Doing well at school takes more than understanding the lesson. Children need to manage their time, work with classmates and ask for help. At Sugar Bay Camp in Zinkwazi Beach on the KZN North Coast, everyday camp experiences give them opportunities to practice these skills.
Parents notice changes, too, and tell us about them in their feedback after camp. Hearing how children use what they’ve learnt once they’re home is especially rewarding. Here’s how those skills can support them at school.
1. Independence: taking ownership of schoolwork
Choosing activities and managing daily routines at camp gives children practice in making decisions. Back at school, they can apply that independence to organising homework and preparing for lessons. Let your child suggest their homework plan, then check it together.
2. Teamwork: contributing to group projects
Camp activities involve listening, sharing ideas and working towards a common goal. These skills are useful in classroom discussions and group assignments. Encourage your child to agree on responsibilities with classmates so everyone has a part to play.
3. Resilience: working through difficult subjects
Learning a new activity can take several attempts. Children get to experience how practice and guidance help them improve, giving them something to draw on when schoolwork feels difficult. At home, help your child choose a manageable next step, such as reviewing an example or asking for an explanation.
4. Curiosity: finding a reason to learn
A camp activity can spark an interest children want to explore further. Encourage their interests with a library book, a school club or a project they choose. Give them room to follow their own questions without making it another homework assignment.
5. Social confidence: participating in class
Meeting new campers provides practice in starting conversations and joining unfamiliar groups. Asking counselors for guidance also gives children experience in speaking up when they need help. At home, practice putting a question into words so your child feels more prepared to ask their teacher.
Sugar Bay offers school holiday camps for children and teens aged 7–17 in Zinkwazi Beach, north of Ballito and Durban, South Africa. Explore upcoming camps at sugarbay.co.za.
As a parent, you want your child to feel capable when you’re not beside them. To ask for help, make a friend and give something difficult another go. At Sugar Bay, they have room to practice, with counselors there to guide and encourage them.
Their reason for wanting to go might be the activities. Yours might be knowing they’ll have the chance to discover how much they can do for themselves.
Give your child that opportunity at Sugar Bay in Zinkwazi Beach on the KZN North Coast. Camps welcome children and teens aged 7–17. Explore upcoming camps and book their stay.
Parents can book online here: https://www.sugarbay.co.za/book-a-holiday
View all 2026 & 2027 Sugar Bay camp dates here: https://www.sugarbay.co.za/2026-school-holiday-camp-dates
For booking help, contact the Sugar Bay team:
Call: 032 485 3778
WhatsApp: 082 525 9503
Email: [email protected]
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