Summer camp testimonies, in and around Luxembourg

They can also promote physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development in children while exploring a new world. Not to mention being an exciting and fun part of the school holidays.

In Luxembourg there are so many — so how do you choose the right fit for your child?

We have compiled some testimonies kindly provided by parents on their adventuresome (or cautious!) children who have tried and tested some of Luxembourg's incredible array of camps and stages.

For more information on the camps listed here, and many others, read our 2024 guide to summer camps in Luxembourg — along with our recent article on all things Aktioun Bambësch.

Theatre Camps

Freddie had just turned 11 years-old when he attended St. George's theatre school last summer.

It was advertised as a musical theatre week to put on the show Annie by the end of the week so it involved singing, acting and performing.

It was five days and the hours were 9am- 4pm Monday to Friday.

According to his mum Marie, it was educational in the sense they got to learn drama skills, singing and performing arts. The experience was capped off with a theatre production show to perform at the end of the week for all the parents.

The skills learned at the theatre school summer camp were acting, musical theatre, singing, stage management, usage of stage props, teamwork, supporting others and appraisals of others' work.

© St George's International School summer drama program 2023

"It hugely benefitted my child's social skills because it enabled him to spend time in school with older students in preparation for starting secondary school in the September.

"My child found the summer camp extremely enjoyable because it was fun and he made new friends.

"It was challenging at times when he had to learn lots of songs and dance moves, but throughout the week he grew in confidence and independence — which showed in the final performance at the end of the week.

"I think it’s important for children to do Summer camps that they enjoy and that help them build resilience, confidence and other social skills outside of a classroom environment."

Overall, it was a "brilliant experience."

Star Activities

Angelina’s daughter Isabel took part in Star Activities in August 2023. It provides programs for children aged four to 12 years, offering tennis, badminton, gymnastics, judo, karate and ballet lessons.

"Our daughter attended the summer camp last year in August and will most likely join this summer. It was four full days, which included bus transport (pick up/ drop off from a designated location). Pick up latest at 8:30am and drop off at 4:30pm."

Angelina said the camp was very educational as it was a mix of arts, crafts, outdoor activities, visit to castles and museums around Luxembourg.

In terms of practical skills it was very beneficial. "Not only did she learn to overcome her fear to heights, she also learned how to multi-task in the different activities, but most of all, to be comfortable to share her opinion when surrounded by people she was not familiar with.

"My daughter loved her experience at this camp due to the variety of activities at different locations. During the four-day camp she attended, she visited the Vianden Castle, went to the forest, tried a zip-line for the first time, [and did] art crafts, among other activities.”

The camp, without doubt, helped build confidence and independence, Angelina added. "Yes, it did help build her confidence as it was her first time in a camp (at 4 years-old) in a new setting with new people by herself."

"Our daughter was extremely happy with the experience and asks us pretty much every month about the camp. The staff made the experience unforgettable as they were very caring with our daughter, since most of the children were from ISL, except her. They took care of her and encouraged her to tried everything even [while] being the youngest in the group."

The value of learning beyond textbooks is clear for Angelina.

"It is very important as it helps them develop their self-confidence, be exposed to different experiences both in nature and cultural settings, meet new children not necessarily from her school and have the curiosity to explore."

Ecole Privée Montessori Farm

Samuel attended the Ecole Privée Montessori Farm in Hobscheid last summer when he was four.

His mother describes how her son was tentative at first and it was difficult for him to settle on the first day, but the mix of activities allowed him to work with beads and other crafts before longer activities that involved visiting the farm's goats and other animals, which he loved.

The camp's languages are French and Luxembourgish, so the aim of attending was also to improve his use of both languages — one of which is the 'less-dominant' language spoken at home — while also spending more time outdoors and playing with a variety of age groups.

His mother also appreciated that the camp takes cheque service and had early hours for drop-off and pick-up if necessary.

"The instructors were also very caring and took their time to help him understand the more 'Montessori' aspects of the camp," as he didn't have any prior experience with the method.

She said Samuel's time at the camp helped him become more independent: "He's better at tidying and taking care of himself, and has also been obsessed with Hama bead creations ever since his time there. We thought he'd enjoy the animals the most — and he did chat non-stop about them — but in the end he's come away with a very peaceful new hobby, which we can also appreciate."

Language Camps

Raphael took part in a week-long German language course last summer when he was 12. It took place in the morning over three hours for a total of 15 hours. The course was held at the Actilingua offices in Pétange.

"We had decided to enrol our son in this course following discussions with other mothers who had given us very positive feedback on the courses offered by Actilingua," explained Raphael’s mother.

"Our son, a student at EIDE, had just finished his 1st year of high school, during which he had begun to study German, but he didn't feel at ease with the language and didn't enjoy the subject.

