kids really learned the true essence of the game. Ashes fever gripped the camp and really was a magnificent set of moments for all. With a specific game of Bazz-Ball and rounders on the side.

Simultaneously, loom jewelry was in the crafting and friendship brackets in the making. Many of the children also painted jewelry boxes to hold their new-found treasures. Colour Schemes were popping!!

Lunch in their bellies, the children headed back out for their second round of fun. Our budding athletes found themselves on the football pitch, scoring goals with every step they took. It was their ‘one love’ as Bob Marley would tell us.

Famous painting recreation was happening in our art studio, with mini Picasso’s showcasing their skill. A plethora of art pieces were on show, ‘The Scream’, Pop Art, and Hokusai on offer. Some may argue that our kids adaptations were more impressive; Mike Wazowski found himself in a Banksy work!!

Wilderness instinct was awoken in our campfire starting adventure, as the kids lined the fire with rocks and kindling ready for their marshmallows arrival later that night.

Speaking of the campfire, it was unforgettable as the legend tells. With our new tutors serenading us with their no1 talents, the fire side became a safe space for new friendship to blossom and music to be shared. The children were encouraged to share their respective cultural national anthems and they adored group bonding in their own home values. We roasted marshmallows as the sun set and the night came to a close with a hot chocolate and a chat.

Here’s to another great day under the Bedale sun!!

Wednesday 12th July

Merry Wednesday everybody! There’s no such thing as a hump day here at L&E, and with the camp ablaze with excitement after last night’s campfire delights, we arose with a spring in our step to tackle the day ahead. The Webster’s dictionary defines pancakes as ‘a flat cake made of thin batter and cooked (as on a griddle) on both sides’ – but we’d describe it as the breakfast of champions, and a camp full of champions is exactly what we are. Invigorated by the energy of Nobby’s finest flat cakes, we floated onwards to dodgeball.

If tickets were available to watch the campers vs tutors dodgeball displays so far this week, they would sell out even quicker than Taylor Swift’s era tour tickets (which came out this week). Unfortunately, today was not the same. The kids may have had pancakes for breakfast but judging by their incredible dodgeball performance, they must have been full of beans!The tutors have decided to remove Kenny as their dodgeball leader, with Sam Allardyce on the next train to Aysgrath to turn the ship around.

The selection of activities this morning is best described as a smorgasbord of sheer delight. Our English class of superstars solved riddles in the great outdoors, and played a bafta award worthy board game. For the first time this week, a lucky collection of campers went on an expedition to the Yorkshire (home of the rhubarb triangle) waterways. Canoeing the name. Fun the game. For those feeling sporty, a touch of tag rugby was on the menu. And last, but most certainly not the least, is our creative class. Think Krakatoa. Think Vesuvius. Think Eyjafjallajökull Then Take everything you have ever known about volcanoes, scrunch it up and chuck it in the bin. Because what our creative students created this morning arguably eclipsed all volcanoes before. Papier Mache, sculptures around bottles of a popular carbonated soft drink, with a popular mint dropped in, formed an explosion to end all explosions.

We had chicken burgers for lunch, yet that was not the most important aspect of the hour. We had TWO birthdays to celebrate, for Annelicia and Rose. Lionel Richie was playing, happy birthday was sung and chocolate cake was devoured. It was a privilege for us all to play a part in making sure the two campers had a wonderful day.

In 1998 Gina Gee came 2^nd for the United Kingdom in Eurovision. Her song featured the lyric “Just a little bit more” – and we took that exact approach to our adventure activities today! Canoe, round two, electric boogaloo. We also constructed some bracelets and jewellery in creative, and had a whale of a time playing water polo in the pool on sport.

Post dinner, lasagne Bolognese in case you were wondering, we sauntered down to the theatre for a bit of a chillax and a Disney classic. Big Hero 6  for our big bunch of hero’s, before hot chocolate and bed.

What a day. What a week. What a summer. We go again tomorrow.

Thursday 13th July

The day started with our morning fill of beans and French toast, giving much energy to our campers for the day ahead.

With our spectacular sports hall back in action, our campers wasted no time and immediately got stuck in our traditional morning game of dodgeball. Our tutors fought valiantly in the battle for victory in the most prestigious game here at L&E, but our campers were of course triumphant at last.

Our budding adventurers set off early for a morning of climbing. Courageous climbers they were, as they conquered the boulder wall in front of them in their stride.

Our imaginative artists meanwhile designed printing blocks and produced colourful prints which could give Picasso a run for his money. From Deadpool to Batman, all their artwork was lifelike and impressive.

Our aspiring linguists embarked on a quest to become Britain’s next top baker, as they followed detailed instructions from our judges to bake the most delectable cheesecakes and muffins.

Our well-loved water polo session also made a comeback, with our talented campers competing with each other for the honour of becoming the best athlete on the water.

The camp then got treated to a mouth-watering lunch of grilled chicken and cous cous. Good reviews all around and bellies filled, our campers headed to their afternoon activities.

Our athletes partook in a game of jailbreak in tennis, and ended the session in a riveting game of football.

Meanwhile our artists created the most realistic masks for our biggest event of the week – Disney theme night!

After dinner we immediately got knee deep in one of L&E’s most beloved evening activities, theme night! Tonight’s theme was Disney, with our tutors starting off with a rap battle. Our campers then continued on to playing a series of mini games, from a basketball battle with Troy and a treasure hunt, to picking out mozzarella balls from Ratatouille’s pasta and archery with Merida and Robin Hood, our campers really enjoyed their night in the world of fantasy.

With a terrific performance of Let it Go from our tutors, the Disney theme night drew to a close. Under the spell of hot chocolate, our sleeping beauties headed towards Wonderland; getting recharged and ready for another fun-packed day of adventure.

Friday 14th July

It was a cloudy day as we woke up to our final day with Nobby as our wonderful chef of the week. A nutritious breakfast of toast and eggs fuelled a competitive game of dodgeball. Once again, the campers reigned supreme, not without a spirited fight back from the tutors.

It was an enticing smorgasbord of morning activities to choose from. Campfire cooking involved making delicious choco-bananas and damper bread. Some skills were on show for indoor hockey and basketball, appropriate for the impending rain. Some more baked goods were made in English, learning the ingredients and instructions for cheesecake and cupcakes. Lastly, our musically instincts were put to the test with Just Dance and karaoke.

 Nobby delighted us for lunch with an all-time British favourite in fish and chips. Seconds were definitely had! This was followed by a surprise announcement for an afternoon of team sports. 

Competing for camp sporting glory were Brazil, Mexico, Thailand and Antarctica. After archery and a swim relay, Thailand came out as front runners. Meanwhile, some nail-biting games were being played out in the table football and bench-ball arenas. Thailand’s lead was narrowing. Final rounds of football, basketball and a team flag judging contest lead to a three-way tie between Thailand, Brazil and Mexico. Tie-breaking rules came into play, leading to the declaration of the champion as…..BRAZIL!!!

After free/swim time, paninis and ice cream were served followed by a standing ovation to Nobby and Michael for feeding us tasty meals all week.

Then the anticipation grew. The famed L&E Oscars Night, where legends become immortal. Black tie attire was a recommended optional, before being ushered into the theatre of dreams. There were loud cheers and applause for all nominees and award winners as well as brave performers. To cap off the night, a disco for the ages, with classics, bangers and possibly a dance floor injury or two. Get well soon Paul.

There was a lot of excitement at bedtime, partly post-Oscars buzz, partly for the day-trip tomorrow. See you soon, York.

Our End of Week Montage!

Saturday 15th July

Sunday 16th July

Who’s ready for Summer 2023!?

June/July Newsletter

We hope this newsletter finds you in high spirits and full of anticipation because it’s that time of the year again! We’re thrilled to announce the upcoming Learn & Experience Summer is set to kick off on June 25th, 2023. Get ready for an unforgettable summer filled with adventure, growth, and lifelong memories!

Here’s a sneak peek of what’s in store:

Cultural Diversity:

We have participants from different backgrounds of the UK and all around the world. Connect with local children as well as gain a profound understanding of the world’s diversity.

Travel Skills:

Our Teen Travel trips prepare and inspire young people for any travelling they do in the future. It’s a chance for them to step out into the world and learn life changing and practical skills with the freedom of feeling safe with our experienced guides.

Outdoor Adventure:

If you’re an adrenaline junkie or simply love the great outdoors, our adventure activities are tailor-made for you. Embark on thrilling scuba dives, conquer challenging climbs, paddle through picturesque rivers, and build lasting friendships with fellow adventurers from around the world.

Creative Arts:

Unleash your creativity and express yourself through our captivating Creative activities. From photography and filmmaking to painting and sculpting, we provide a nurturing environment for you to explore your artistic passions and discover new talents.

