Marbella

Marbella is the ideal destination for a summer holidays. Located on the pristine Costa del Sol ("Coast of the Sun"), full of prestigious schools and sports facilities, Marbella is a small, safe city, popular with tourists from all over the world. Why not catch some summer sun, play sports, games, meet new friends from all over the world while also learning? We can provide a memorable and fun experience for your teenager all the while learning and practising Spanish in a safe environment.

Summary info:
Location: Marbella, Costa del Sol
Ages: 13-18
Type: Summer Camp
Accommodation: Residential
Duration: from 2- 8 weeks
Availability: June 28th through August 29th 2009
24 hour supervision

View: A view of the center.


School

The Marbella Alborán Camp is located on a beautiful finca. The campus covers 38,000m2 and is amply shaded by a surrounding thick wood of pine trees, which creates a tranquil, pleasant atmosphere. Just 8 km (13 miles) from the centre of Marbella and a short ride from the Hotel Don Carlos and the city's General Hospital, our prestigious center is also just a 15-minute walk from the beach!

The camp's central building consists of the dorm rooms, a dining hall, and a residential area for counselors and coaches. Sports facilities include a large swimming pool; showers; a covered, multipurpose sports area; a paddleball court; 2 soccer fields, one grass and one paved; a basketball/ mini-soccer court; a handball court and two stables. There is also a newsstand and a games hall.

The camp holds 220 residential students although more day students participate in the camp as well. This camp is unique in that along with other international students from a variety of countries, the camp hosts Spanish students as well (60%). While your child is taking Spanish lessons, the Spanish students are taking English lessons. For the rest of the day campers mix and mingle during activities while mutually learning from each other.

The success of all learning efforts depends on a teaching team trained and equipped to motivate their students. To this end, the camp only uses a highly qualified and energetic faculty. The Spanish teachers are all natives with at least 5-year university degrees in Spanish Linguistics and Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language. Most of them have a Masters and/or Doctorate in Spanish and all hold the CAP (Certificate of Teaching Ability). The summer camp faculty is experienced in teaching young people of various ages and implements a wide array of techniques and activities that speak to every age group and learning type.

Accommodation

This is a residential-style programme. Students stay in shared, supervised dormitories. The dormitory rooms are furnished with bunk beds and closets and accommodate 8-12 students, grouped according to age and gender. At least one counselor sleeps in each bedroom to supervise the campers. The shower house, is set apart from the residence hall. Group 1 are students aged 13 to 15, while Group 2 is for ages 16 to 18. Included in the programme is full board. Meals are served in the camp canteen. In order for students to discover Spanish culture to the fullest the camp runs on the Spanish eating schedule: light breakfast, big lunch around 2:00pm, and a light dinner. The majority of the summer camp menu consists of Mediterranean & Spanish food.

Courses

The summer language course is organised into 20 lessons per week, with 4 lessons everyday, Monday through Friday. Each class is 45 minutes in length, and we set a maximum of 12 students per class in order to ensure individualized attention. The carefully designed curriculum emphasises conversation and communication, so that students may take full advantage of their surroundings and apply what they are learning by speaking with friends during the remainder of the day. The morning class hours are the only time when Spanish and international students are separated; they rejoin in the afternoon and at night for a variety of activities. The methodology is centered on a communicative approach, utilising diverse techniques to cover the fundamentals of language learning: grammar, speaking, listening, vocabulary, pronunciation, writing & intercultural competence. Every student takes a placement test on the first day of classes in order to determine their language level. They are consequently placed into one of 6 levels, from very beginner to proficiency.

Schedule

Here is what a typical day for a camper is like in Marabella:

Time period Activity
08:15 - 08:30 Rise and shine
08:30 - 09:15 Breakfast
09:15 - 09:30 Groups meet with their counselor
09:30 - 10:15 1st class of English, German or Spanish
10:15 - 11:00 2nd class of English, German or Spanish
11:00 - 11:30 Break
11:30 - 12:15 3rd class of English, German or Spanish
12:15 - 13:00 4th class of English, German or Spanish
13:00 - 14:00 Pool, beach or other activities
14:00 - 15:15 Lunch (on the Spanish schedule - later than in most countries)
15:15 - 16:00 Rest period, table games and competitions
16:00 - 18:30 Cultural workshops, beach/pool
18:30 - 20:00 Sports practice, competitions, Olympics
20:00 - 21:00 Shower time
21:00 - 21:45 Dinner
21:45 - 23:00 Party time, talent nights, etc
22:30 Kids to bed
23:30 Juniors and Seniors to bed

Activities

The summer camp programme is designed so there's never a dull moment. A typical day at camp is packed with a variety of activities, all designed to be age-appropriate and fun, of course!

