Summer Program

Welcome to the ASL Summer Program!

Program dates for 2023:

Week 1: 19-23 June
Week 2: 26-30 June
Week 3: 3-7 July
Week 4: 10-14 July
Week 5: 17-21 July
Week 6: 24-28 July
Week 7: 31 July - 4 August
Week 8: 7-11 August
Week 9: 14-18 August

The 2023 ASL Summer Program will open for bookings in April 2023. In the meantime, have a look at our program offerings from last year to give you an idea of what we may have in store for 2023.

2022 programs

Waverley Place programs

Swimming (weeks 1-9, ages 4-18)

1:1 Swimming lessons: weeks 1-9
Ages: 4-18

Cost: £192.50

ASL has a six lane, 25-meter swimming pool. We offer an aquatics program along with our Summer Camp offerings. Try a week-long , 30-minute per day 1:1 swimming lessons to improve your child’s swimming ability and water confidence in a short period of time. Ideal for pre-holiday improvements, stroke development, and general safety in the water before school starts in the fall. Visit our swimming page to learn more about swimming lessons at ASL.

For 1:1 swimming lessons, swimmers under the age 11 must have an adult on site with them whilst they attend the sessions.

Gardening and Cooking Camp (week 1, ages 10-13)

Leaders: Andrew McAllister and Ania Driscoll-Lind
Age: 10-13 years old

Cost: £325 per student
Dates: 20-24 June

Enrollment numbers: up to 10
Hours: 9am–3:15pm
Location: Waverley Place Campus and Canons Park

This hands-on camp explores plant and environmental science, cooking techniques, and human nutrition through fun, exploratory learning. We use our senses to compare the scents, textures, and tastes of different herbs and food groups, we plant seedlings, pot plants, sketch, and draw, and we learn about plant families that you can grow in your own garden. We will also visit local markets and pick-it-yourself farms in order to collect the ingredients to make our own fun and delicious meals like soups, curries, and bread!

We will travel on TfL services (buses & the tube) to visit places around London, so students will need to arrive each day with an activated Oyster card. Students are encouraged to bring £5-10 each day in case they wish to purchase items from local markets.

Art Camp (week 1, ages 8-10)

Leaders: Luchy Harrold and Helena Ryparova
Age: Ages 8-10

Cost: £340 per student
Dates: 20-24 June

Enrollment numbers: up to 20
Hours: 9am–3:15pm
Location: Waverley Place Campus

Art Camp is a week-long exploration of different art forms and expression for younger students. A variety of art styles and materials will be used for painting, drawing and ceramics, and both indoor and outdoor spaces on campus will be sources of inspiration.

Wild Camp (weeks 1-3 and 8-10, ages 6-12, depending on week)

Leaders: Vicky Wake (week 1), Jody Matey (weeks 2-3) and Andreea Rosca (weeks 8-10)
Age: 6-12 years old
Cost: £380 per week

Dates: 20-24 June (ages 6-12), 27 June -1 July (ages 6-12), 4-8 July (ages 6-12), 8-12 August (ages 7-9), 15-19 August (ages 7-9), and 22-26 Aug (ages 7-9)

Enrollment numbers: up to 28 (weeks 1-3), 15 (weeks 8-10)
Hours: 9am–3:15 pm
Location: Drop off and pick up at the Community Arts Building on Waverley Place, activities take place in Hampstead Heath

Note: this year the first three weeks of Wild Camp has two leaders (Jody Matey and Andrew McAllister), a broader age range (6-12 years old), and an enrollment limit of 28. In these weeks, we will have two distinct and separate groups using different parts of Hampstead Heath during those weeks, with the participants separated by age range.

Adventure seekers and nature lovers wanted. Come and experience the freedom of roaming free as we venture up to Hampstead Heath to explore the vast wild nature of north London. Breathe the fresh air, climb trees, build forts- it's up to you and what the environment presents to us each visit. Learn about the local flora and fauna while developing an understanding of the world and the environment by connecting with your emotions, imagination, and senses. Be prepared to have some wild fun and adopt the Scandinavian philosophy: "There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing!” We plan to enjoy nature rain or shine, so come prepared with waterproofs, warm layers, and outdoor shoes.

