Summer Camp 2025: St. Joseph’s, Summer Mornings & English Class…

Who were "St. Joseph's?" Would they impress our visiting parents and participating students? Would my accommodation be to the standard I could live comfortably for the week? Location wise, would our trips into town be smooth enough? I didn't know a lot about this school because I wasn't the main point of contact, that was a choice but not mine. Oh, "St. Joe", let's give it a go?

During those negotiations during early 2024, I remember this name floating around. I did do some research but I was never the main point of contact, in-retrospect I should've been because it was my hard graft that went into the planning and eventual guiding of the study visit. I clocked that a London Underground connection lay less than an eight minute walk away from the campus. I took that reference and ran with it, planning my theatre shows, museums visits and out of town visits from that north London location. From day one, the parents who were interested in this trip expressed they wanted to choose their own accommodation. Ideally, differing tastes and thresholds had to be considered but with Oakwood and Southgate being a predominantly residential area, I did what I could, a local Southgate hotel was secured for two out of the three families who had expressed interest. I stayed in their provided accommodation with no issues, everything suited me well with an en-suite room with comfort. I had no qualms. 

I felt that within our schools remit and the programme the admin at my school had negotiated, "St. Joseph's' Foundation UK' had a lot of experience working with a diverse range of international schools. I had the remit from the school and did what I could, the school understood on the ground that I had planned what I could within the constraints of my sphere of communication. My school at the time had not yet planned an overseas trip to a foreign country let alone to England. Our package was varied and the educational experts were waiting for us and our students to take their program of classes. From the planning stages, communication and class delivery, it was a worthwhile experience. Certain transportation challenges were raised but Leonardo was a professional, he had local links that finessed our pick up and drop off process. At the end of things, I would recommend this school to future overseas schools aligning with their "English for Families" program staring from 5 years old. Yes, it was my kind of Summer Camp! 

A hearty breakfast was served each morning during our 'English for Families' learning experience. I personally loved the choice of cooked items that were freshly served each morning. Being back in England for the week, it was especially nice to enjoy a mini-Full English breakfast each day with sausages, beans, bacon and scrambled eggs on offer. Hot and cold drinks were easy to find, I enjoyed many cups of coffee and cold juices, each item served was of a high quality. Cereal and toast were available, also a continental element was present with cheeses and cured meats also available. It was a great spread, the food was prepared by an on-site staff member each morning, very efficient if you ask me. For me, the early start was not my first thought but the breakfast helped get my day off to a great start, I never left the table feeling hungry. I have to say that I would highly recommend this breakfast for future schools to trust. I was able to eat lunch with the teachers on two occasions, the cooked meals were great! For sure! 

Lunch? Yes, I was able to enjoy a tasty serving of pasta with the teachers during the first day. I enjoyed being able to sit on the teachers table, it was big trip for me, it made me feel responsible for one in my life! For the students, they were well catered for as three out of the four enjoyed a second helping of breakfast as they arrived from their nearby Southgate located hotel. During break times, the children loved the snacks on offer, they were treats they weren't used to in China. The kid enjoyed the juice, the orange juice was a personal favourite of theirs. The biscuits were a massive hit with the kids between classes as well as the European style yoghurt pots. For us all, something tasty was on offer during our learning morning periods. Before we went out into London, the packed lunches were distributed each day, they also had been prepared by 'St. Joseph's Foundation UK'. From my eye, I was impressed by the consistency of the food and drinks, everything was fresh and suited dietary requirements. Oh, I miss a good packed lunch! 

I might be backtracking but I won't forget the birds singing outside the window of my 'St. Joseph's Foundation UK' room, it was a UK summer morning to remember! I was used to a balcony but not with the scenic settings I saw during that August morning. Each morning I was able to hear the birds, for me it was a lovely addition because I didn't get that back in Ningbo. I was not mad, the garden had a really chilled feeling, there was a serene feeling about it. For me, it was the look on the kids faces that made my heart feel good, it was something different for the kids to experience after all they get so little time outside when the weather is hotter in southern China. In London the attitude was different and the parents understood that things were alternative, the sun nor heat didn't feel as intense like it had in China. To see them eat the plums from the trees was immense, they knew that they could eat them but as their supervising adult, I didn't want them to eat too many! I was sure a few plums wouldn't hurt at all? Never, it was fine!

That Oakwood garden healed me, literally it did because the air was clear and the environment reminded me of my home! I felt like it was a great place to be at work, of course I was working constantly but I knew that I had a greater purpose during that trip. I enjoyed hearing the birds because you already know, do we hear the birds in China? That was me not being serious but you know? I was in such a frenzy during that week, it meant the world to reset with that garden, it made me forget that London was just down the Piccadilly Line! Foxes? Don't even get me started because all of the four boys were obsessed with foxes but they had never saw one in real life in a safe capacity! The young boy who was in my class had a dessert fox toy from Toronga Zoo, Sydney and when he heard a family visited the garden? He lost his mind and ran around the garden nonstop, I knew that him seeing a fox would make his life, he would be happy for sure. Naturally, I wouldn't turn down another chance to roam around that garden at St. Joseph's, UK!

Ziggy was my rock, she had her lessons planned tight! I met Ziggy the day before classes commenced and she set me at ease, I told her that this was my first venture overseas with a school from China and she was solid. Ziggy was with me for four days that we had class, she was professional and we shared ideas together. Her plan was tailored around the children's names, playing games and our adventures around London. The four energetic boys gave us a run for our money but Ziggy's activities were on the mark. The classes were three hours with a short break in the middle, those yoghurts impressed the children! Ziggy read the children an amazing story about Paddington Bear's time in London, this got the children excited for their time at the Paddington Bear Experience. It was definitely different compared to my previous Summer Camp, that was a whole contractual choice. Let me say, I was supported by Ziggy all the way, she was amazing! Summer Camp 2026? My company has changed but I'd never rule out a re-run! 

London was doing it right, the weather was gorgeous, with the right amount of warmth, it was magic! The weather was lovely each day, it was a great chance for Ziggy to plan and execute activities outside in the garden for the children. Those running games were well planned and the boys were able to get most of their energy out! We ran around the garden as mentioned, they longed to find a fox and then some of the boys would steal several plums from the trees to eat, it was something out of the ordinary for them! St. Joseph's Foundation UK had a wonderful team of staff, they were busy during those all important morning classes, those educators kept the parents busy during those 'English for Families' classes. Were those classes explained from my previous educational provider? That's another question for another day! Thinking about it, I have nothing negative to express about 'St. Joseph's Foundation UK' because they were on hand to support. Give me five minutes in that garden if you will, I need that nature right about now! 

A Summer Camp Like No Other! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure