Family Entertainment Centres (FECs) have long been a go-to destination for families seeking fun and entertainment.
As these centres continue to evolve, one trend that is gaining momentum is the inclusion of children’s holiday camps. Indoor activity parks are stepping into the spotlight as the perfect destination for holiday camps, offering a dynamic and action-packed setting that sets them apart from traditional venues.
These holiday camps provide a valuable and enriching experience for children, while offering FECs an opportunity to diversify their offerings and create a commercially sound investment.
In this article, we will explore the importance of children’s holiday camps in FECs and highlight examples where Family Entertainment Centres are successfully integrating holiday camps.
Enriching Experiences for Children
Children’s holiday camps offer a unique opportunity for kids to engage in structured activities during their school breaks. These camps foster creativity, teamwork, and personal growth while providing a safe and supervised environment for children to learn and have fun. Through a range of activities such as arts and crafts, sports, nature exploration, and interactive games, children develop new skills and build lasting memories.
“Children’s holiday camps provide a space for kids to explore their interests, make new friends, and experience exciting adventures, it’s an area that is experiencing significant growth and one that FECs should consider to diversify their offering.”
Chris Sharman, Founder of Kidztivity
Oxygen Indoor Activity Parks
Leading this exciting movement in the United Kingdom is Oxygen Indoor Activity Parks, one of the UK’s largest indoor trampoline park brands with locations in Acton, Derby, The O2 Arena and more. The brand has taken a bold step into the world of holiday clubs this summer, potentially redefining the industry along the way.
In their mission to provide the best possible experience for young campers, Oxygen has partnered with Kidztivity, to harness the knowledge and experience of a leading children’s activities training and consultancy company. This collaboration ensures that their holiday clubs not only offer thrilling activities but are also backed by the expertise and specialised training that Kidztivity brings to the table.
Oxygen’s step into holiday clubs has positioned them at the forefront of this movement, setting new standards and inspiring other similar venues to follow suit.
Sport4Kids
Sport4Kids will be running their multi-activity holiday camps at Jump In Trampoline Park in Camberely this summer.
Running throughout the school holidays, Sport4Kids’ all day multi-activity camps provide safe, fun-filled childcare for children looking for an exciting and unforgettable adventure during their school holidays. The specialised ‘Jump In’ camp offers activities that keep children engaged, active, and open to learning new skills, with a range of different games to play, including food and drink in between the fun.
Lee Valley Animal Park
The Partyman Company is the brainchild of James Sinclair, who runs a host of sites across the south for children and families to enjoy – including Lee Valley Animal Adventure Park, which he took over from local authorities in 2021.
KidsFest is the annual summer holiday camp that runs all summer, integrating music, creativity, sports, and much more! KidsFest is the perfect day out for children and families, helping engage, enthuse, and inspire children ready for their next school year.
These examples highlight how FECs across various themes and offerings can successfully integrate holiday camps into their business models. By tailoring the camps to align with their unique brand and target audience, FECs can enhance the overall experience for families and create a compelling reason to visit during school breaks.
A Complete Family Entertainment Package
Incorporating children’s holiday camps into Family Entertainment Centres adds another dimension to the overall family entertainment experience.
By offering a comprehensive range of activities and services, FECs can position themselves as a one-stop destination for families.
Parents can enjoy the peace of mind that their children are engaged in supervised and constructive activities while they explore other attractions or take a well-deserved break.
Inclusive Activities
Indoor activity parks offer a remarkable all-inclusive experience, embracing children of diverse abilities and interests. These parks are at the forefront of trends, constantly innovating to ensure that every child can fully participate and enjoy their experience. By prioritising inclusivity, indoor activity parks create an environment where all children can thrive, regardless of their abilities.
A key aspect of inclusivity in these parks lies in their thoughtful design and layout. They are carefully crafted to accommodate children with varying physical abilities, providing accessible pathways, ramps, and equipment modifications. Additionally, trained staff members are available to offer support and assistance, ensuring that children of all abilities can engage in the activities and feel included.
Indoor activity parks can therefore boast inclusive features and amenities that set them apart from traditional holiday camp venues.
For example, many parks offer sensory-friendly areas within their facilities, creating a safe and stimulating environment for children with sensory sensitivities. They also provide specialised equipment and modified activities, catering to children with mobility challenges and ensuring that every child can participate and enjoy their camp experience to the fullest.
