- Oct 1, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 14, 2022
Summer in Cascais by an expat mum.
With border closures in an attempt to curb Covid-19, like many people, the idea of staying at home for the whole summer caused some panic; a long summer entertaining the children during the hottest months of the year and in a pandemic! After spending the last few months distance learning & working, getting everyone back to socialising in small groups was vital for our mental well-being. The kids especially missed the interaction with their school friends and teachers and we also wanted their transition back to school in September to not cause them any anxiety.
What camps to send them on?
Would they have fun?
It was undoubtedly a challenge for the camps to ensure that suitable coronavirus rules were in place and keeping the kids safe yet still having fun but they did it. Our children made new friends and learnt new skills and have now returned to school confident and happy. Spending the summer closer to home we also all discovered new places and great activities to do on our doorstep, a win-win situation for everyone including reducing our ecological footprint.
caveat places on the camps we liked filled up quickly with stricter measures in place to have smaller groups. Plan in advance and book early for next year!
Some of the camps we like:
the kids' favourite camp
Photo credit ©CNC Sailing School
Clube Naval de Cascais (CNC) founded in 1938 has been running a sailing school since the 1950’s. Their sailing programs are the most popular in all of Portugal for children of all ages. They also run a disabled sailing program ensuring no child or adult misses out on the fun.
Located on the bay of Cascais, one of the world acknowledged best venues to organize all type of sailing competitions namely Optimist, 420 and Laser.
Location: Cascais
Website: Clube Naval de Cascais
Age: 6 years +
Outdoor Buddy
Unforgettable experiences with Outdoor Buddy
For tweens and teens a small camp that brings the kids closer to nature with activities such as kayaking, surfing, snorkeling, fishing and skating. With transportation and a healthy lunch and snack provided, Outdoor Buddy provides personalised lessons for kids in locations around the Lisbon coastal area . Run by an awesome sportsman himself, he helps kids master skating tricks and how to catch waves, perfect for our little groms.
Location: Various meetup points around Cascais / Sintra depending on the day's activities.
Website: Outdoor Buddy
Age: 10 - 14 years
Surf At & Moana Surf Schools
Grommets @ Surf At
Two awesome surf schools, one in Praia Grande the other Guincho, teaching kids & adults from all ages and abilities. Run by surfers at heart they are ready to take your surfing to the next level. You just need to decide whether you want to chill afterwards at Bar do Fundo or Bar do Guincho?
©Moana Surf School, Guincho
Location: Praia Grande, Sintra
Website: Surf At Surf School
Location: Guincho, Cascais
Website: Moana Surf School
Age: 6 years +
©My Camp
Started in 1992, My Camp is a camp for kids from 6 to 17 years. Water and land activities and a lot of fun! This camp has a strong international focus, children will make friends from all nationalities.
Location: Cartaxo
Website: My Camp
Age: 6 - 17 years
©Language, Leadership & Love
LLL (Language, Leadership & Love) run weekly sessions during the year and also a summer camp themed around mindfulness for children. Cognitive, communication and creative skills are at the heart of the program. Children develop deeper into skills such as emotional intelligence and vocabulary to develop into conscious little leaders of the future.
Location: Workshops in Cascais
Website: LLL
Age: 6 years +
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