Chester International English Summer Camp

Live English. Create. Connect.

Discover one of Spain’s longest-running English immersion summer camps, set in the historic city of Santiago de Compostela.

Since 1985, Chester College International School has welcomed children and teenagers from many countries to its International English Summer Camp—a boutique, full English immersion experience for ages 8 to 18.

Each July, participants live entirely in English through a thoughtfully structured experience that blends a dynamic morning classroom program with music, drama, sports, creative workshops, cultural outings, and shared adventures—where learning and enjoyment naturally go hand in hand—within a safe, green, and inspiring environment.

In 2025, we proudly celebrated our 40th anniversary. In 2026, we will host our 41st Camp edition, reaffirming our commitment to meaningful learning, creativity, and personalized care for every child and teenager entrusted to us.

Chester International English Summer Camp: The first full English immersion day and residential summer camp in Galicia, Spain

Where learning, creativity, and fun go hand in hand

MORE INFO, PLEASE! REGISTRATION FORM

Learning & Fun Through Full English Immersion

A fun, carefully structured immersion experience for children and teenagers aged 8 to 17, where learning, creativity, and enjoyment go hand in hand.

At Chester International English Summer Camp, participants:

Live entirely in English throughout the day, with constant opportunities to communicate in meaningful, real-life situations—building confidence, fluency, and a genuine ease with the language.
Take part in the preparation and performance of a musical, using music and drama as powerful tools to develop self-expression, teamwork, and confidence in English.
Have the option to sit for an official Trinity College London English language examination at the school itself.
Enjoy a wide range of supervised outdoor sports and activities on our extensive green campus, as well as carefully planned off-campus experiences such as water sports, nature activities, and beginner-level adventures.
Discover Santiago de Compostela and Galicia through guided cultural excursions, offering a meaningful introduction to Spanish history, traditions, and landscapes, with beach trips included.
Form lasting friendships with peers of their own age from different countries, in a safe, caring, and family-style environment.

Be part of the experience!

All Thanks to a Method Refined Over 40 Years

Carefully selected native English-speaking teachers, experienced in working with children and teenagers.
Low teacher-to-participant ratio (1:8), encouraging constant interaction and individual attention.
A well-balanced daily timetable, designed to make the most of every moment without feeling rushed.
Drama and Music at the heart of learning, building confidence and communication skills.
A diverse international mix of campers, fostering openness, curiosity, and global awareness.
Spacious green grounds in a natural setting, ideal for sports, outdoor play, and recreation.

An optional official English qualification

Full-camp participants follow a level-based English program that provides a solid foundation for language development.. Those who wish may sit an official Trinity College London exam on campus.

70% of our campers return to our summer camps two or more consecutive years.

In 2025, 50% of our campers had attended our summer programs for 4 or more consecutive years!

Our son Noah spent an excellent time in the Camp again. He was very happy to be a Full Camp participant this time and he met a lot of new friends. He absolutely enjoyed the Camp and would like to come again next year. As parents we felt that our son was very well looked after. Thank you to all who helped to make this Camp such a great success.

Helga D., mother of Noah D. Boon, Germany.
When I first read testimonials from other parents, I was struck by one about a child you wanted to return home on day one, was so and so on day two, and was thrilled after day three. My son Angel called me after his first day and asked me: “Could you have sent me to a worse place?!” … Thanks to Chester´s staff, when I picked him up at the end of Camp the first thing he told me was: “I'll be back next year”. Thank you all for this experience, it is totally worth it, the kids have a blast, they make friends, and they learn.

Ana S., mother of Angel S.
“Thank you very much for everything you have contributed to our children, Guillermo and Alejandro Cruzado, who have thoroughly enjoyed the Camp this summer and who have really improved their English skills, made friends, and had huge fun in Drama”.

Dounia C., mother of Guillermo and Alejandro C.
“This summer we sent our daughter to Chester College, and it was a 10 out of 10, as much for her as for us! She will definitely be attending again next year. Many thanks for everything!”.

Olga G., mother of Olga N.
It was my first summer abroad on my own. It took me a little while to realize that people, who were surrounding me, spoke different languages. But after some days in Chester I understood that it was very easy to speak and communicate with others. All in all, I’d say I really improved my English and even my Spanish! They were beautiful days I spent there, and I will never forget them, so thank you very much for such an enriching experience!

Mikhail K. St Petersbourgh, Russia.

More testimonials

Two options: Boarding and Day

Boarding option

2026 DATES (41st edition)

Full Camp: June 28 - July 26
Session 1: June 28 - July 12
Session 2: July 12 - 26

The End-of-Camp Musicals will take place on Sunday July 26, at 7 PM.

AGES

Campers aged 8-18
Juniors: 8-12 years
Teens: 13-18 years

WHAT DOES THE BOARDING CAMP INCLUDE?

