My very first winter camp was a hit. You can’t go wrong with a Disney Frozen theme for an elementary school English camp. Deciding on a topic or theme for a camp can be nerve-racking. Luckily Frozen 2 came out in November 2019, so students were still on the Frozen high. A Frozen themed winter camp in January of 2020 was perfect timing. As next year’s winter camp approaches, I want to reflect on my first time.

EPIK teachers are required to teach a winter and summer camp during each contract year. Camps are taught during the winter and summer breaks when students are on vacation. Read Top 5 Questions I Get Asked About the EPIK Program here. After wrapping up my first semester of teaching, the next mission was winter camp. Many Korean students look forward to the few days or week(s) long English program during their month and a half break off for winter break.

My elementary school’s English camp lasted six days: two days for grades 5 and 6, following four days for grades 3 and 4. About 25 students participated in the camp. With up to three weeks to prepare I scouted the internet for resources. I owe a huge thank you to Ms.BriaClassroom blog website and erinenglish on way-gook, a subscription-based website for teachers in Korea. Waygook has tons for great resources to for camps. I borrowed from their detailed winter camp plans and added a few activities of my own. You will be able to find and download their Frozen winter camp plans and PowerPoints using these links above. Most of the games and crafts listed in my schedule can be found there.

I was lucky that my school had a generous budget. Sometimes schools don’t provide a budget for camps. This can be challenging for a teacher especially if they’d like to buy supplies for students.

What I really liked about this camp was its focus on one theme: Frozen. This made planning and organization very simple and students loved this Disney movie so why not! And we made DIY pepero 빼빼로, a favorite snack among Korean children. Click the link here on 11Street to find all the ingredients and main supplies needed to make these delicious treats.

Some quick tips:

Have a plan. In fact, over plan. Winter camp was a breeze because I had a schedule and knew what I was going to do for each class period. Though I made lots of changes along the way, depending on time constraints, the atmosphere of the classroom and other circumstances, all my materials were prepared well in advance to meet those sudden changes.

Have fun! This is the most important part. Students have worked hard all year long. Camps shouldn’t feel like school even though they will be learning a lot. With a thoughtfully crafted camp schedule, students can truly enjoy themselves for these few days with their classmates during winter break. Prepare several games to practice speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills. Remember students like a good competition, so games that involve points and prizes are always a hit.

Here was my schedule:

I loved that this camp was based on the picture book “Frozen: A Tale of Two Sisters,” which included a CD and several activities such as word searches and concept checking quizzes. Students got to keep their books as a gift at the end of the camp. Each day we listened and read a few pages, learned new words and expressions. On the first day, students were also given a workbook filled with various activities. This keep them busy during their ten-minute break.

My schedule is categorized by reading/workbook, game, craft, and treat. This helped me to quickly identify what was happening during each segment. It was important for me to incorporate various methods of learning such as making treats, to keep students engaged and having fun. The school also provided one snack each day and chicken (their favorite) on their last day.

Here are some photos from my January 2020 Winter Camp:

Due to COVID-19, most summer camps were cancelled this year. Read EPIK Teachers Have Faced New Circumstances Since COVID-19 here. Next year I will be preparing a total of 11 days of winter English camp for my main school and two travel schools. Read Everything You Need To Know About Working In Travel Schools In Rural Korea here. I can’t wait to share my plans with you.