Here's just a sampling of the recreational activities campers enjoy on a daily basis, whether in the afternoons or at night. These activities may include the following but are not limited to this list:

  • Contests and treasure hunts
  • Nighttime shows: music, theater, talent, costume...
  • Traditional camp games
  • Theme nights: Cowboys and Indians, 60´s, Medieval Times...
  • Camp discos/ dances
  • Night games

In addition, the camp offers a number of workshops, which may include:

  • Outdoors workshop (students will explore and learn about various aspects related to the natural environment, trekking and hiking on ecological trails, knot-making, camping, etc.)
  • Journalism Workshops (Students will work on their critical thinking and writing skills, express their creativity and form part of a productive team in the publication of a biweekly newspaper.)
  • Music and Percussion Workshop
  • Theatre Workshop
  • Juggling and Circus Workshop
  • Lifesaving Workshop (learn various lifesaving techniques, including life-guarding and CPR)
  • Arts and Crafts Workshop
  • Cooking Workshop
  • Flamenco Workshop
  • Ballroom Dancing Workshop

Of course it wouldn't be a summer camp without sports! There are a variety of sports on offer including: Basketball, Aerobics, Bowling, Volleyball, Olympics, Darts, Soccer, Capoeira, Hockey, Handball, Swimming, Frisbee, Baseball, Archery, Water polo, Badminton, Rock climbing and much more.

In addition to those, there is also “optional” sports that can be added which are sporting lessons, including: golf, horseback riding, paddleball, and tennis.

Optional sports:

Due to scheduling conflicts, students who enroll in our optional sports programs may not always be able to participate in all of the other camp activities.

Spaces for these optional sports are limited, so we encourage parents to register their child as soon as possible if interested. You must book and pay for optional sports at least two weeks before the student’s arrival.

Campers may only take 1 optional sport is available per two-week camp period Once the student’s program has started it is not possible to cancel the optional sport.

FAQ

Questions

Answers

  • Can friends go together to the Camp?

    Yes, please notify us at the time of booking if you want them placed together in accommodation. We will try to facilitate this request as much as possible.

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  • My child has a food allergy, will this be accommodated?

    Yes. The kitchens are equipped to prepare food for students with special dietary needs (vegetarian, allergies, etc). Simply notify us about special requirements upon booking and we will pass the information along to the camp directors and kitchen personnel.

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  • Will my child be met on arrival?

    Yes. One of the camp staff members will greet your child outside of the customs area in Malaga airport with a sign that includes the camp logo and the student's name, and then take them to camp. Note: This service cannot be guaranteed when last minute changes of flights or arrival times are made. In case of emergency, parents should call this number: +34 636 450 998

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  • Is it fully supervised?

    Yes. Older students whose parents wish to allow them to have more freedom may do so with signed permission. Students over 15 have this option only. We allow each students a limited number of unescorted trips off-campus during each 2-week session. The specific days, frequency and times are determined by each camp director.

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  • How can I communicate with my child while at camp?

    Each student is given a calling card which can be charged with €5 and up at the camp's reception desk. These phone cards can be used from any telephone, whether a land line on-campus or an off-campus phone while students are on an excursion. Campers may also use their cellular phones to call home, but only during the designated hours set by each camp. Each facility has an answering machine where you can leave messages for your child and an emergency number in case you need to contact the camp director. The camp also has internet and email facilities as well.

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Supervision

The centre is located on a park like campus and the students are supervised by trained staff 24hr/7. Parents may sign a permission slip allowing any student born in 1994 or before (for 2009) to leave the camp grounds without supervision. The camp director determines the frequency and duration of these excursions.

Dates/Prices

Start Dates 2010: 27th June, 4th July, 18th July, 1st August and 15th August

  • Available for 2 weeks starting in July and August
  • 3 weeks starting in June
  • 4 weeks starting in July and August
  • 6 and 8 weeks starting in July.

Arrivals are always on Sunday and departure on Saturday. Extra nights accommodation for early arrival or late departure are available for €50 per day.

Prices Summer 2010

June

3 Weeks €2284

July

2 Weeks €1736

4 Weeks €2804

6 Weeks €3371

8 Weeks €4188

August

2 Weeks €1656

4 Weeks €2616

Prices include:

  • All lessons, books and materials
  • All activities, excursions and included sports
  • Full board
  • Residential shared accommodation
  • Return transfers from Malaga airport
  • Insurance with Caremed

Flights are not included.

Optional add-ons:

  • Tennis: 2 weeks, 6 hours per week - €169
  • Paddle: 2 weeks, 6 hours per week - €169
  • Horseback riding: 2 weeks, 5 hours per week - €169
  • Golf: 2 weeks, 9 hours per week - €255
  • Extra night accommodation - €50
  • Uniform (optional) - €75

Apply

  • Please complete this application form
  • Deposit of €350
  • 2 passport photos
  • N/B Please do not book flights until your booking dates have been confirmed by email, post of phone by EIL.

Blogs/Photos

Photos: 
Tennis group
Activites Flamenco lesson
Tent
Veranda lesson
Granada excursion
View
Students
Students on the beach
Stories: 

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