What do I need to pack?

Camp is only a few months away! It’s time to get your suitcase or backpack out of the loft, dig out your summer clothes and start packing for the best summer you’ll ever have.

The question that’s on all your minds… what, oh what do I pack for a summer in Spain? Fear not, we’ve got the best TECS Summer camp packing list you could ask for. Let’s get packing!

Required Items:

Important Documents:

  • Everyone must come to camp with an official form of identification such as a passport.
  • For summer 2022 we will need you to present an EU digital COVID certificate that clearly states that you are vaccinated.

Masks

I thought the day of needing a mask were totally gone? Not yet folks…. Here in Spain you are still required to wear them when using public transport. That means that you are going to need to wear them to travel to/from camp, and also whenever we get on the bus to go on excursion or to the beach. That’s still quite a few times you’ll need to wear them!

Beige Shorts

Everyone on camp has to wear the uniform of the camp t-shirt or polo shirt and beige shorts. We provide the camp t-shirt and polo, but you should bring at least 3 x pairs of beige shorts.

Personally I like the ones with lots of pockets 😊

Sports or Closed Toe Shoes

It’s a summer camp where everyone at some point needs to do sports or activities. During work times you should be wearing some kind of closed toe shoe unless you’re on the beach or pool. It’s a safety thing.

Clothes:

Staff have got a laundry service once a week. It will usually get taken on a Wednesday and get returned a two-three days later.

Underwear

Please bring plenty underwear, socks, etc.

Swimming Costume/Trunks

There is a lovely swimming pool on camp, and the beach is just down the road. One of our excursions is to a water park and another to do water sports. You’re going to need a swimming costume/trunks.

Let’s just remember that they should be appropriate for wearing when working with kids!

Flip Flops

So apart from wearing them on your time off, by the pool and at the beach, we recommend having a pair of flip flops to wear in the shower too.

Hoody/Jumper

Whilst we are in the sunny south of Spain, it can sometimes get a little chilly either at night or early in the morning. You probably don’t need more than one.

PJs

So if you’re a monitor you are going to sleep 5 days a week with kids. If you’re a teacher you will sleep in a teachers room most of the time (You still sleep in a room with kids 2 days a week).

Ya.. no sleeping in the nip! Please bring some appropriate night time wear, and bare in mind that it’s HOT at night.

Other clothes

Feel free to bring any other clothes you want for when you’ve got your time off, night off or day off!

A nice outfit

You might want a nice outfit for going out on your nights off. We also have a special end of summer staff mean at the end of the third camp where we get dressed up. If you work with teens then we have a gala night where all of the kids and staff get their glad rags on.

Other:

Toiletries

I’m not going to tell you what you need, but I recommend bringing only the basics to save room in your bag. We’ve got a LIDL and an ALDI less than 100 metres away from camp so it’s probably easier to go and buy your shampoo when you arrive.

Towels

I recommend having a towel for showering, and at least one other towel for the pool, beach, etc.

Watch/Alarm

We’re going to have over 200 kids on camp at one time sharing the same facilities. It’s very important that you can tell the time and know when you need to move to the next activity or area. Also something that will wake you up in the morning!

Sunglasses

Definitely not something you’ll want to find yourself without during the hot summer months. If you can take an extra cheap pair you have lying around, we’d certainly recommend it!

Sun Cream

Just like the sunglasses, please make sure you have this! The last thing you want is not to be able to participate in the activities because you have heatstroke or sunburn.

Travel Adapter

In Spain we use the European 2 pronged outlets, so bring an adapter to be able to be able to charge your phone. If you can bring an extra long charging cable it can help as often the plug won’t be beside your bed.

Home Comforts

Whilst you can make yourself feel at home with your coins, photos, flags & football shirts, your campers will also love getting to know more about you and where you’re from – so its win win!

if you’re from the UK/Ireland don’t forget the teabags!

Items to help you bond with the kids

Have you got a cool costume that you’ve worn at Halloween. Bring it! Dressing up is always a fun activity at camp! Do you play the guitar? You can bring it and play some tunes for your campers.  

European Health Insurance Card

If you’ve got a European Health Insurance card or E111 then it can be a good idea to bring it just in case.

What NOT to bring:

 

Fragile or valuable items

To put it simply: If it’s something you can go to camp without, and would be upset if it got lost/broken/dirty either at camp or on your travels, it’s best to leave it at home!

