Frequently Asked Questions for Summer Camps
1) Planning the holiday
Q: How old does my child have to be to stay at Mill on the Brue?
A: We accommodate children from the age of 8. Children of 7 yrs may stay if accompanying older siblings.
Q: What is the cost of a week’s summer camp for 2012?
A: The total cost is £544, which covers everything except travel to and from the Centre. A variety of discounts are available on our Summer Camp page.
Q: How do I know when to pay my balance?
A: You will receive a letter after your booking is made, reminding you that all balances are due before the 1st June 2012. If the booking is made after this date we ask you to pay the full amount at the time of booking.
Q: I would like to stay near Mill on the Brue; can you recommend anywhere?
A: Yes. We have a list of local Bed and Breakfast accommodation on our website, please contact the proprietors directly to make a booking.
Q: Can my child have English lessons at Mill on the Brue?
A: Yes. With at least 1 month’s notice, we can pre-arrange 1 hour lessons with a TEFL qualified teacher who will come up to the Centre at a cost of £20 per lesson. We suggest no more than 4 lessons per week as they take place during activity time and it’s hard for any child to have to miss activities! The Mill on the Brue staff always speak to the children in English, so we do find a natural improvement in the children’s English.
Q: Have you suggestions for what the children should pack?
A: We provide a kit list for you; please read it carefully and be sure to name absolutely everything. All clothes need to be prepared to get dirty! If your child is staying for more than one week we will wash and dry their clothes for them at the end of their first week (at no extra charge) so there is no need to duplicate.
Q: Will my child need Pocket Money?
A: They will not need money, however, we do have a small tuck shop, which stocks sweets and souvenirs and is very popular. We recommend no more than £35 per child. Pocket money should be handed in to Mill on the Brue Staff on arrival, for safekeeping.
2) The Journey
Q: When do we drop off our child at Mill on the Brue?
A: At 11:00am on Sunday morning we will be waiting to welcome you. The children will meet their group instructors who will show them and you (if you would like) to their bedrooms to choose a bunk. Once the entire group has arrived, they will be taken together for a tour of Mill on the Brue, which is a really invaluable way for everyone to get their bearings. Please try and avoid arriving before 11:00am or after 11:30am, as it is important for your child to benefit from the full welcome experience.
Q: Is it possible to travel by train?
A: Yes! As part of our environmental ethos Mill on the Brue actively encourages travel on public transport. There is a station in Bruton, otherwise our nearest main line Station is Castle Cary.
Q: Do you offer a train escort service?
A: Yes, from London. We can arrange for Mill on the Brue staff to be waiting at London Paddington Station at a pre-designated meeting point 45 minutes before the train’s departure on the Sunday morning. Please ensure your child has his/her own return ticket to Castle Cary station.
Q: How much does this cost?
A: £15 return, for the escort plus the cost of your child’s train ticket.
Q: What are the train times for both journeys?
A: We will publish the Summer 2012 times in mid May but they will be approximately as follows: Depart Sunday from London Paddington @ 09:57 hrs: arriving Castle Cary @ 11:36 hrs. Saturday, depart from Castle Cary @ 15:08 hrs: arriving London Paddington @ 17:02hrs.
Travelling from overseas
Q: What is the best airport for my child to arrive at?
A: The nearest airport to Mill on the Brue is Bristol (approximately 45 minutes drive). Alternatively, use London Heathrow (approximately 2 hours drive) or London Gatwick (approximately 2 ½ hours from us). If you give us plenty of warning, we can book a taxi for your child to be collected from the airport and at the end of their stay returned (and checked in) by a local taxi company that we’ve been working with for many years.
Q: How much will I have to pay for the taxi?
A: Please contact the office for up to date prices.
Q: When booking flights how do I ensure my child arrives at Mill on the Brue close to 11:00am on Sunday?
A: When calculating the best flight times, work backwards from 11:00am; allow the traveling times given above and for the London airports include an extra hour to pass through Customs and baggage collection (for Bristol allow an extra 30 minutes).
Q: If travelling from overseas do I need to pack a sleeping bag?
A: We have a limited number of Centre sleeping bags but would ask you to try to pack a sleeping bag if you own one.
3) During Your Child’s Stay
Q: Can my child be in the same group as a friend?
A: If you make a request, we will do our best to make sure this happens. If the children are of different ages, then it is likely that the older child would go into the younger group.
Q: My child’s birthday falls during their stay at Mill on the Brue; how do you celebrate it?
A: We bake them a special birthday cake, which will be shared out with their group at teatime.
Q: Can my child bring a mobile phone to Mill on the Brue?
A: Yes, but it’s not essential. Phones should be handed in on arrival for safekeeping. We will look after them and then return them to the children in the evenings (usually around 7:00pm) so they can ring you.
Q: I would like to talk to my child how could I do this?
A: All children coming from abroad are helped to phone home as soon as they arrive. At other times we ask parents to call the duty mobile number (00 44 7910 595048) between the hours of 1830 and 1930. However, as you can imagine it can get quite busy so we recommend, as an alternative, that you pre arrange a time with your child to call their mobile phone.
Please be aware that when the children go on their camping evening they won’t have access to their phones.
Q: What if my child suffers from homesickness?
A: We are always on the look out for signs of homesickness and ready to offer support to those who succumb to it. Keeping busy is often the best prevention and there is plenty of opportunity for that here! In our experience if you have any doubt about homesickness it’s better to avoid speaking directly to your child as this can exacerbate the problem and be traumatic for both of you! Writing a letter or e-mail which we can print off and give to your child is a much more lasting way of showing you care. We will always contact you if we have any concerns regarding your child.
Q: Do you cater for special diets?
A: Yes. Over the past years we’ve catered for many diets such as dairy free and coeliac diets. If a child comes to us with a major intolerance then part of health and safety procedure is to take a photo of them, which identifies them to all the kitchen staff.
Q: If clothes and towels end up soaking wet after activities, is there anyway of drying them?
A: Yes. We have washing lines and a drying room specifically for this purpose and housekeeping staff will always help out. |
