Students aged 8 - 12
Camp Headington
Young Explorers
Explore English language learning through a fully immersive programme of lessons, workshops, and activities.
Learning Adventure
Embark on a thrilling journey, where education mixes with adventure for 8-12-year-olds seeking a unique and unforgettable experience! Each day unfolds as a captivating exploration into core themes tailored for young learners, including All About Us, The Natural World and Adventures. Our innovative approach blends traditional learning with dynamic activities, creating an enriching environment for every child.
Young Explorers
At a Glance
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Price
£3,850
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Ages
8-12
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English Level
All levels
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Duration
2 weeks
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Academic Content
15+ Hours of lessons per week
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Starting Dates
28th July 2025
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Location
Headington School, Oxford
Course Structure
At Camp Headington, we believe that younger learners thrive when they’re supported, engaged, and having fun. Each day is structured around a child-friendly theme—such as All About Us, Adventures, or Looking at Our World—which gives meaning and focus to the day’s learning.
Our innovative Young Explorers programme is designed to mix lessons and activities as children explore key themes in a dynamic and engaging way to maximise their learning. Each theme is explored in lessons with their teacher and whole school events called ShowTime!
Morning Sessions
Mornings include two lively, teacher-led lessons:
Lesson 1 introduces the day’s theme through storytelling, games, discussion or creative tasks—helping children build confidence and curiosity in a relaxed environment.
Lesson 2 focuses on functional English, giving students the vocabulary, phrases, and language structures they need to take part in the afternoon’s activity—whether that’s working together, following rules, or sharing ideas.
Across the two lessons, children practise key areas of English such as vocabulary building, spelling, pronunciation, and listening and speaking skills. All lessons are led by qualified EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers who specialise in working with younger learners and creating a supportive, inclusive classroom.
Afternoon Sessions
Afternoons end with Showtime – a high-energy, interactive activity that brings the day’s learning to life. These sessions might involve building castles, a Friendship Fiesta, Rainbow Tag or bushcraft. They are playful, inclusive, and designed to help children use language in real-life situations.
We know that play-based learning and learning by doing are the most effective methods for this age group. Our structure supports children to use English naturally, build friendships, and leave each day feeling more confident, capable, and proud.
A Typical Day
Explore what a theme day looks like at Camp Headington
Morning Lessons
- Lesson 1: Castles and Knights
The day begins with an introduction to the world of medieval castles. Students learn key vocabulary using flashcards, pictures, and choral repetition. They then design their own coat of arms, using colours and symbols to express values like bravery or strength. Sentence starters help all learners talk about their designs confidently.Â
- Lesson 2: Functional Language – Working as a Team
In this session, students build their own mini catapults and practise the language they’ll need for team activities later in the day. The session ends with a light-hearted catapult competition, using language in context and celebrating creativity.Â
Afternoon Showtime: Castle ConquestsÂ
In the afternoon, students come together for Castle Conquests—a high-energy group challenge where they design and build their own team castles using recyclable materials. The goal? Create the most imaginative, strong, and water-resistant castle. Each team presents their structure, then defends it in a dramatic castle siege using soft projectiles and water pistols. It’s playful, purposeful, and packed with teamwork and excitement.Â
The day ends with reflection, celebration, and plenty of laughter—setting the stage for the next day’s real-life castle visit to Warwick.Â
Each day at Camp Headington is designed to help children connect, express themselves, and enjoy learning through play. Today’s theme, All About Us, focuses on friendships, shared interests, and working together—building confidence through conversation, creativity, and teamwork.Â
Morning LessonsÂ
- Lesson 1: Sharing What We Enjoy
The day begins with a gentle, interactive session where students explore what they enjoy doing with friends. Through movement, drawing, and pair work, they build vocabulary and confidence in a relaxed environment—sharing ideas, asking questions, and learning about each other.Â
- Lesson 2: STEM Challenge – Spaghetti Bridges
In small teams, students are challenged to build a bridge using spaghetti and tape. Along the way, they use simple English to plan, test, and reflect—learning how to share ideas, support one another, and celebrate their efforts. Bridges are tested for strength, with plenty of cheering and encouragement from all sides!Â
Afternoon Showtime: Silly OlympicsÂ
In the afternoon, it’s time for the Silly Olympics—a joyful, camp-wide event full of movement, teamwork, and laughter. In colour teams, students rotate through creative and active stations like hula hoop challenges, water balloon races, and the classic mummy wrap. There are no winners or losers—just playful competition, shared excitement, and a chance for every child to shine.Â
It’s a day filled with expression, connection, and real-life language in action—exactly what Camp Headington is all about.Â
Download Our Sample Timetable
Discover what a typical two-week programme looks like at Camp Headington. Please note our sample timetable is given as an example and can be subject to change.
Young Explorers
Dates & Prices
A warm and welcoming environment for young learners
The staff are not only highly skilled but also incredibly kind and nurturing, creating a warm and welcoming environment for young learners.
Kateryna, Ukraine - Parent
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