This will be a great opportunity for campers who may be too young for other outdoors offerings.
Children must be six years of age by the first day of Wild Camp to join.
NB: Be sure to come prepared for the outdoors. Waterproofs, warm layers and outdoor shoes are a must.
Wild Camp will need a minimum enrollment of eight participants. Full refunds will be provided if the minimum enrollment is not met for the offering and it can't be offered.

Discovery Camp (weeks 2-7, ages 4-5)

Age: 4-5 years old
Cost: £340 per week
Dates: 27 June - 5 August

Enrollment numbers: up to 28
Hours: 9am-3:15pm
Location: The American School in London via the Community Arts Building entrance

Formerly known as Kindercamp, this offering is suitable for children age 4-5. Please note that children must be 4 years of age before they can enroll in Discovery Camp and should be able to use the bathroom without assistance. We reserve the right to cancel enrollments of children too young or too old to attend our programs.

Especially designed with our youngest participants in mind, the Discovery Camp provides a safe environment in which children engage in a variety of activities crafted around a weekly theme. There is an emphasis on fun and cooperative play, combined with a structure that enables children to continue to build confidence and make new friends—the hallmarks of the Discovery Camp program. For all children in the Discovery Camp, an hour of swimming is included each week. Parents will be informed which day swimsuits and towels are to be brought to ASL.

A typical Discovery Camp day

Camp begins with the children being met by their teachers from 8:50 am at the Community Arts Building entrance. Children hang up their things and come into the classroom.

9 am: Free choice activities, which can include Play-Doh, blocks, drawing/writing and other fun manipulatives
9:45 am: Morning meeting—getting to know each other activities and songs/stories
10:15 am: Snack and recess
10:45 am: Theme of the week activity (art, songs, stories, etc.)
11:45 am: Recess
12:30: Lunch
1 pm: Story time
1:30 pm: Theme activity (art, songs, stories, etc.)
2:30 pm: Free choice (including a cooking center, theme related)
2:45 pm: Closing activity
3:15: Dismissal

Perform Theater Camp (weeks 1, 2, 3 and 9, ages 5-10)

Age: Students entering K2-Grade 5 (ages 5-10)
Cost: £370 per week
Dates: 20-24 June (ages 5-7), 27 June -1 July (ages 5-10), 4-8 July (ages 5-10) and 15-19 August (ages 5-10)

Enrollment: Minimum 12, maximum 24

Hours: 9am–3:15pm
Location: Waverley Campus via the Community Arts Building entrance

The Perform Theater Company is expanding its offerings in summer 2022. There will be drama, dance and singing. On Friday afternoon, participants perform in a special show with live music and colorful costumes for invited parents and friends. If a live performance not possible, a video of the performance will be shared with families. These workshops are run by an energetic team of actors who inspire and encourage the children's creativity, confidence and communication skills. No experience necessary. Enthusiasm is all students need for this fantastic course and they have the time of their lives discovering new talents with their friends.

Latin, Grammar, Vocabulary and Manners Camp (weeks 3 and 4, ages 10-14)

Leader: Alice Leader

Age: 10-14 years old

Cost: £325 per student

Dates: 4-8 July and 11-15 July

Enrollment numbers: up to 10 students

Hours: 9am–3:15pm

Location: Waverley Place Campus

Week is a perfect length of time to focus on grammar, expand one’s vocabulary and practise manners in an informal setting. Along the way, we’ll learn enough Latin to make it a language familiar to the students. Each day will be divided into these activities:

A daily study of Latin, translating and seeing how English has derived partly from Latin; see how words have roots, prefixes and suffixes, expanding vocabulary
Diagraming sentences and identifying different parts of speech
Learning how to greet people, shake hands
Thank you notes, table manners, how to make conversation and be poised.

Art and Craft Camp (weeks 4-5, 8, ages 5-14)

Leader: Ashima Kumar
Age: 5-14 years old (depending on week)

Cost: £340 per student

Dates: 11-15 July and 18-22 July
Enrollment numbers: up to 20
Hours: 9am–3:15pm
Location: Waverley Place Campus

Week 4: Art and Craft Camp (ages 6-8)

A week-long art and craft camp will give children a chance to embrace their artistic side. It will give them an opportunity to engage in projects and activities that will allow exploring ideas, concepts and then express that through creating works of art; using colours, comic storyboards, paper mâché, printmaking, fabric and clay.

