5 Reasons to Enrol Your Child in a Holiday Camp

Are you looking for ways to keep your child entertained during the school holidays? 

Conveniently located just a 20-minute drive from Edinburgh city centre, Loretto hosts a range of activity camps over the Easter and Summer holidays, from Acrobatics to Volunteering and Adventure Sport. 

Participating in activity camps has many benefits, including discovering new interests and talents, reducing screen time, and making new friends. Read on to discover five benefits of sending your child to an activity camp this year.

Discover new interests

Easter and Summer Camps are one of the best ways for young people to try something new and widen their skillset. Whether your child is creative, sporty, or looking to expand their sense of adventure, there’s a camp to suit a range of interests. For example, Loretto's 2026 Camp Programme is comprised of the following:

• Acrobatics

• Art and Dance

• Girls’ Sport

• Hockey

• Musical Theatre

• Rugby

• Volunteering and Adventure Sport

  
  

The atmosphere on camps is supportive and playful – the focus is entirely on having fun and developing personally. Expert sports coaches and specialist subject teachers are encouraging and caring, ensuring young people feel confident to challenge themselves and take a step out of their comfort zone each day.

Limiting screen time

Trying to limit screen time in the school holidays can be difficult – the days are long and boredom can soar. A 2025 survey found that screen time for children aged 8-17 rose by 42% during the summer holidays, in comparison to term time. 

Enrolling your child in an activity camp offers more structure to the day, meaning they are less likely to reach for screens. Camp participants are kept active and engaged, avoiding the negative impacts of excessive scrolling. 

Develop confidence

An increase in confidence can be attributed to participation in activity camps for a whole host of reasons. For some, this confidence may come from broadening their horizons – especially if it’s an activity they’ve never tried before. For others, this confidence may come through a marked improvement in their abilities. 

Residential camps, like Loretto's Golf Summer Camps, foster an ideal environment for independence to grow in those aged 12-18. By being away from home for a week, young people can make their own decisions throughout the day and navigate any challenges that arise. Of course, they’re still given support and structure from our experienced and nurturing staff team, so that they do so with confidence. 

An additional benefit for Golf Camp attendees is the location – Loretto Golf Academy is ideally placed along Scotland’s Golf Coast. Spanning over 30 miles along the East Lothian coastline, participants will enjoy matchplay on local golf courses with rich histories – there's no better place for young golfers to develop their game and self-belief. 

Forge friendships

Camps provide an ideal opportunity for different year groups to mix, when they otherwise might not have. Additionally, Loretto's holiday camps are open to the wider community, meaning young people from across East Lothian and Edinburgh can meet and mix in a welcoming, sociable environment. 

Having a mutual interest in an activity provides a natural and easy basis for conversations to be struck up, whilst the experience of developing together – through shared challenges and accomplishments – can lead to strong and lasting friendships being formed. 

Create memories

Finally, some of your child’s fondest memories may come from their time at an activity camp. 

Whether it’s making the most of this leafy campus located just outside of Edinburgh with some physical activity, performing on stage to an enthusiastic audience, or creating beautiful works of art – having fun with new friends whilst growing in confidence is sure to be a standout memory.