"The course, which involved dialogues and short theatrical scenes in German, was very beneficial for our son, who was 12 at the time. Thanks to its playful format and the interaction with the other learners in a small group of four children, as well as with the teacher who created a relaxed atmosphere, our son didn't feel like he was taking a course, but rather participating in an entertaining activity. He enjoyed going. This approach not only boosted his self-confidence, but also stimulated his interest in German."

Raphael’s mother added: "We noticed a marked improvement in his motivation and results, and so we decided, in agreement with our son, to repeat the experience this year."

Emma took part in an English language immersion camp which is organised in August every year, also by Actilingua. It will run from 12 to 23 August this year. According to her parent, it was a very beneficial experience.

"Emma took part in a five-day, five-night summer camp at Lac d'Esch sur Sûre. The experience was beneficial from a personal point of view. It was her first vacation without her parents and she had to reach out to others to fit in. She practiced sports she didn't know and, above all, she had to communicate in English almost all the time.

"She really appreciated the location, the activities and the approach to English lessons. It's what we were looking for to help her progress in English and give her confidence when she has to express herself orally.

"She found the course very good in all these respects and would like to take part again this summer. This course has made her grow and given her more confidence in her school English lessons and in her everyday life.

The Actilingua team was very attentive and caring. We are very satisfied."

Gus was enrolled in the French course at Schola Nova and it successfully improved his language skills all while enjoying himself through the various activities.

His mother felt that the split in the day between "more formal language classes and fun activities" was particularly beneficial, as it meant the children (some of whom are as young as 4 years) weren't weighed down by too much language practice in the day.

"The afternoon activities (culinary, artistic etc) were typically centered on [seasonal] themes and he was always proud to show his parents what he had been doing... I had the impression the environment was more relaxed than challenging."

"He had French classes in the morning where he had the opportunity to speak with the native French teacher and do written exercises, which involved learning new vocabulary."

The fact that the French teacher was positive and encouraging and only spoke French once she saw that Gus understood her certainly helped to build his confidence in using the languages.

"The fact of being in a completely new environment with people he hadn't met before and of different age groups (the groups are mixed for the afternoon activities) is probably an experience which allowed him to practice adapting to different social settings.

"I think the Schola Nova language camps are certainly worth trying if parents are looking for new ways to entertain their children during the holidays, while also providing them with the opportunity to improve one or other of the foreign languages the school has to offer."

Tennis Camps

Daniel spent a week at a tennis stage at Arquebusiers Tennis Club in Belair.

According to his father, it was his son's first time playing the sport.

"He is a sporty kid and we thought it would be a great one to introduce him to. A place was available in a stage at Easter and the times suited perfectly. There was a small group of children who were coached on the indoor courts.

"He absolutely loved it. He ran to the door brimming with enthusiasm every afternoon. He was very keen to learn the techniques and even on returning home afterwards he wanted to practice what he had learned.

"The stage encouraged independence and he displayed an eagerness to learn the sport, which was lovely to see.

"The stage was educational in that he was being exposed to a new sport, a ball and racquet sport, which he hadn't had the chance to play before. We hope to enrol him again during the summer to build on what he has learned."

© Unsplash / Kelly Sikkema

Sunflower Alizeti Montessori Camp

Carolina is an 8-year-old girl and has attended the camps for three years now. Her mother elaborated on some of the experiences she has had throughout.

"The summer camp at Sunflower incorporates educational elements into their programs. While the primary focus is often on fun and recreational activities, the summer camp also offers workshops and hands-on learning experiences to teach children new skills or enhance their knowledge in various subjects.

"During her time at the Sunflower camp, my child learned valuable practical skills such as baking, outdoor sports like swimming, nature exploration and yoga, arts, and crafts.

"The supportive and inclusive atmosphere of the camp created a sense of belonging and camaraderie between my child and her friends, making every day a new and exciting adventure.

"Overall, integrating the Montessori education approach into the Sunflower summer camps activities creates a rich and engaging learning environment that fosters curiosity, creativity, and a love for learning in children."

Moreover, Lukas, 6, and Thomas, 4, are brothers that took part in the Sunflower Alizeti Montessori camp and the overall impressions from their mother are very good.

"I am always surprised to see how many things they learn from Alizeti. They do a lot of things that develop creativity. And I know it is from Alizeti as they say it in English. And they are always happy to go there. Sometimes they even ask to go earlier. It is usually more challenging to take them home."

Any testimonies to share? 

We are always happy to hear your feedback or share anything from readers about their personal experiences with summer camps and activities for kids in Luxembourg. Feel free to email us at contenttoday@rtl.lu, or leave us a note in the comments!