Week 5: Art Camp (ages 9-14)

The dynamic art camp will provide children with an opportunity to expand their ideas and play with colour, shapes, textures and surfaces. Explore the wonder of the optic nerve and use observations to mix exciting colour palettes and textures. Hone their painting & drawing skills and embrace the unexpected while building their artwork. The children will explore and express themselves through comic storyboards, paper mâché, printmaking, clay and mixed media.

Week 8: Art and Craft Camp (ages 5-7)

A week-long art and craft camp will give children a chance to embrace their artistic side. It will give them an opportunity to engage in projects and activities that will allow exploring ideas and expressing themselves through works of art; using shapes, different art mediums, clay and collage. The children will also learn about famous artists and will be guided to create artwork inspired by different artistic styles.

Basketball and Swimming Camp (weeks 1-2 and 9-10, ages 9-14)

Leader: James Markham

Age: 9-14 years old

Cost: £340 per week

Dates: 20-24 June, 27 June -1 July, 15-19 August, 22-26 August

Enrollment: Maximum 40 (weeks 1-2), maximum 30 (weeks 9-10)
Hours: 9am–3:15pm
Location: The American School in London via the Community Arts Building entrance

Basketball and swimming is offered for four weeks in 2022 and is led by James Markham. Campers work on the basic skills of basketball for most of the day, e.g., ball-handling, passing and shooting, and learning offensive and defensive plays. The other part of the day is spent in the ASL swimming pool, where participants can enjoy water games, lap swim, improve their stroke or just have refreshing fun. Camp runs Monday–Friday, 9am–3:15pm. For each week, campers should report to the Farmer Family Gymnasium, dressed appropriately for basketball, but also with swimsuits and towels ready for later in the day. Participants can join for one or all weeks. Campers provide their own lunch and drinks.

Stay and Play (weeks 1-10, ages 6-12)

20 June – 26 August

Age: 6-12 years old

Hours: 3:15-5pm

Leaders: Aquatics personnel and camp counselors
Cost: £94 per week

For students age 6 to 12 in the ASL Summer Camp, a Stay and Play offering is now available via the portal. Students can sign up for a relaxing and free play time in the Blue Gym, Monday–Friday, 3:15–5 pm.

Parents can visit the Community Arts Building entrance at any time after 3:15 pm to collect campers, with 5 pm being the latest allowed collection time.

Photography Camps (weeks 1-2, ages 8-16)

Discover Darkroom Photography (ages 8-14)
Photo London (ages 10-16)

Discover Darkroom Photography (ages 8-14)

Discover Photography

Leaders: Heather McDonough and Scotia Luhrs

Age: 8-14 years old

Hours: 9am-3:15pm

Week 1: 20-24 June - Mirrors & Magic

Week 2: 27 June -1 July - Nature Explorers

Enrollment: Maximum 10

Fee: £560 per week

Do you love taking creative pictures? Have you ever been in an old-fashioned darkroom? We will go on location visits to the V & A, the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Wellcome Trust Gallery, Regents Park and Hyde Park.

These courses are appropriate for both the complete beginner as well as the student with photography/darkroom knowledge. Every student will experience the magic of creating unusual and unique images to bring home!

Week 1: Mirrors & Magic, ages 8-14

In week one, we explore experimental and alternative processes, you will learn how to process your own black and white film. You will learn to make ray-o-grams, sandwiched negatives, drawing onto film, make contact prints and make a set of your own prints. We will create still life set-ups in the studio, to photography inside, and go on location to find shapes, shadows and abstract forms. For inspiration we will visit the Science Museum, IMAX Cinema and the Wonderlab. We will visit the V & A and find natural objects to make prints using old photographic processes.

Week 2: Nature Explorers, ages 8-14

In week 2 we will be exploring creative cameraless processes, pinhole cameras, the cyanotype process (making blueprints), making our own negatives, and we will be shooting with film cameras using black and white film. We will go on location to the Zoo and the Natural History Museum and visit Regents Park to collect natural objects and plant specimens and for making our photograms for the various different processes. We will have our specimen bags ready to collect anything we find to help us make our prints.