Sports:

Campers of all abilities will be encouraged to get their sporting shoes on, bring their enthusiasm and get active. There are plenty of ways for the children to get their sporting kicks. It’s exhausting just listing our sports but we offer; football, hockey, lacrosse, archery, athletics, basketball, tennis, golf, badminton, skate boarding, table tennis, handball, water polo, swimming and much more.

Personal Development:

Our programs empower young individuals like you to become inspiring leaders of tomorrow. Develop essential personal and social skills, collaborate on exciting projects, and take part in workshops led by experienced mentors.

English Language Immersion:

Our programs offer an unparalleled opportunity to practise and improve your English Language while immersing yourself in the vibrant culture and traditions of the country.

These are just a few highlights from our range of programs. Whether you’re passionate about sports, adventure, travel, or something entirely unique, we have a program that will fuel your curiosity and ignite your passion.

We’re excited to welcome participants from across the globe to beautiful UK, where you’ll be surrounded by stunning landscapes, welcoming communities, and experienced staff who are dedicated to providing an exceptional experience for each and every participant.

You’re coming?

For those of you already booked please find information to help you prepare:

World Camp UK 2023 Handbook

Teen Travel UK 2023 Handbook

Not booked yet?

If you haven’t already booked we still have some places available this summer. To secure your spot in our Summer Programs, make sure to register online as soon as possible. Spaces are limited, and we wouldn’t want you to miss out on this amazing opportunity!

As always, the health, safety, and well-being of our participants remain our utmost priority. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our friendly team at hello@learnandexperience.com We’re here to assist you in any way we can.

Let’s make this summer an extraordinary one!

We can’t wait to welcome you to Learn & Experience this summer!

Warmest regards,

Sam and The L&E Team

Empowering Adventures: How an L&E World Camp Can Change Your Children’s Life

Summer camps offer incredible opportunities for children to grow, learn, and create lifelong memories. Learn & Experience (L&E) is renowned for providing exceptional summer camp experiences in the United Kingdom that go beyond the ordinary. With a focus on personal development, cultural immersion, and adventure, L&E World Camp can profoundly transform your child’s life. In this article, we explore the remarkable ways in which an L&E World Camp can positively impact your children, shaping their character, broadening their horizons, and fostering a lifelong love for exploration and discovery.

1. Personal Growth and Confidence Building: L&E World Camps are designed to empower children and foster their personal growth. Through a carefully curated range of activities, campers are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones and challenge themselves. Whether it’s conquering a rock-climbing wall, participating in a theater production, or developing leadership skills through team-building exercises, L&E World Camps provide a supportive environment that nurtures self-confidence, resilience, and a can-do attitude. These newfound skills and belief in their abilities extend far beyond the camp, positively influencing various aspects of their lives.
2. Cultural Immersion and Global Perspective: A key aspect of L&E World Camps is their emphasis on cultural immersion and fostering a global perspective. Campers have the opportunity to interact with peers from different countries, participate in cultural activities, and gain insights into diverse traditions and customs.
3. Outdoor Adventures and Nature Appreciation: The United Kingdom is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, and L&E World Camps take full advantage of these breathtaking settings. Campers engage in thrilling outdoor adventures, such as hiking, kayaking, and exploring national parks, which not only promote physical fitness but also foster a deep appreciation for nature. Through hands-on experiences, environmental education, and sustainability initiatives, L&E World Camps instil a sense of responsibility and environmental consciousness in children, inspiring them to become stewards of the natural world.
4. Lifelong Friendships and Social Skills: L&E World Camps create a vibrant and inclusive community where lasting friendships are formed. Campers from diverse backgrounds come together, united by a shared sense of adventure and curiosity. Participating in collaborative activities, teamwork challenges, and cultural exchanges, children develop strong bonds, learn effective communication skills, and embrace the values of respect and cooperation. These enduring friendships and social skills acquired at camp become a valuable support system and contribute to their social development throughout their lives.
5. Self-Discovery and Life Skills: L&E World Camps provide a unique opportunity for children to explore their interests, discover new passions, and uncover hidden talents. With a wide range of activities, including sports, arts, outdoor pursuits, and creative workshops, campers have the freedom to explore and develop skills in areas they are genuinely passionate about. This self-discovery process helps children build self-awareness, boosts their self-esteem, and lays the foundation for a lifelong love for learning and personal growth.

