4 minute read
Summer holiday clubs
Here are some great local holiday clubs for your children to try new activities and make friends during the summer break.
Apollo Sports
31 July – 18 August kiddiplan.com/direct-classcheckout/C30479
Some of the sports that we will be doing include archery, fencing, gymnastics, football, tag rugby, hockey, basketball, arts & crafts and parachute games!
Artemis Summer Theatre Camps
24 July–25 August, 9:30am–4:30pm artemis-studios.co.uk
The Bracknell-based children’s performing arts and education charity is running musical theatre holiday clubs for ages 4-15 years during the summer holidays, starting with an Enchanto theme 24-28 July and Seusical the Musical 21-25 August.
Jubilee Jets School Holiday Club
29 July–30 August, 8am–6pm www.jubileejets.co.uk
We have a huge variety of activities from baking and crafting to indoor and outdoor team games and creative play which ignites imaginations, for ages 5-11!
Master Builders Club masterbuildersclub.co.uk/buildwith-us
LEGO® workshops at various locations around Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
Perform
Across July and August www.perform.org.uk/wizard
Perform are off to see the wizard this July and August, as they sing and dance their way down the yellow brick road in their Wizard of Oz holiday courses. For ages 4-10 in Wokingham.
Progress Theatre
7-11 August, 10am–4pm www.progresstheatre.co.uk/ youth-theatre
A play in a week, for ages 10-16.
14 and 21 August, 10am–3pm www.progresstheatre.co.uk/ youth-theatre
Theatre skills workshop for ages 7-10.
Reading Rep Theatre
31 July–4 August, 10am–5pm www.readingrep.com
This summer work with professional West End stars from the shows Motown, Newsies, Sister Act and Matilda, then perform on Reading Rep’s main stage. For ages 9-16.
South Hill Park Summer Project
7–11 August southhillpark.org.uk/shp-events/ summer-project-23
Participants aged 6–11yrs will learn new skills, build confidence and form new friendships as they work towards staging a musical theatre showcase performance at the end of the week.
South Hill Park Summer School
24 July–4 August southhillpark.org.uk/shp-events/ summer-school-performers southhillpark.org.uk/shp-events/ summer-school-technicians
Performers course: With expert guidance from a pro-team, unleash your singing, dancing, and acting skills.
Technicians course: Get ready to be transformed into a master of stage magic as you learn all the essential skills required to be a theatre technician. Both courses are for ages 12-19.
Steppin Out Stars of Tomorrow Summer School ‘23
31 July–4 August www.steppinoutstars.co.uk ‘We are all in this together!’ –based on the popular High School
Musical. Full performance at the end of the week. Ages 3-17.
St. Joseph’s Holiday Club
July and August, 8am–6pm www.sjcr.org.uk/for-ourcommunity/holiday-club
A range of engaging activities for all children from Pre-Reception to Year 8. Half-day sessions also available.
Ultimate Activity Camps www.ultimateactivity.co.uk
These camps are an excellent option for parents looking to provide their children with a fun, active and exciting experience during school holidays. They offer a wide range of activities, from sports and outdoor adventures to arts, survival skills and tech camps.
Don’t forget to say you saw these in Families Thames Valley West Magazine
Local paddling pools and splash pads
What better way to cool down on a hot summer’s day than by having a splash in a refreshingly cool paddling pool or splash pad?! Here are some within easy reach of home.
Beale Park
Lower Basildon, Pangbourne, Reading, RG8 9NW
Visitors must pay to enter the park first.
California Country Park
Nine Mile Ride, Finchampstead, RG40 4HU
Advance booking may be required.
Christchurch Meadows
George Street, Caversham, Reading, RG4 8BY
Great Hollands Recreation Ground (splash pad)
South Road, Wokingham, RG40 3EE
Jocks Lane Park (splash pad) Binfield Road, Bracknell, RG12 2BH
Odds Farm Park (splash pad)
Wooburn Common, High Wycombe, HP10 0LX
Visitors must pay to enter the park first.
Victoria Park (splash pad) 6 Park Way, Newbury, RG14 5AA
Wellington Country Park (splash pad)
Odiham Road, Riseley, RG7 1SP
Visitors must pay to enter the park first.
Woodford Park Haddon Drive, Woodley, Reading RG5 4LY
Ultimate Activity school holiday day camps
Ultimate Activity Camps provides outstanding, Ofsted regulated summer activity day camps with the primary function of delivering a very high level of care and welfare for children ages 4 to 14 during the school holidays.
Its camps are an excellent option for parents looking to provide their children with a fun, active and exciting experience while not at school.
The camps offer a wide range of activities, from sports and outdoor adventures to arts, survival skills and tech camps. Camps are staffed by experienced professionals who provide a safe and supportive environment for children to learn and grow; they are a great place for children to gain confidence and selfesteem.
During the summer holidays, these award-winning camps, delivered by qualified and motivating staff will be running at LVS Ascot, Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning, Crosfields School in Reading and St. Gabriel’s School in Newbury.
Find our more and book at www.ultimateactivity.co.uk/ locations
Perform in the Park – London’s festival of children’s theatre
Children’s drama school Perform is hosting London’s first ever children’s theatre festival this summer in Coram’s Fields, Bloomsbury. This six-week festival features professional actors across four musicals, two of which are original productions. Shows run daily from 22 July to 28 August.
The line-up includes The Three Billy Goats Gruff, a smash hit musical adventure for 2-7 year olds. For 3-8 year olds, Elephant and Piggie’s We are in a Play! will be staged, based on Mo Willems’ wonderful books. Perform’s brand-new Caribbean adventure, Mermaids & Pirates, will be presented for ages 4-11. Finally, for ages 7-14, another original show from Perform, The Dream, inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, rebooted for a new generation.
As well as these four fantastic musicals for children aged 2-14, there are special guest evening events for teens plus a charming all-day café and, of course, all the usual child-centred delights of Coram’s Fields.
Tickets start at £14.50. Visit performinthepark.uk for more information and to book tickets.
Odds Farm Park turns up the heat with a Festival of Fun
Visitors can look forward to a Festival of Fun at Odds Farm Park, near Beaconsfield, this summer.
The Festival of Fun kicks off on Saturday 22 July and runs through until Sunday 3 September.
The Buckinghamshire farm park has a fun-filled line up ready for guests including live entertainment, summer games and carnival-themed crafts every day during the six-week school holiday period.
Louise Winslow, Assistant General Manager at Odds Farm Park says: “There will definitely be a festival vibe at Odds this summer. We have daily discos, outdoor summer games and plenty of ice cream to cool down in the warm weather. And back for another year is the arts and crafts marquee which is so loved by our younger guests.” www.oddsfarm.co.uk
Visitors can also make a splash in the H2Odds water play area this summer. With over 500 square metres of water play, children can work together to move water through a series of pumps, channels, rivulets, wheels and gates across 80 metres of channels, streams and pools.