Photo London (ages 10-16)

Photo London
Leaders: Mara Bodis-Wollner & Tanya Harris
Age: 10-16 years old. Hours: 9am-3:15pm
Week 1: 20-24 June - Architecture photography
Week 2: 27 June -1 July - Street photography
Fee: £560 per week - Enrollment: Maximum 10

Week 1: Architecture, ages: 10-16

Would you like to develop your own creative style as a photographer? We will explore unique London locations that will inspire you to create your photographs. Each day we will travel to diverse locations, including cultural venues and galleries, modern iconic buildings in the City, the Southbank and Thames river, renowned street markets and unexpected public art. We will enjoy walking with our eyes peeled for lines, curves and intersections to make captivating photos. All of this while you learn secrets of this gorgeous city.

Each day we will have lunch together at a different restaurant, enjoying a range of cuisines, all dietary requirements will be met (lunch is included).

We will provide you with SLRs camera and teach you how to use it. No previous photographic experience or knowledge is necessary! Students will need an Oyster card for traveling on public transport and comfortable walking shoes for our adventure each day.

Week 2: Street Photography, ages: 10-16

Would you like to develop your creative style photographing people and iconic places as a Street Photographer? Become more visually aware of the vibrancy of people moving through memorable spaces. We will venture to locations including Portobello Road, Regents Canal, Camden Lock, London Zoo, Soho and Chinatown, and Shoreditch. We will explore how people move through public art, museums and markets.

You will safely make portraits of individuals and people in their element. We'll learn to capture what's in front of the lens and how to connect with people to take their portrait. Of course how you choose to look at the world around you is always your choice, we'll be there to guide you and offer a curated tour to inspire you.

Each day we will have lunch together at a different restaurant, enjoying a range of cuisines, all dietary requirements will be met (lunch is included).

Yoga, Mindfulness and Swim Camp (weeks 6-7, ages 6-12)

Leader: Kasia
Age: 6-12 years old (depending on week)

Cost: £325 per student

Dates: 25-29 July (ages 6-8) and 1-5 August (ages 9-12)
Enrollment numbers: up to 10
Hours: 9am–3:15pm
Location: Waverley Place Campus

This club teaches children self-awareness and positive self-talk as well as develops physical flexibility, strength, and coordination. Together with a daily session of Yoga, children will practise different breathing techniques, relax to body scans and participate in visually guided and silent meditations to get in touch with their internal landscape. By the end of the week, children will be able to notice their thoughts, feelings, body sensations and be more present in each moment which helps with their emotional self-regulation, focus and confidence.

The club also involves an hour in the pool where the children will play water games and free swim. Please note that swimming will take place from Monday-Thursday only (not Fridays).

Dungeons & Dragons Camp (weeks 1 and 2, ages 11-16)

Dungeons & Dragons Camp
Dates: 20-24 June and 27 June - 1 July
Enrollment: 12
Age: 11-16 years old
Leaders: Colin McCarty and Chris Goff
Fee: £370 per week
Location: Waverley Campus, MS Science
Time: 9am-3:15pm

This camp is open to new and experienced players. Campers will be grouped by age as well as playing experience. A teacher will be assigned to lead the group on an adventure. Over the course of the week, students will:

Create characters
Play a campaign spanning the entire week
Make their own polyhedral dice
3D print miniatures
And more!

Students that sign up for both weeks will be given the opportunity to continue the campaign that they started the first week (subject to re enrollment).

D&D is a game about storytelling in worlds of swords and sorcery. Like games of make-believe, D&D is driven by imagination. It’s about picturing a crumbling castle in a darkening forest and imagining how a fantasy adventurer might react to the challenges that scene presents.

Robotics Camp (weeks 8-9, ages 10-13)

Lego League Camp

Date: 8-12 August and 15-19 August
Ages 10-13
Leader: Kojo Baffour
Time: 9am-3:15pm
Location: ASL MILL
Enrollment: 4 to 16 students
Fee: £370

FIRST Lego League Camp: Participants follow instructions to build a Lego Mindstorms EV3 robot equipped with several motors and sensors and learn techniques required for success in FLL. Students will go through a series of programming tutorials and will be challenged accordingly. Participants who have previous experience in robotics or FLL will have the opportunity to extend their learning with individually-catered challenges. Some of the techniques to be learned in this course are patience and perseverance in trial-and-error, using reference points in the robot's environment to ensure the robot is exactly where it's wanted, making the robot efficiently follow a line of any color, and most importantly an understanding of how the robot and its software work to enable participants to problem-solve when faced with an engineering challenge. Campers wanted who are enthusiastic about competing in the next First Lego League season or who simply enjoy Lego robotics.

