How to Find International Summer Camps for Your Kids (My Exact Strategy)

The hardest part of planning a camp summer abroad isn't the flights or the housing — it's finding the camps in the first place. European camps don't market to American families the way US camps do. There's no glossy brochure arriving in your mailbox, no camp fair at your kid's school. You have to go looking for them.

After four summers of doing this research, I've developed a system. Here's exactly how I find, vet, and book camps in cities I've never been to.

Strategy 1: Google in the Local Language

This is my most effective trick, and most families never think to do it. Search for "summer camp" in the local language of the city you're targeting.

"Campamento de verano Barcelona" gets you camps that "summer camp Barcelona" doesn't. "Colonie de vacances Paris" opens up a completely different set of results than "summer camp Paris." "Zomerkamp Amsterdam" finds Dutch-run programs that cater to local families.

Use Google Translate to read the results. Most camp websites have straightforward information — dates, ages, pricing, location — that translates well even if the nuances don't.

This is how I found some of our absolute favorite camps. Programs that don't appear in English searches, that serve local families, and that offer a much more authentic cultural experience than the international-expat-focused camps.

Strategy 2: Expat Facebook Groups

Search for "[City] expats" or "[City] families" groups on Facebook. Almost every major European city has at least one active expat community group, and many have dedicated family or parenting groups.

These groups are gold mines. Parents share camp recommendations constantly, especially in the spring when everyone starts planning for summer. The recommendations come with real context — "my shy 7-year-old loved this camp" or "great program but the lunch was terrible."

Search within the group for "camp" or "summer" to find past threads. Don't just post and ask — dig into the archives first. Years of recommendations are sitting there.

Real parent reviews beat marketing websites every time.

Strategy 3: International School Websites

Google "international school [city name]" and check their websites. Most international schools run summer programs during the break, and these are often the highest-quality English-language camps available.

International school summer programs tend to have excellent facilities, trained multilingual staff, and a mix of local and international kids. The curriculum is usually well-structured — think STEM workshops, arts programs, language immersion, and sports — because the schools have infrastructure that standalone camps don't.

Check their websites in March-April when summer programs typically get announced. Some open registration to the public, others prioritize current students first, so getting on their mailing list early helps.

Strategy 4: Camp Directories

A few online directories aggregate camp listings across multiple countries:

• Camps International (campsinternational.com) — A European camp aggregator that covers multiple countries and camp types. Good starting point for browsing what's available.
• Country-specific directories exist for the UK, France, Switzerland, and other popular camp destinations. Google "[country] summer camp directory" to find them.
• Your city's tourism website — Many city tourism boards maintain lists of children's activities and summer programs, especially in family-friendly destinations.

Directories won't give you everything, but they're a useful starting point — especially for discovering camp types you hadn't considered.

Strategy 5: Ask Local Parents

Once you've booked your housing, tap into local knowledge. Ask your Airbnb host, your home exchange family, or even your neighbors at the playground.

Hotel concierges often know about local programs, especially in family-oriented hotels. If you're doing a home exchange, your swap family is the absolute best resource — they have kids the same age and they know every program in the neighborhood.

Don't be shy about asking. Parents everywhere love talking about what their kids do in the summer. You'll often hear about small, neighborhood-run programs that don't have websites at all.

Strategy 6: My Newsletter

I research and vet camps year-round so you don't have to. It's genuinely one of the things I spend the most time on, because I know how hard it is to find good information.

I cover camps across 15+ countries with specific pricing, booking links, age ranges, language requirements, and my honest reviews when we've attended. Subscribers get first access to new camp finds, exclusive discount codes that camps offer through our partnership, and a heads-up when popular programs open registration.

Red Flags to Watch For

Not every camp is a good camp. Here's what makes me pass:

• No physical address or facility photos. If they won't show you where your child will be spending the day, that's a problem.
• No reviews or parent testimonials anywhere online. Not on their website, not on Google, not on Facebook. A complete absence of social proof is concerning.
• Vague about staff qualifications. Good camps are proud of their staff and happy to share training, certifications, and experience.
• No clear safety or emergency policies. Ask about their procedures for injuries, allergies, and emergencies. If they can't answer clearly, move on.
• Pricing that seems too good to be true. Quality camps cost money. If a program is dramatically cheaper than comparable options, find out why.

Green Flags That Give Me Confidence

• Long-established programs (5+ years of operation). Longevity means they're doing something right.
• Affiliated with international schools. School infrastructure, trained staff, and institutional accountability.
• Detailed daily schedules published on their website. Transparency about what kids actually do all day.
• Clear staff-to-child ratios. Good camps publish this information and keep ratios low, especially for younger kids.
• Responsive to email inquiries. If a camp answers your questions quickly, thoroughly, and kindly, they'll probably treat your kid the same way.

What My Newsletter Subscribers Get

In my newsletter, I share new camp discoveries throughout the year, detailed reviews from camps we've personally attended, and a searchable database of vetted camps organized by country, city, age range, and camp type. Subscribers also get early access to registration alerts for popular programs and exclusive discount codes. If finding the right camp feels overwhelming, the newsletter is designed to make it simple.