Some teachers or coordinators like to bring their own laptops as they use them in their classes or activities, etc. and that is fine.

However, TECS cannot be held responsible if anything happens to your property.  

Too many clothes

Remember that most of the time you’ll be in your camp uniform, so you just aren’t going to need 50 t-shirts and 40 pairs of shorts.

Hair Dryer

Leave the hairdryer at home. Not only will it save you tons of space in your luggage, but you’ll barely use it! You’ll be too busy having fun to worry about your hair. Plus it’s sunny in Spain so it’ll dry naturally!

P.s. no we don’t  have any on camp.

Academy Teacher Wanted for Urgent Start

Due to a staff member not being able to join the team last minute, we are currently looking for a English teacher to start immediately in our academy in El Puerto de Santa Maria in Cadiz. If you, or someone you know, is interested then please make sure to get in contact by emailing employment@tecs.es as soon as possible.

Please have a look at the summary of the position below, and you can see the full job profile available here.

Summary:

Start Date: As soon as possible

Finish Date: June 17th 2022

Location: El Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz

Hours: 19-22 per week

Wage: €934 – €1054 Gross

Added Benefits:

  • Accommodation available in company apartment
  • Meals in our school canteen
  • Group Spanish lessons
  • Staff events
  • Cambridge and Trinity College Official Exam training
  • Constant support, guidance and feedback from management team
  • Much, much more!

Requirements:

  • E.U. passport or Spanish residence/work permit
  • At least 1 years experience in full time classroom EFL teaching (flexible with this)
  • At least 2 professional references
  • College/University Bachelors Degree or higher
  • CELTA certificate or equivalent
  • A clear police record and proof of suitability to work with minors

If you, or someone you know, is interested then please make sure to get in contact by emailing employment@tecs.es as soon as possible!

TESTIMONIAL TUESDAY: ADAM YOUNG

“I’ve had the summer of my life working as an English Teacher at Family Camp. The kids were a burst of fresh air every single day and I have made some fantastic friends with my fellow staff members. I can’t wait to come back to camp next summer. ”

Adam Young

TESTIMONIAL TUESDAY: NATALEIGH GIBBS

“Working at TECs is an experience anyone wanting to work at a fun camp should do! Its a great atmosphere where campers and cp workers come together to have a great time! Its an intense experience, that changes you,and you get to meet many new people along the way.”

Nataleigh Gibbs

TESTIMONIAL TUESDAY: STEPHEN MCCARTNEY

“I have put more into this summer than anything previously in my life and have also taken away more than ever before as well. Another summer of finding new limits for myself, forging friendships and making kids laugh and smile. What more is there to ask for?”

Stephen McCartney

TESTIMONIAL TUESDAY: BRITTANI GABRIEL

“Working at TECS camp is a wonderful opportunity to begin your teaching career, explore a new country and meet new people. Whether its discovering a new passion or refining your talents, TECS camp can help you achieve your goals through an unforgettable summer experience. ”

Brittani Gabriel

TESTIMONIAL: Rebecca Chute

Rebecca“Coming out to work with TECS is one of the best things I could have done. I have truly developed as a person and seen a side to myself that I didn’t know I had.

Before I came out here I never thought I’d be confident enough to stand up in front of 90 people and do a dance. I´m achieving things I never thought I could; things that make me proud of myself and make me want to push myself even more to see what else I could do if I put my mind to it. A lot of that is down to the support and training I have received during my 6 months placement working here.

I really feel like a valued member of the team here. It isn’t every company that goes out of their way to make sure their staff are doing well. They have been there for is continuously and we are so grateful for that.

The Spanish classes that we have had are also incredible. There are so many opportunities for speaking and playing games in Spanish which are obviously invaluable for our Spanish and help us in our day to day lives here in Spain but they are also a couple of hours of fun that break up the office day for us!

TECS is the kind of company that feels like one big family and from the first day Jasmine, Jordan, Aoife and I felt welcomed. I have never felt so at home in a company that I was so new to. Every single person in the building was so friendly and kind to us, and that continued throughout our entire placement.

Living with the other girls has been such an amazing experience too. We moved out here barely knowing each other and now I´m happy to say that they are three of my best friends. This experience has been an unforgettable one and has for sure shaped the kind of person I am as I continue on the next step of my university journey.

– Rebecca Chute, School Camp TEFL Monitor 2018