Kids News

Sugar Bay is the coolest place to go on holiday…sun, sea, surf…and no parents! An exclusive holiday resort just for teens, with free-choice of over 105 different activities. From surfing and boogie-boarding, to paintball  the choice is yours! Nothing is compulsory – take time to chill out with girls and boys your own age. The fun doesn’t set with the sun – party nights, camp-outs or relaxing round the boma. Situated in Zinkwazi, KZN, a 16-acre teenagers paradise Look at our website or Send us an email or call 032 4853778

School holidays – the perfect opportunity to spend time with the children….or is that the case? Game lodges, bush trails and peace and tranquility. An escape from the stress of work. Sounds idyllic to me.
But is that what my kids want? How about adventure, extreme activities, an aquatic playground? Sorry, no parents allowed!

Welcome to the world of Sugar Bay! For years, the States and Europe have provided children (and parents) an ideal solution to the tedium of the long school “vacations.” Six years ago, Sugar Bay brought the concept of American Summer Camps to SA’s shores. Situated in beautiful Zinkwazi Beach, KZN North Coast, Sugar Bay is a 16-acre children and teen’s paradise. An un-spoilt beach, endless lagoon, no clubs or bars and temperate weather – a perfect location meaning that Sugar Bay welcomes its young guests throughout the year, covering all major Government, Private and International school holidays.

Just as I choose what activities (or not) to participate in during my well-deserved break, so does Sugar Bay recognize that children desire that same freedom of choice. They have created an entirely free-choice system, whereby each child chooses which activities they pursue each day. And the choice is endless – over 90 different activities at the last count. From surfing, boogie-boarding and scuba, to paintball, high-ropes and cycling. Those with artistic flair also get their share, from DJing to breakdancing, drama to ceramics.

Sugar Bay also recognizes that young people also appreciate the finer things in life. Gone are the days of “boot camp” or “veldt school”.
Welcome to luxury log-cabins, with en-suite bathrooms and varied, delicious “kid-friendly” meals. The importance of being with their peers is also recognized, with children being accommodated with their own age group (and same sex), and activities being split into Juniors, Intermediate and Seniors. After all, my 12 year-old daughter did not want to spend her dream holiday sleeping next to her 8 year-old little brother!

It all sounds fantastic, but as a parent my concern was the safety of my kids during their week away. Sugar Bay has consistently reassured parents by providing a 1:3 staff to child ratio, providing 24-hour supervision (they even sleep in the cabins with the children.) Affiliated to the American Camping Association, and adhering to all their strict safety and security procedures, staff are hand-picked and fully trained in first aid, outdoor adventure based counseling, and the elements of child-psychology necessary to take care of children.
Water-safety is of paramount importance, and comprehensive medical details taken of every child mean that you can be assured that your child is not only having the time of their life, but is also in the safest possible hands.

That’s what the magazines said, and the papers, and of course, the website. All well and said, but the reality…of sending my own children!
An unexpected surprise when I picked them up after their week away…

The children had a ball, that was clear. Mission accomplished. But what was really surprising was the change in my little angels. Somehow they had found a new sense of independence, and (if it was possible) even more self-confidence. Their new “best friends” were no longer limited to those they went to school with – they had met children from all over SA, as well as overseas. And the counselors….Snakee, Bandage, Tinkerbell (I was soon to discover that none of them had “normal” names) certainly made a lasting impression, not only in facilitating their fun, but making my kids realize what being a child is really about. After all, a week without cell phones, playstations, computer games – who would have thought that was possible in today’s world!

So, taking that big step of letting my kids find their own adventure had been a success. Well, in pretty much every way. The draw-back – there has to be a catch! Yes. Once my children had tasted Sugar Bay, there was no way out. After all, as my daughter clearly announced “A week was not long enough! When can I go back to Sugar Bay?”