Conclusion

L&E World Camps offers an extraordinary journey of self-discovery, personal growth, and unforgettable memories for your children. With a perfect blend of adventure, cultural immersion, and character-building activities, L&E camps create a transformative environment that equips children with essential life skills, broadens their perspectives, and ignites their curiosity for the world around them. Give your child the gift of an L&E summer camp experience in the UK and watch them thrive.

Sierra’s L&E Journey

“I quickly realised how inclusive the camp was”

Over the past 10 years we have had hundreds of children come to spend their summers with us and with each child comes a story, this is Sierra’s story.  Sierra is from Kentucky in the USA and first came to L&E at the age of 14 in 2014.  Her grandmother Denise made the trip up north to drop Sierra off at camp as she lives in London and Sierra spends her summers there.  After being bullied and picked on at school Denise wanted her granddaughter to grow up knowing that she didn’t need to “conform” and feel the need to try and “fit in”.  Sierra describes how nervous she was about coming to camp as she thought she would be an outsider being the only American.  She very quickly realised how inclusive the camp was and how her nationality or background didn’t matter.  Sierra later described the best part of L&E was the way in which she was able to interact with everyone regardless of age, gender or background.

“learn the art of travel in a safe and supportive environment”

The following year, as well as coming back to camp for 2 weeks Sierra, along with 5 other teenagers from across Europe booked onto the Teen Travel UK trip.  Teen Travel is a unique programme for 15 & 16 year olds which allows teenagers to learn the art of travel in a safe and supportive environment.  Sierra describes Teen Travel as “helping her with real life problems” and although she learns a lot from her parents about how to budget and organise transportation it isn’t the same as “experiencing it for yourself”.  Living and travelling with others is all about compromise and Sierra found this to be a big part of the trip.  Knowing that what one person wanted wasn’t the only thing that mattered and it was the whole group that needed to agree – “teamwork makes the dreamwork!”  Furthermore, being accountable and learning valuable practical skills translated into Sierra having the ability to navigate the international journey to camp each year.

“the L&E experience has been a game changer for Sierra”

Speaking about the overall effects L&E had on Sierra, she expressed that the experiences she gained from the multiple programmes she attended prepared her for college largely due to being exposed to people from different cultural and religious backgrounds.  Without these experiences she felt that her transition to college would have been “difficult”.

We asked Denise to try and sum up how she felt L&E had effected her granddaughter…“the L&E experience has been a game changer for Sierra.  She owns and rocks her self-confidence with ease and grace.  That confidence is no longer predicated on the “if they like me”; it is now firmly rooted in the “I will be fine if they don’t”.  Her view of the world and its infinite possibility is tremendously expansive.  She clearly understands that living life is about the journey, as the destination is just a marker at a point in time and ever changing.”

“an absolute pleasure playing a part in Sierra’s journey”

Sierra is currently undertaking an undergraduate course at the University of Kentucky in Animal Science and Technology and her goal is to become a veterinarian, and if you ask her grandmother she will describe this as her “destiny”.

It has been an absolute pleasure playing a part in Sierra’s journey and we wish her all the very best for the future and hope to see her back at L&E one day…perhaps wearing an orange polo shirt!

Full Testimonial from Sierra’s Grandmother

Sierra’s summer experiences with L&E made a tremendous impact on her self-esteem and sense of being.  Meeting, mixing, and bonding with young people from all over the world helped her to establish a real sense of belonging and an understanding of the privilege and responsibility that comes with being a citizen of the world.

L&E creates a microcosm that consistently exemplifies what real community is.  In this space, the young people are able flourish without judgement or ridicule or constraining social norms.  Kind consideration for one another is the underlying vibe or mantra.

With this as a foundation for her summer experiences, Sierra has been able to fully explore what being the best version of self looks like, feels like, and sounds like.  Her experiences with the extra activity (horse riding) helped her “find” her true passion.  The encouragement from the instructors and the opportunities she had to bond with the horses simply sealed her destiny.  Sierra will work with animals – full stop.

Before going to L&E she was being bullied and picked on at school.  The decision to send her to L&E was purely predicated on the fact that we did not want her to grow up feeling like she needed to conform or “be like” just so she could “fit it”.

When we arrived day-1 of her first year; I was helping her unpack and group of girls popped around the corner asking her name and where she was from.  Sierra froze and said nothing, so I did all the introductions.  I remember thinking “come on Sie get out there” and then I just left the room.  Within 5 minutes, she and the entire group came bouncing down the stairs and she was on her way.