Daily English language, public speaking, music and drama lessons taught by specialist native English teachers.
Accommodation in separate premises for boys and girls, accompanied by dorm parents at all times.
Full board: breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning and afternoon snacks.
Daily sports, cultural and recreational program, on and off campus, in the afternoon and evenings.
Preparation and staging of a musical Showcase after Session 1, and a full Musical at the end of the Full Camp.
Preparation for official Trinity College London examinations (GESE, ISE), with optional sitting (full camp participants only).
Weekend trips to educational and recreational sites in Galicia, including swimming at our beautiful sandy beaches.
Use of course materials.
Weekly laundry service (personal clothes & bed linen).
Progress Report at the end of the Camp.
Supervised airport / train station pick-up and return service.
24:7 care and support, for an unforgettable experience!

Boarding Camp Fees

Download our Boarding Camp fees here.

If you have any queries or wish to talk to us to discuss your child’s particular needs or situation,
do not hesitate to get in touch with us: we would be delighted to assist you.

Get in touch

Boarding Life

Our residential campers stay in two separate school residences—one for girls and one for boys—with shared bedrooms for two to three campers.

Throughout their stay, campers are cared for and accompanied by dedicated dorm-parents, who create a warm, safe, and supportive atmosphere. Daily life in the residences encourages friendship, respect, tidiness, and age-appropriate independence, helping children and teenagers feel at home while developing confidence and responsibility.

Families receive detailed guidelines regarding camp clothing and personal items prior to arrival. A laundry service is available during the camp, so all clothing should be clearly named or labelled. Further practical information will be shared upon camp registration.

Day option

2026 DATES (41st edition)

Full Camp: June 29 - July 26
Session 1: June 29 - July 11
Session 2: July 13 - 26

AGES

Participants aged 8-18.

Juniors: 8-12 years
Teens: 13-18 years

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Monday to Friday: 09:15 - 18:30.
One or two times a week special out-of-campus activities stretching up to 20:30. These activities are communicated to parents, in advance, via information letters and emails.
Saturday: full-day trip.

WHAT DOES THE DAY CAMP INCLUDE?

Daily English language, public speaking, music and drama lessons taught by specialist native English teachers.
Half board: lunch and morning and afternoon snacks.
Daily sports, cultural and recreational program, on and off campus, in the afternoons and some evenings.
Preparation and staging of a musical Showcase after Session 1, and a full Musical at the end of the Full Camp.
Preparation for Trinity College London examinations, with optional sitting (full camp participants only).
Saturday trips to educational and recreational sites in Galicia, including swimming at our beautiful sandy beaches.
Use of course materials.
Progress Report at the end of the Camp.
Early Arrivals & Breakfast service from 08:00 to 09:15 (optional).
Transport from and to Santiago city center, in the morning and afternoon (optional - please get in touch with the Office for details).
Caring staff presence throughout the day, ensuring a safe and memorable experience.

Day Camp Fees

Download our Day Camp fees here.

If you have any queries or wish to talk to us to discuss your child’s particular needs or situation,
do not hesitate to get in touch with us: we would be delighted to assist you.

Get in touch

Our Musicals

Alongside all other camp activities, participants take part in the preparation of a musical throughout their stay. This collaborative project culminates in a final performance for friends and families at the end of camp, while Session 1 campers present a special showcase.

Preparing a musical is a unique and rewarding experience. It encourages teamwork, creativity, commitment, and constant communication in English—often helping even the shyest children gain confidence, express themselves freely, and discover new abilities, regardless of previous experience in drama or singing.

Over the years, our campers have performed stylized adaptations of a wide range of well-known musicals, including Wicked, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Descendants, High School Musical, The Greatest Showman, among many others.

Short trailers of past performances are available on our Vimeo channel here.

Chester's Camp history

Chester College’s first summer camp took place in July 1985. At a time when international summer language programs in Spain were still very uncommon, a team of teachers from the UK, Ireland, and the United States arrived in Santiago de Compostela to take part in an innovative English immersion project conceived by the school’s founders.

Working alongside the local team—led by Juan Pías, Dolores Peleteiro, and Aubrey Whitehead—they organised the very first Chester English immersion camp for 80 children and teenagers.

Since then, Chester College has welcomed over 4,000 campers and more than 300 teachers, many of whom return year after year. Today, we are also proud to welcome the children of former campers—an inspiring testament to the lasting impact of the Chester experience.

Camp registration

Registration for our 2026 Summer Camps is now open!

We do not have a registration deadline: please note places are limited and they are assigned on a “first-come, first-served” basis.

Registration before April 15 is highly encouraged.

1. Fill in an online Registration Form for each Camp participant:

Registration Form

2. You will receive an automatic email from us stating that we have received your registration form. If that were not the case, something has gone wrong: do contact us so that we can help you.
3. We will get in touch with you to confirm your place or places in the Camp and send you both our banking details, for Registration Fee payment, and other practical welcome information.
4. Remaining fees should be made payable before June 15, 2023.