Crew Camp (weeks 1-2, ages 14-18)

Leader: Jamie Kirkwood

Age: Students entering grades 9-12 (age 14-18)

Cost: £570 per student per week

Enrollment numbers: 6-12

Dates: 20-24 June, 27 June -1 July

Open to new and experienced rowers, from grade 9 to 13. If you would like to join the crew team in your freshman year, or you are a rising senior, this is the camp for you. For the experienced rowers you will have an opportunity to continue developing your rowing skills and fitness in familiar surroundings. If you are new to the sport, the camp will give you the skills necessary to jump straight into crew come the beginning of the school year. All levels of rowers will be accommodated.

Daily schedule
9:00-9:45 am: Bus from ASL to ULBC
10 am-11:45 am: First row
12-12:45 pm: Lunch
1:00-2:45 pm: Second row or strength/mobility
3:15-4 pm: Bus to ASL

French Language Camp (weeks 7-8, ages 10-13)

Leaders: Andrew McAllister and Nancy Eale-Lembo
Age: 10-13 years old

Cost: £325 per student

Dates: 1-5 August and 8-12 August

Enrollment numbers: up to 10 students
Hours: 9am–3:15pm
Location: Waverley Place Campus

Would you like to make friends, play games, and explore London while learning basic French language skills? If so, this is the perfect camp for you! We will start each day with an agenda the explains our plan for the day. We will start with fun indoor team-building activities and improvisation games, followed by preparation for afternoon trips to museums, cafes, and parks around London! Come join us as we develop our communication skills in French by using the language in a fun and authentic way!

We will travel on TfL services (buses & the tube) to visit places around London, so students will each need to arrive each day with an activated Oyster card. Students are encouraged to bring £5-10 each day in case they wish to purchase items from local markets.

Sustainable Fashion Camp (weeks 6-7, ages 9-16)

Leader: Nancy Pace
Age: 9-16 years old (depending on week)

Cost: £340 per student

Dates: 25-29 July (ages 11-16) and 1-5 August (ages 9-14)
Enrollment numbers: up to 10
Hours: 9am–3:15pm
Location: Waverley Place Campus

We are all becoming more aware of the costs of “Fast Fashion” in both economic and environmental terms. By taking old, unwanted or unused clothing and transforming it into something wearable and unique, kids can learn new skills, express their creative individuality and repurpose garments otherwise destined for landfills. Prior knowledge of hand or machine sewing is helpful but not required.

Exploration Week programs (weeks 2 and 3, ages 6-11)

Exploration Week 2022: 27 June -1 July and 4-8 July

Exploration Week is a week-long, full-day program. Suitability for activities is based on the grade level of students in fall 2022. Our camps are tailored to suit the grade levels of participants. Group sizes range from five to 20 participants. The day runs 9am–3:15pm.

Master Chef and Crafts (week 2, ages 9-11 and week 3, ages 6-8)

This is a day-long offering in which campers use the ASL kitchen facilities and Commons to learning cooking skills and have exciting culinary experiences. Cooking is led by experienced ASL teachers and includes expert instruction from one of ASL's chefs, courtesy of our school caterers, BaxterStorey. Age-appropriate recipes are used as our mini master chefs prepare dishes.

The day will also have craft experiences to balance out the days activities.

Fee: £300

Science Camp (week 2, ages 6-8 and week 3, ages 9-11)

Ceramics and Creative Arts (week 2, ages 6-11 and week 3, ages 6-8)

In this day-long offering, an imaginative and creative exploration of the magical material called "clay," participants use a variety of traditional methods and techniques: 'coiling,' 'slab building,' 'modeling' and 'throwing' on the potter's wheel. Students have the opportunity to make and decorate pieces using a variety of bright 'underglaze' colors and slips, and a safe glaze finish. The informal studio atmosphere allows students to flex their creative imaginations and everyone will complete at least one or two pieces.

