CHUMS Holiday Camps

You can book through our online booking system, or give our reception team a call on 01206 873250.

Cancellations are only accepted up to 7 days before your booking. If you have booked a full week, cancellations must be made at least 7 days before the start of that week. Partial refunds for full week bookings are unavailable.

Registration (drop-off): 8.30am - 9am

Collection: 5pm - 5.15pm

If you need to collect your child before 5pm, please inform our team at drop-off in the morning.

Drop-off and collection take place at the Essex Sport Arena reception. If there is any changes to this location, parents/guardians will be informed by email in advance.

Please phone our reception team on 01206 873250 if you are running late. A late stay fee will be charged if a child is not collected by 5.30pm.

At drop-off, please inform our team if someone else will be collecting your child. We will record their name and provide the dropping-off adult with a password to pass on to the collecting adult.

At collection, the collecting adult will be asked to provide the password. If they do not know the password, we will contact the parent/guardian or emergency contact.

Children attending our Teens Camp (Ages 13-16) may sign themselves in and out of CHUMS. Written consent is required, and the parent/guardian must email chums@essex.ac.uk in advance.

Parking charges apply between 9.30am and 4.30pm, Monday-Friday. Parking is free outside of these hours and at weekends.

Children should bring:

• A packed lunch (no nuts)
• A refillable water bottle
• Any required medication
• A spare change of clothes (if necessary)
• Appropriate clothing

Children should bring a balanced packed lunch, including snacks that they can choose to eat during morning and afternoon break times. We do not provide food and there is no option to purchase food on camp. CHUMS has a strict no-nuts policy, so please ensure there are no items containing nuts in your child's packed lunch.

During the summer, please provide and apply sun protection cream each morning.

We strongly advise that children do not bring mobile phones to camp. We understand that older children travelling independently may need to bring a phone. However, only children in the Teens Camp will be permitted to use their mobile phones during specific break times. They must remain in personal bags during activities and are brought at the owner's risk. Please ensure your child is aware of this policy.

As we operate a no-nuts policy, please avoid foods such as peanut butter, pesto pasta, and any other items containing nuts.

The day is divided into five one-hour activity sessions, offering a varied programme of multi-sport activities. There is also be a morning break, lunch break, and afternoon break, allowing time to rest, eat, and prepare for the next activities.

Break times and lunch are a chance for children to rest, refuel, and reset between activity sessions.

During breaks, children will:

• Sit together to eat their lunch or snacks
• Take part in quiet play, such as board games, colouring, or arts and crafts
• Chat and socialise with friends

To support a calm environment, we may have the TV on during some break times so children can sit quietly while eating and relaxing. For Minis (Ages 5-6), only U-rated films are shown. For Juniors and Youths, age-appropriate children's TV channels may be used.

Use of the TV is optional, limited to break times, and always supervised.

Yes. All CHUMS playworkers are experienced working with children, and hold an enhanced DBS check and have completed safeguarding training.

• Minis (Ages 5-6) 1:8
• Juniors (Ages 7-9) 1:10
• Youths(Ages 10-12) 1:12
• Teens (Ages 13-16) 1:15