Summer alert!
Before the heat gets unbearable in the city, plan your summer retreat. Delhi-based tour camps have the perfect solution for teenagers in the city — out-of-town adventure camps. From camping in Uttrakhand to trekking in Maharashtra, skiing in Switzerland to cycling in Seattle, you can opt to do anything, depending on your budget. And it’s perfectly safe, assures Gaurav Saklani of Inme, which organises international summer camps.
“For all summer camps organisers, safety is very important. We ensure that we use the best safety equipment,” he explains.
“I learned skiing at a summer camp in Switzerland last year, it was way better than boiling in the city,” says Achintya Patil, who went for a camp with Les Elfes.
Inme Camps
Wonderful Outdoor World (WOW) —that’s how they describe their camps. They offer national and international summer camps. The Great American Bicycle Ride is a camp that indulges the members in covering 78 kms per day from Seattle to San Francisco on a bicycle. This camp is sold out at the moment. Also scheduled for this month is Double Trouble — a rafting camp on the Ganges.
Departure: May 15
Return: June 16
Fee: Rs2.5 lakh (approximately)
Tel: 011 46714663
Website:http://www.inme.in
Nature Knights Monthly summer camps are conducted mostly by this operator. Their Mega Jungle Adventure Camp at Matheran in Maharashtra includes trekking, bonfire and various other adventure sports. The campers also get a chance to travel in the toy train from Matheran. Each group — divided age-wise — can have up to 30 participants. For those who would rather holiday as a family, this is a good option, as parents are allowed to enroll too. Online registration is open.
Departure: May 14
Arrival: May 16
Fee: Rs5,000 approx
Tel: 9821081566
Website:www.natureknights.net
Nature Knights Monthly summer camps are conducted mostly by this operator. Their Mega Jungle Adventure Camp at Matheran in Maharashtra includes trekking, bonfire and various other adventure sports. The campers also get a chance to travel in the toy train from Matheran. Each group — divided age-wise — can have up to 30 participants. For those who would rather holiday as a family, this is a good option, as parents are allowed to enroll too. Online registration is open.
Departure: May 14
Arrival: May 16
Fee: Rs5,000 approx
Tel: 9821081566
Website:www.natureknights.net
Wildrift Camps
The camp here offers a true Himalayan adventure. Located in the Namik region in Kumaon, Uttarakhand, the camping trip offers a combination of adventure, trekking and cultural interactions along the Ramganga river valley. Mountain bicycling, white water kayaking, river adventures — swimming, crossing, cliff jumping, and night camping, village-based interactions and workshops on local crafts are some of the highlights of the camp. “We ensure each member wears safety gear,” says Raghuveer Singh, the spokesperson of the camp organiser.
When: 7 days in the last week of May.
Fee: Rs10,750
Tel: 011 29531036
Website:www.wildrift.com
Les Elfes Camps
A member of European Council of Schools puts together a unique camp experience in Switzerland with leadership and team-building activities and language learning, encouraging each participant to become more self-reliant, acquire new skills, to return as a rounded individual while having fun. The camp gives a chance to youngsters to indulge in Alpine sports, along with understanding Swiss culture. They hold six to seven sessions annually. Around 60-80 kids are enrolled per camp. Registration is open.
Departure: June 11
Return: June 25
Fee: Rs2.5 lakh Tel: 9810178021
Website: www.leselfes.com
Frolic Boonies
This summer camp offers activities, such as wildlife tracking, chocolate making, horse riding, bird watching, aero modelling and stream play. The annual Jungle Safari to Bandipur National Park is the most sought-after camp here.
Departure: May 20
Arrival: May 27
Fee: Upto Rs7,000, depending on the activities opted for
Tel: 9900087611
Website:www.kidssummercamp.in