This summer, hundreds of young students came to Waterford for the very first Babel Academy Waterford Summer Camp.
After running our summer programmes at DCU and Manor House in Raheny for many years, opening a programme in a new city was a big addition to our summer season. Waterford welcomed groups from different countries throughout the summer, and the response from students and group leaders was fantastic.
The city itself played a big part in the programme. Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city, founded by the Vikings more than 1,100 years ago, and students had the chance to discover its Viking and medieval history during their stay. Museum visits and local cultural activities gave them a chance to see a very different side of Ireland while practising their English outside the classroom.
Discovering Waterford and Its History
Waterford itself was an important part of the summer programme. As Ireland’s oldest city, founded by the Vikings more than 1,100 years ago, it gave students the chance to explore a part of Ireland with a very strong historical identity. During their stay, students visited museums and took part in cultural activities connected to the city’s Viking and medieval past.
These visits gave students a better sense of the place they were staying in and added a cultural element to the programme outside the classroom. They were able to explore historic parts of the city, learn about Waterford’s origins and discover some of the stories connected to its development over the centuries. It also gave them more opportunities to use English naturally while visiting attractions and taking part in guided activities.
A Full Programme of Activities
The activity programme kept students busy throughout their time in Waterford, with a wide range of activities taking place during the week. Surfing was one of the highlights, giving students the chance to get out on the Waterford coast and try something that many had never experienced before.
At the SETU Arena, groups had access to excellent sports facilities and took part in different games and organised activities. Laser tag quickly became one of the favourites, while the wider sports programme gave students plenty of opportunities to be active, spend time with their groups and enjoy a different side of the summer camp.
Students also spent time outdoors on the Dunmore East Cliff Walk. The route gave them the chance to enjoy the coastal scenery, spend time in nature and experience another side of Waterford away from the city centre. It added a quieter outdoor element to the programme and gave groups time to explore the local landscape together.
Leadership and Innovation
Our Leadership Programme was another important part of the summer in Waterford, with a strong focus on developing skills for life and encouraging the leaders of tomorrow. Students took part in practical activities, group challenges and projects where they worked on communication, teamwork, problem solving and decision making. Innovation was a key part of the programme, with students encouraged to think creatively, develop their own ideas and find solutions together.
They had opportunities to take initiative, contribute to their groups and become more confident expressing their ideas in English. The programme brought a different dimension to their summer in Waterford, combining English learning with leadership, creativity and personal development.
The Student Experience in Waterford
For many of our students, the summer camp was their first opportunity to visit Waterford, and for some, their first time in Ireland. Over the course of their stay, they spent their days learning English, exploring the city, taking part in activities and sharing the experience with other young people from different countries.
Waterford offered a great setting for the programme. Students had a city that was easy to explore, access to the coast and outdoor activities, modern facilities at SETU and a programme that kept them active throughout their stay. There was plenty happening each week, while groups also had time to enjoy being together and get to know Waterford.
What Our Students and Group Leaders Said
The feedback we received throughout the summer was fantastic. Students spoke about how much they enjoyed Waterford, the activities and the friendships they made during the camp. We also received very positive feedback from group leaders who accompanied the students and experienced the programme throughout their stay.
As this was our first year running a Summer Camp in Waterford, hearing directly from the students and group leaders was particularly valuable. Their response confirmed just how well Waterford worked as a summer destination for our junior groups.
We have included some of their video testimonials below so you can hear directly from the students and group leaders who joined us this summer.
Seeing hundreds of students come through our first Waterford Summer Camp and enjoy the programme so much made the first year a real success.
Thank you to all of the students and group leaders who joined us, and to the teams in Waterford who worked throughout the summer to make our first season there happen. 💚
Waterford Summer Camp 2027
Planning for summer 2027 is already underway. Agencies interested in sending groups to our Waterford Summer Camp can contact our team for information about the programme, availability and bookings for next summer.
Get in touch with our team to start planning your Waterford Summer Camp 2027 groups.