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.

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

What is summer camp like in the south of Spain?

Seville excursion at Summer Camp

Every year for the past 4 years, I have spent my summer months working on TECS camps in the south of Spain, and I can sum up this experience with 3 words – hot, fun and life-changing!

Summer camp is very, very sunny…

Working on summer camp is the south of Spain means that almost every day you are guaranteed great weather. The sun beats down, and those of us with a fairer complexion go red and freckly, whilst others blessed with sallow skin turn tanned as the weeks go on. If you are looking to escape the rain and the cold, our summer camps the place to do it!

Photo of the kids on tecs summer camps on excursion to the beach in Spain
Photo of the kids on tecs summer camps on excursion to the beach in Spain

Summer camp is very, very fun…

Working on summer camp is great craic! You spend your time working with like-minded people, dressing up, singing songs, making a fool of yourself – generally having a blast with your fellow staff members and the campers. That’s not to say the work isn’t tiring or draining or difficult – it is all of those things, but when you put everything into the experience you can have a great time. Read more about why summer camp is so much fun here.

Staff with cream on faces
Staff with cream on faces

Summer camp is (very, very) life-changing…

Summer camp has the potential to change your life. It pushes you out of your comfort zone, you meet people who otherwise you never would have come across, and you learn so much about yourself, professionally and personally.

All of this sound like something you would like to experience for yourself? Read more about what camp life is like in our blog, and have a look at the jobs available here, and apply now!

 

The Quick Guide to Working as Camp Catering Staff

Colour War Victory Meal
There are many positions on our camps, and sometimes it can be confusing to know which to apply for. Catering staff is an often overlooked choice – but it shouldn’t be. It is a great position with room for flexibility and language learning.

The majority of staff on camp are not allowed speak in Spanish, as we are an English language summer camp! However, catering monitors must speak in Spanish, as they are working with natives in the kitchen every day. This is a great opportunity to improve your language skills, as you will have contact each day with Spanish speakers who speak very little English.

Another great advantage of this position is the chance to spend time exploring the town around the camp. Although your timetable requires that you are on camp for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you have plenty of time off in between to explore your surroundings – be that walking to the beach to work on your tan, or exploring the centre of town with its large bull ring and many restaurants and cafes, the choice is yours! Read more about the location of the camp here.

Finally, catering staff get to experience what it is like to work in a fast paced, multi-lingual environment. Providing food for over 200 campers at 3 different but overlapping meal times can be a big challenge, but it gives valuable and worthwhile experience in a catering environment.

Interested after reading all of the above? Why wouldn’t you be! Read more about the position and apply here.