As it turns out, her experiences with L&E have been gateway experiences.  Every summer when she returned from camp, she was more confident and secure and capable with a very grounded sense ofwho she is and what she wants from life.

As a part of teem travel, her self-awareness expanded even more.  Teen travel is a truly unique experience because it deems them fully accountable for what happens next.  It becomes a good experience only if they work to make if a good experience – as a team they plan, organise, budget, etc.  The fact that they are responsible for every single aspect of the allows them to make very adult decisions being fully accountable for the outcome.  The practical skills learned as a part of Teen Travel meant that we were more confident in her ability to navigate the international journey to camp every year.

The L&E experience has been a game changer for Sierra.  She owns and rocks her self-confidence with ease and grace.  That confidence is no longer predicated on the “if they like me”; it is now firmly rooted in the “I will be fine if they don’t”.  Her view of the world and its infinite possibility is tremendously expansive.  She clearly understands that living life is about the journey, as the destination is just a marker at a point in time and ever changing.

I can never in 1,000 years thank the L&E team enough.

Denise BB, October 2018

Full Interview with Sierra

1: How did you feel about coming to camp before you arrived?

When I first found out I was going to L&E I was excited because I knew it was going to be a great experience but when I arrived there I became very nervous and overwhelmed by the amount of people that were there. Since I was from America and many of the people there were from Europe, I thought that I would be an outcast.

2: How did you feel after camp was finished?

After my 2 weeks of being at camp was over I was very sad. I had so much fun meeting people, participating in activities and games and going horseback riding. When my time at camp was over that’s when I realized how close I had become with the campers and tutors, it felt like I was leaving my second family. 

3: What’s the best thing about camp?

The best part of L&E would have to be how involved the camp is. Most camps I have been to, you would find a small group of people you connected with and stay with them the entire time. With this camp all the activities and games were made to have everyone involved. Here I was able to interact with all people of different age groups and ethnicities and still have fun.

4: What did you learn on Teen Travel?

Teen Travel taught me how to live with others and how to compromise. I’m used to living with family members but had never stayed with people I had just met. I noticed how many times everyone had disagreements over what we wanted to do and what we felt we should spend our money on. Being in these situations made me realize that what I wanted wasn’t the only thing that mattered and that it is important to learn how to work well with others. Teamwork makes the dream work.

5: What would you say to someone who was thinking about doing TT but was undecided?

I would tell them that they should give it a try because it will help them with real life problems. Where I’m from my school never taught me how to budget and find my own transportation and accommodations. The little bit that I did know about these things came from what my parents told me but it’s not the same as experiencing it for yourself. Along with learning all these things you also get the chance to adventure out, meet new people, travel to new places and have fun while doing it. 

6: Any other thoughts about L&E?

I believe L&E is a great place for everyone. I was a very introverted person and L&E helped me step out of my comfort zone and get used to meeting and being around a lot of different people. 

7: What effect did L&E have on you?

In my opinion I believe that L&E has prepared me for college. If it wasn’t for the camp and teen travel I would not have been exposed to being around and living with multiple people from different cultural backgrounds and religions. Without L&E I feel like my transition into college would have been very difficult.

Why a Multicultural Environment is Good for Young People?

What Does Culture Mean?

According to Oxford Dictionary culture is ‘the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society’ and in addition to that – ‘the attitudes and behaviour characteristic of a particular social group’.

Culture in Early Years

Jennie Lindon describes in her article ‘Cultural diversity in the early years’ that by young children developing a sense of their own identity through their family life they can then learn about other cultures out with the family unit. These experiences away from the family are of great importance and help broaden the understanding of other cultures.

https://www.communityplaythings.co.uk/learning-library/articles/cultural-diversity-in-the-early-years

Learning Languages

Learning a second language is easier for a child as their brains are designed to absorb new information unconsciously.  Check out this TED Talk where Patricia Kuhl explains how babies listen to the sounds around them. 

Multicultural Workplaces

Tim Cook, CEO of apple has been clear that he sees diversity as vital to the future of Apple. In 2013, he used an article in the Wall Street Journal to share his belief that “people are more willing to give of themselves when they feel that they selves are being fully recognised and embraced”. In 2015, he said that diversity “is the future of our company”.

https://www.apple.com/diversity/

What a Multicultural Environment Means to L&E

Learn & Experience have a very clear vision. Creating experiences to bring together young people from around the world while keeping to a simple principle: Happy Children Thrive!  L&E offer experiences for young people which include World Camps, Teen Travel and Open Minds and we have been bringing the world’s youth together since 2009.  We firmly believe that being exposed to people from all over the world and from many different backgrounds at a young age is hugely beneficial.  Each one of our programmes is designed to allow young people to have an amazing experience whilst being surrounded by a diverse group of people.  Want to join one of our programmes click HERE to read what we have in store for 2023!