For variety, other creative arts forms will be explored in addition to ceramics.

Fee: £300

Tech Camp (week 2, ages 9-11 and week 3, ages 7-8)

Participants learn and practice the fundamentals of sequencing by following Hour of Code modules, then get to apply these skills using Scratch to create their very own animated scene of choice. Then the participants will cooperate with one another for some Minecraft building and crafting challenges. Campers with vivid imaginations and all levels of experience with programming wanted!

Fee: £300

Creative Writing and Board Game Making (week 2, ages 6-8 and week 3, ages 9-11)

This class will be in two parts. In the morning, we will offer young writers the chance to write freely within a multitude of genres - from fiction, to comic books, to journalism, to poetry...and beyond! Children will take part in a fun, hands on lesson about the craft of writing and then have time to write their own pieces and to share them with others. There will also be opportunities for self publishing of written work. At the end of the week, children will take part in a writing celebration.

In the afternoon, children will play a multitude of board games and use these as inspiration to design and create their very own board game. At the end of the week, each child will bring home a finished board game of their own creation as well as at least one piece of published writing.

Fee: £300

Creative Arts (week 2, ages 6-8 and week 3, ages 9-11)

During this fun and dynamic week, children explore a variety of art-making materials and media. They are encouraged to think creatively, be inventive and experiment with color, shape and texture. We hope to complete a number of colorful and creative pieces that can be brought home at the end of the week. Popular children’s books provide inspiration for some of the projects and we explore special techniques inspired by the illustrators, such as watercolors and paper cutting.

Fee: £300

Sports Camp programs (Canons Park)

Age: 5 -14 years
Cost: £300 per week
Dates: 20 June - 26 August
Hours: 9am-3:15pm

Location: Canons Park (drop off and collection at the Community Arts Building on Waverley Place*)

*Latecomers will need to make their own way to Canons Park if arriving after 9am.

Our sports camps are held at our private 22 acres of sport fields in Canons Park. Busing is provided to and from the fields each day, and the secure complex has a full pavilion with indoor areas, kitchen, changing rooms, bathroom and first aid room. Students bring their own lunch.

Please see the tabs below for the descriptions of the main sports we offer. Elementary Activities Camp is a day-long offering with a range of age-appropriate activities. For soccer, tennis, multi-sports and personal sports in weeks 1-10, families MUST register for two different activities in the registration portal (a first and second activity, each £150). The day starts and ends at Waverley Campus, and we provide busing to and from Canons Park, but we cannot support only half-day registration (two activities must be selected per week).

So that all participants are challenged in a supportive environment, children are placed in age and/or ability groups where appropriate.

The program supplies sports equipment for activities, although students with their own tennis rackets are encouraged to bring and use them. Students bring their own lunch.

Elementary Activities Camp (weeks 1-10, ages 5-7)

Weeks 1–10, 20 June – 26 August (ages 5–7)

Children aged 5-7 are invited to attend our summer Elementary Activities Camp at Canons Park. This camp offers children the opportunity to participate in a full day of fun-filled activities that include kickball, soccer, and crazy cricket, as well as many others. These activities are organized for short periods and on a less intensive level than for older children. Campers also have the chance to visit the mud kitchen and sandpit, play hide and seek, and to spend quiet time in the Learning Hut. This camp runs from 9 am–3:15 pm, which includes bussing time to and from Canons Park. Campers bring their own packed lunch.

Soccer (weeks 1-10, ages 7-14)

This most universal of sports is offered for players who want to improve their skills and understanding of the game. For those trying out for a school or club team next season, or for those who just want to have fun learning how to play, our coaches are primed to instruct both the basics and the finer points of the game. The emphasis is on introducing and improving rudimentary skills such as shooting, passing, heading and dribbling, as well as tackling the more advanced techniques of offensive and defensive play. Students learn in a competitive but friendly atmosphere.

Tennis (weeks 1-6, ages 7-14)

Beginners and intermediate players who want to improve their basic game should sign up early for this class with our coaches. There will be games and drills that focus on service, returns, groundstrokes and volleys. Please note that to ensure safe and productive sessions, enrollment is limited for each class. Rackets and balls are supplied, but students with their own equipment are welcome to use it.