These Family Entertainment Centres foster an inclusive atmosphere by promoting acceptance, understanding, and respect among visitors. Through team-building exercises and group activities, children can learn the value of embracing diversity and appreciating individual differences. This inclusive approach would not only enhance a camp experience for children of all abilities but also cultivates a sense of community and belonging.
Diversification of Offering
The draw of FECs and indoor activity parks for holiday camps extends far beyond their thrilling activities.
These innovative venues offer a multitude of benefits that contribute to the holistic development and well-being of children. One key advantage is the wide range of activities available within a single location, allowing children to explore and discover new interests while enjoying a diverse mix of physical challenges, creative outlets, and social interactions.
Physical fitness is a crucial aspect of children’s overall well-being, and indoor activity parks provide the ideal platform for promoting an active lifestyle. Whether it’s scaling a climbing wall, navigating a ninja warrior course, or engaging in team sports, children can be encouraged to stay active and develop their physical abilities. The inclusive nature of these parks ensures that children of all fitness levels and abilities can participate, fostering a sense of achievement and boosting self-confidence.
By incorporating holiday camps, FECs can expand their range of services and activities, attracting a broader audience. This diversification allows FECs to cater to the varied interests and preferences of families, ensuring that there is something for everyone. It positions the FEC as a comprehensive destination that offers a complete entertainment package, increasing its appeal and competitiveness.
“By diversifying their offerings, family entertainment centres and indoor activity parks can appeal to a wider audience and create an inclusive environment for families that expands beyond their usual provision. It’s a commercially sound investment that can enhance customer loyalty and attract new visitors.”
Chris Sharman
Benefits to Children
Attending a holiday camp at a Family Entertainment Centre or indoor activity park can offer a multitude of benefits for children, contributing to their physical, social, and personal development in remarkable ways.
Holiday camps offer children a range of educational, creative, and physical activities that contribute to their personal growth and skill development. From physical exercise to building confidence and fostering teamwork, the advantages of these camps are truly diverse and impactful.
Children have the opportunity to explore new interests, develop talents, and acquire new knowledge. Whether it’s through arts and crafts, sports, nature exploration, or team-building exercises, holiday camps foster social interaction, confidence-building, and the acquisition of valuable life skills.
Most importantly, these types of camps will promote active and healthy lifestyles by instilling a love for physical activity from an early age. By immersing children in an environment that prioritises movement, fun, and adventure, they will develop a positive attitude towards exercise and understand the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle as they grow older. This early exposure and positive association with physical activity will likely have a long-lasting impact on their overall health and well-being.
Extended Visitation and Customer Loyalty
The inclusion of holiday camps in Family Entertainment Centres encourages families to visit during school breaks, resulting in extended visitation and increased customer loyalty.
By enrolling their children in multiple camp sessions, families spend more time at the FEC, recognising it as a go-to destination for their children’s entertainment and enrichment needs. This not only boosts revenue opportunities but also fosters a strong bond between the FEC and its customers, leading to repeat visits and positive word-of-mouth recommendations.
Offering holiday camps gives families a compelling reason to choose the FEC as their destination during school breaks. By enrolling their children in multiple camp sessions, families extend their visitation, increasing revenue and strengthening their loyalty to the FEC. This ongoing relationship with customers not only enhances the FEC’s appeal but also generates positive word-of-mouth, attracting new visitors and securing the FEC’s long-term success.
Enhanced Customer Satisfaction
The introduction of holiday camps in Family Entertainment Centres and indoor activity parks brings enhanced customer satisfaction, particularly for parents.
These camps offer a convenient solution for parents during school breaks, eliminating the need for them to plan and organise alternative childcare arrangements. By providing a supervised and structured environment for children, parents can have peace of mind knowing that their children are engaged in safe and enjoyable activities within the FEC. This added convenience and peace of mind alleviate the stress associated with keeping children entertained during breaks, making FECs with holiday camps an attractive choice for families.
FECs that incorporate well-designed and professionally run holiday camps go above and beyond in demonstrating their commitment to customer satisfaction. These camps are carefully curated with age-appropriate activities and are led by trained instructors or leaders who prioritise the safety and well-being of the children.
The availability of holiday camps within FECs not only enhances customer satisfaction but also adds value to the overall experience. Parents appreciate the convenience of having a one-stop entertainment solution that caters to their children’s needs, offering both recreational and educational opportunities. This comprehensive approach positions the FEC as a trusted and reliable choice for families seeking a diverse range of activities, ultimately fostering long-term customer loyalty.
