`Quad biking was brill; abseiling was brill'

Packing children off to summer camp is the American way. We British have traditionally preferred to drag the kids on holiday with us, like it or not. And "not" is often the response of the bored 10-to-18-year- old.

So what makes the British so reluctant to offload their offspring for some parent-free adventure? According to Lloyd Smith, managing director of Superchoice, an activity specialist which is expanding its American- style camps, middle-class guilt is the main culprit. "American parents take the view that they don't want their kids to miss out on this wonderful experience which they grew up with," he says. "British parents talk of `sending children away', rather than of giving them a chance to experience something new."

In a society that makes working mothers feel they are doing less than their duty, it may seem churlish to suggest that junior school children would benefit from even more time away from home. And what about homesickness? Is it worth the risk, in the name of holiday fun?

My daughter Frances was "sent away" to summer camp for the first time at the age of eight - an experience that held no trepidation for her, but left me feeling lost and apologetic when friends asked where she'd gone.

She telephoned after a few days, and in the space of 20p reeled off an exhausting programme: "Quad biking - that was brill - and abseiling - that was brill - and archery and Dragon Quest - cool - and laser quest ... sorry, got to go now, Mum." "Would you like me to call you back?" I asked, trying to hide the emotion. "Well, not really, we've got a swimming gala, bye!"

Frances summer-camped again this year, but the ritual telephone call began quite differently: "Hello, Mum," said a plaintive voice, "I've got tummy ache and I've hurt my foot." "Oh dear," I said, "Do you want me to come and fetch you?" "Oh yes," she said, sounding suddenly cheerful. "Come on Saturday." (This was my scheduled pick-up day - it was then Tuesday.) "Got to go," she added, "it's brill! We're going trampolining."

Frances has always gone with her best friend, but according to Andy Clague, Superchoice's summer camp co-ordinator, nearly 60 per cent of last year's intake came on their own. As for homesickness, they promise a pro-rata refund if a child has failed to settle in after two nights. "The thing is to stop homesickness before it starts," says Andy. "It's all to do with how you introduce them - the child who arrives last doesn't get the choice of bed, and may start to feel left out. We look out for things like that.

"Last year, 1,500 children came to our camp, Little Canada. Of those, 14 went home due to homesickness. Some parents insist the child stays, whatever; others will be in the car before the child has put the phone down. One parent turned up at 11.30pm to collect his son without even saying he was coming. His son was absolutely fine."

Negatives about summer camp are mostly on the parents' side. Fears about safety and lack of supervision dog the anxious British parent, despite the certificates held by specialist instructors, and the 24-hour monitoring provided for first-time campers.

Nor is there any excuse for those who claim that their child just isn't the sporting type. PGL Holidays, celebrating 40 years of activity holidays, offer themes such as drama and media skills. Camp Beaumont (17 years into summer camping) runs day camps for children as young as three. Superchoice offers Internet adventures in "Cyberzone", or Mega Mix for children who prefer to mellow out.

Visiting Osmington Bay, the new Superchoice summer camp that opened near Weymouth this year, I stopped to admire the skills of a bespectacled teenager who had just launched himself off a platform 40ft above the ground. Secured only by ropes, he flew along the zip wire, cheered by his friends. "Way to go, Henry!" they called.

"How did that feel?" I asked him as he landed near my feet. "Great," he grinned.

"Henry is 14; this is his first camp," said the instructor. "He was booked in for a Mega Mix holiday, which his mum thought would suit him better as it's less demanding, but because of the numbers, he joined our Teen Challenge. He's having a fantastic time."

Henry had just shot up in the esteem of his team mates, and, no doubt, his own. Way to go.

Residential summer camps operate throughout the summer holidays at sites throughout Britain. Escort services and short breaks are usually available and special diets catered for. One week's junior multi-activity costs pounds 259 to pounds 299, depending on accommodation; discounts for early birds and siblings. Details from Superchoice (01273 691100); PGL (01989 768768); Camp Beaumont (0171-724 2233).