L&E Parent Talks About the Importance of a Multicultural Program for her Children

Learn & Experience programmes include World Camps, Open Minds and Teen Travel

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Autumn update 2022

The Big Return

2022 has been a big year for L&E.  We hadn’t been able to offer any in-person programmes since 2019 and we were desperate to get back to doing what we do best.  It has been tough time for everyone but particularly young people.  Cultural and adventurous experiences have been few and far between these past couple of years and so it was incredibly important that we were able to operate.  This year certainly wasn’t without it’s challenges but with the energy and enthusiasm of both staff and students we were able to successfully navigate a wonderful year!

World Camp UK

World Camp UK at Aysgarth School returned this summer and was a huge success.  Lots of old and new faces connecting from all over the world.  We had over 20 different nationalities from 6 continents all embracing and learning from each other.  A lot of old activities returned as well as some exciting new ones including the Open Minds course and Wilderness experience.  Our older teens were challenged to investigate and interrogate the world around them, challenge themselves creatively and consider new perspectives.  They also experienced an incredible night under the stars on their Wilderness Experience.

All our International students embraced the British culture and improved their English and our local children learnt so much about other cultures.

Soccer Camp

L&E continued the tradition of working with professional football clubs and this summer we were delighted to work with Manchester City.  Tzeachten Under 16 Girls Football Club from British Columbia, Canada were lucky enough to be coached by ex-pro and Manchester City Academy coach Ian Fitzpatrick.  The girls had elite sessions every day plus 2 matches including the Manchester City Under 17 Educational Team at Manchester Regional Arena overlooked by the Etihad Stadium.  The girls enjoyed a tour of the stadium plus a unique opportunity to see the training facilities.

Teen Travel

Teen Travel UK was also back and our tours were a triumph.  We had teens from the US, Canada, France, Thailand, Italy, Spain and UK all gain invaluable life skills and gain a love for the history and beauty of Britain.  Our travellers learnt how to manage a budget, how to negotiate and how to adapt to different situations all whilst making sold friendships along the way.

It was also the first time students were able to combine the Teen Travel and World Camp experiences which made for a unique experience.

2023

Following a successful return we are delighted to announce our 2023 schedule. 

• 25th June – 8th July, 2023: Teen Travel UK Tour, England (14-17), Scotland & Wales
• 9th July – 22nd July, 2023: World Camp UK (8-15), Aysgarth School
• 23rd July – 5th August, 2023: World Camp UK (8-15), Aysgarth School
• 6th August – 19th August, 2023: Teen Travel UK Tour (14-17), England, Scotland & Wales

All experiences are in 2 weeks blocks and our 14 and 15 year olds can combine Teen Travel & World Camps.  All transfers are included between programmes.  

A 15% Deposit is due to confirm the reservation. Payment plans are available.

Limited places

To ensure the highest quality of experience we will be strict on limiting the amount of children from any one non-English speaking country so please be aware that countries such as France, Spain, Germany and Italy will sell out very quickly.

Early Booking Discount

If families make the reservation before 1st December, 2022 they will receive a 10% discount.

UK, Canadian & U.S. Schools

During the past year we have helped many families find a suitable school for an international educational experience.  We have a thorough knowledge of UK Schools and have placed dozens of students since 2009.  Now we have an office in Vancouver we have developed relationships with a few select schools, not just in Canada but also the U.S.  

This is a free service to families who have attended an L&E programme.  We are able to offer a unique service with our personal experience of both student and school which is invaluable and beneficial to all concerned.  Consultancy can be extended to friends and family so please feel free to make referrals.

L&E back on the road

Now that we are able to travel a little more freely again we will be returning to making a few trips throughout the year visiting countries to talk to families about our programmes and services.

• Berlin: 30th October – 1st November
• London: 2nd November
• Dubai: 13th – 16th February
• New York: 15th-16th April

If your children have attended and enjoyed an L&E experience please “Spread the Word”.

Sharing this email, website link, instagram etc all helps.

We are also always happy to add locations and dates to our “Road Trip” so if you have friends and family interested in meeting with us then let us know!

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