Word-of-Mouth Marketing
When families have positive experiences with holiday camps at FECs, it often leads to them sharing their experiences with others. Word-of-mouth recommendations hold significant influence as satisfied customers become natural advocates for the FEC.
Through positive reviews and personal recommendations, these families contribute to attracting new visitors and expanding the FEC’s customer base. The power of word-of-mouth marketing lies in its ability to increase the reach and reputation of the FEC within the community, generating interest and curiosity among potential customers.
By sharing their positive experiences, families not only promote the FEC but also help build trust and credibility. When potential customers hear firsthand accounts of enjoyable holiday camp experiences, they are more likely to consider the FEC as a reliable and worthwhile entertainment option for their own families. The impact of word-of-mouth recommendations extends beyond traditional marketing strategies, as it taps into the trust and influence within social circles, making it a highly valuable tool for FECs seeking to attract new customers and solidify their reputation in the community.
Revenue Generation
Holiday camps offer Family Entertainment Centres and indoor activity parks a lucrative source of revenue that can contribute to their financial stability and sustainability. By charging fees for camp participation, FECs can generate additional income while providing a valuable service to families.
The popularity of these camps, especially during school breaks and vacations, translates into a consistent stream of revenue for FECs. This revenue serves as a reliable source that can support the FEC’s operations and help ensure its long-term success.
The financial benefits of holiday camps extend beyond immediate profitability. The revenue generated from these camps can be strategically reinvested in various areas to further enhance the FEC. For instance, FECs can allocate the funds to improve their facilities, such as upgrading equipment, renovating play areas, or enhancing safety measures.
Revenue can also be used to expand offerings and introduce new attractions or activities, making the FEC more appealing to a broader audience. By reinvesting in the FEC’s infrastructure and experiences, the revenue from holiday camps contributes to an overall improvement in the quality and value that the FEC provides to its customers.
Importance of Staff Training
The success of FECs and indoor activity parks in delivering children’s holiday camps relies heavily on effective staff training. It is crucial to ensure that camp facilitators possess the necessary knowledge, experience, and skills to create a high-quality experience for children and peace of mind for parents.
Staff members should receive training in essential areas such as child safety, first aid, behaviour management, and age-appropriate activity engagement. They need to be well-versed in protocols and procedures to maintain the well-being and protection of the children.
- First aid training equips them with the skills to handle any minor injuries or emergencies that may occur during camp activities.
- Behaviour management training enables them to effectively handle different behaviours, fostering a positive and inclusive atmosphere.
- Staff members should be trained on engaging children in activities suitable for their age, ensuring an enjoyable and enriching camp experience.
Investing in the training and development of staff contributes to maintaining a high standard of service and delivering exceptional holiday camps. Knowledgeable, experienced, and skilled facilitators are instrumental in upholding the FEC’s reputation.
The commitment to staff training builds trust with parents, who can confidently entrust their children to capable and qualified facilitators. With well-trained staff, FECs can ensure the quality of the camp experience and provide parents with the assurance that their children are in competent hands.
“At Kidztivity, we help providers and their staff members undergo rigorous training to ensure they are well-prepared to provide a safe and enriching experience for children attending holiday camps. It’s essential to invest in staff development to maintain the high standards and reputation of quality and safety.”
Charlotte Owen, Head of Product and Training at Kidztivity
Could Holiday Camps Be The Next Step For You?
Children’s holiday camps play a vital role in the overall entertainment experience provided by Family Entertainment Centres and indoor activity parks.
They offer children enriching experiences, give FECs an opportunity to diversify their offerings, and contribute to their commercial success. By embracing this growing area, FECs can create a comprehensive family entertainment package that appeals to a broader audience and strengthens customer loyalty.
“FECs and indoor activity parks have a tremendous opportunity to elevate their offerings by recognising the immense value of integrating holiday camps. By embracing this concept, FECs and parks can unlock a new level of engagement, growth, and customer loyalty. Holiday camps not only provide families with a comprehensive and immersive entertainment experience but also serve as catalysts for children’s development, fostering social, emotional, and cognitive growth. Investing in holiday camps is an investment in the future, where FECs become the go-to destinations for families seeking exceptional and transformative experiences.”
Chris Sharman
