Summer camp in Cascais 2026: sailing, surfing and sports in Portugal
Cascais combines in less than 25 km the Atlantic coast, the historical heritage of Sintra and the infrastructure of one of the most organized cities in Portugal. It is in this scenario that King's College School Cascais will hold, in 2026, a summer program that combines international sailing certification, sports training with the Juventus Academy, surfing and musical theater in English, all on the same campus. For parents of young people aged 13 to 16 who are looking for a European program with a real variety of activities, language immersion and premium environment, the Cascais camp stands out as an option rarely found in a single destination.
What is the King's College School Cascais summer camp?
The summer camp is organized by King's College School Cascais, an international school with a structured campus on the Portuguese Atlantic coast, 30 km from Lisbon. The program is aimed at young people from 13 to 16 years old in the Senior Camp format, with academic and sports activities conducted entirely in English by native teachers.
The differential of the program lies in the architecture of choice: young people do not receive a closed grid. He sets up his own trail, selecting one morning activity per week, which allows him to diversify experiences over the two sessions available.
Facilities include an indoor gym, soccer field, theater, laboratories, dance and music room, with premium accommodation on the campus itself for participants in the residential format.
When does the show take place?
The 2026 summer camp has two sessions:
- Session 1: June 28—July 11, 2026
- Session 2: July 12-25, 2026
Each session lasts two weeks, with morning activities structured in blocks of one week. Families that enroll young people in two consecutive sessions have the advantage of combining up to four different activities throughout the month, without repetition.
The format can be Day Camp or Residential, with campus accommodation. The Residencial is the most suitable choice for families seeking complete cultural immersion, since socializing outside of activities also takes place entirely in English.
What activities does the program offer?
RYA certified candle
The program's most unique activity is sailing with international certification issued by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), the regulatory body for water sports in the United Kingdom, recognized in more than 120 countries. The certificate obtained at the end of the camp, called Start Yachting, is RYA's official entry level and serves as the basis for progression to nautical courses around the world.
Cascais has direct access to the Atlantic Ocean and a consolidated nautical tradition, which makes learning to sail especially relevant in this context. For young people who have never been on a sailboat, the progression of the camp goes from basic enough to obtain certification in a week of immersion.
Football with Juventus Academy
Soccer is taught using the Juventus Academy methodology, the Juventus Football Club's sports training program. Coaches certified by the Italian academy apply the same technical and tactical approach used in the European club's youth divisions.
Surf and water sports
Surfing is available as a morning activity, taking advantage of Cascais's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The instruction is conducted by specialized coaches, with equipment provided by the program.
Tennis with professional coaching
Tennis is offered with professional-level coaching, aimed at young people with different levels of experience. The focus is on the technical development of the stroke and on reading the game, not just on the physical warm-up.
STEAM Engineering and Workshops
For young people with an interest in technology and applied sciences, STEAM workshops combine pre-engineering projects with practical challenges. The activities are carried out in the campus laboratories, with a hands-on approach.
Musical theater with the Adderley School
Musical theater, offered in partnership with the Adderley School, develops oral expression, stage presence, and communication in English. The sessions combine singing, interpretation, and movement, with practical results in English.
Horseback riding and discussion/public speaking
Horseback riding and Public Speaking complete the menu of morning activities. Speaking in English is an increasingly valued skill for young people in the process of applying for an international university, and the camp offers a safe environment to develop this competence.
What does the young person develop throughout the program?
In two weeks at King's College School Cascais, young people build a set of skills that go beyond the sports field:
- Internationally recognized sailing certification, with document issued by the Royal Yachting Association
- Sports training with elite European club methodology, whether in soccer with Juventus Academy or in tennis and surfing with certified coaches
- Incremental fluency in English, with full immersion of native teachers and a multicultural environment with more than 40 nationalities
- Communication and expression through musical theater and public speaking, with direct application in academic and professional contexts
- Technical and scientific reasoning in STEAM workshops, with real projects in the laboratory
- Cultural repertoire: excursions to Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and contact with Portuguese maritime history in Cascais
For families researching How to apply for international summer camps, the Cascais camp offers an accessible selection process and an application progression that Be Easy follows at each stage.
Why is Cascais a top destination for European summer?
Cascais combines attributes that few European destinations offer simultaneously. The city is 25 km from Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has direct access to the Atlantic Ocean, which makes nautical activities geographically authentic, not artificial.
Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world, according to the Global Peace Index, with consolidated tourist infrastructure and efficient public transport. The summer climate in Cascais is mild compared to the intense heat of other southern European destinations, which contributes to the quality of outdoor training.
For countries that compare Cascais with other UK destinations, such as programs from British boarding school with elite sports in England, Portugal offers a more affordable cost of living for the accompanying family, with the same quality of instruction in English.
How does the residential format work?
In the residential format, the young person lives on the King's College School campus throughout the session, from Sunday to Saturday. Meals are served on campus, with monitors present 24 hours a day.
Residential life is a central part of the experience: meals, leisure and informal interactions take place between young people from more than 40 countries, all communicating in English. For an adolescent aged 13 to 16, this environment is where the most significant part of linguistic development takes place.
The campus has supervised rest areas, study rooms, and living spaces, with regular communication with families throughout the program.
What is the ideal participant profile?
The Senior Camp at King's College School Cascais is designed for young people aged 13 to 16 who seek more than entertainment during the summer. The ideal participant:
- Are you genuinely interested in at least one of the program's activities, sporting, artistic, or technical
- Has a minimum basic level of English, sufficient to follow instructions and interact with colleagues
- Are you open to living with young people from different cultures for two weeks
- Look for a program with structure and discipline, not just leisure
Young people who are interested in doing High school in Portugal and consider a longer exchange in the country, they usually use summer camp as an adaptation step, to get to know the European environment and evaluate the young person's response before making a bigger decision.
FAQ
Does a young person need to choose just one activity for the full two weeks?
No. The morning activities are structured in blocks of one week. In a two-week session, the young person can experience two different activities, one per week. Those who do the two consecutive sessions can combine up to four different activities.
Is the RYA sailing certification valid internationally?
Yes. The Start Yachting certificate issued by the Royal Yachting Association is internationally recognized in more than 120 countries and serves as the basis for progression to more advanced sailing courses anywhere in the world.
My son has never taken English classes outside of Brazil. Can you keep up?
The program welcomes young people with different levels of English. The classes are organized by proficiency, and the residential environment with more than 40 nationalities creates natural conditions for language development outside of formal classes.
Is it possible to do just one week in the program?
The sessions last two weeks. The weekly block structure requires at least one full week of participation, which can be discussed with the Be Easy team subject to availability.
Is Cascais safe for a young person traveling alone?
Portugal is among the safest countries in the world according to the Global Peace Index. The King's College campus has monitors present 24 hours and regular communication with families. Be Easy accompanies all the logistics for the arrival and departure of the young person.
Be Easy: Boutique exchange consultancy
Be Easy advises families in choosing and preparing for the Cascais summer camp, from profile alignment to travel documentation and logistics. If you want to understand if King's College School Cascais is the right program for your child, contact us and unlock an extraordinary future for your child.
