Helen Lami of Academic Summer Camp is sharing her fantastic September plans!

September is almost here – what will this month bring? We’re talking to business owners about their plans for the month.

Today we’re talking to Helen Lami, CEO of Academic Summer Camp who offer summer and holiday programmes that are designed to enhance a student’s academic and personal development through a combination of academic courses and cultural experiences. Based in the Southwest they have schools in Bristol, Taunton, London and Canada.

How was your summer as we go into autumn?
Our summer at Academic Summer was exceptionally vibrant, with several highlights both for our staff and the students, notably, our successful programmes running in five schools across the UK, Germany, and Canada, marking a significant step towards returning to pre-COVID normalcy. We were delighted to host students from over 60 different nationalities, fostering a rich and diverse learning environment for over 1000 students aged 7-17. Additionally, we played a pivotal role in facilitating the relocation of British Camp to Queen’s College Taunton. Typically held in Ukraine, this camp found a safe haven in the South West of England, allowing children to savour a "normal" summer experience—a unique slice of Ukraine nestled in South West England. It’s been wonderful working with them and getting to know them.

What’s coming up for your business in September? 
We are in the final stages of refining the details for our Summer 2024 courses and are actively engaged in creating marketing materials to facilitate our outreach during the upcoming autumn season, as we aim to support our valued partners in promoting our programmes; with the ambitious goal of attracting over 1000 additional students to join us in 2024.

In our continuous pursuit of excellence, we are diligently crafting curriculums and fine-tuning our leisure programmes based on the invaluable feedback received in 2023. Our commitment to enhancing the overall experience underscores the importance of methodical reflection and meticulous planning year after year.

Furthermore, we are gearing up for our half-term and holiday courses hosted at Queen’s College Taunton, offering both local and international students a unique and productive way to make the most of their breaks.

It’s ‘back to school’ month or ‘start of university’ month. Is this relevant to you personally or professionally?
For Me and Academic Summer, "back to school" signifies the culmination of students’ summer programmes and the transition to the next phase of their educational journeys. Some of our students have been with us all summer so that they can hit the ground running in their new school environment, so it is an emotional time as we bid them farewell and hope we’ve done enough to prepare them for the exciting times that await. 

For some students, it is truly astounding to see the transformation from when they stepped off the aeroplane to the person being dropped at the school gates.  It makes me proud- of the students’ bravery, resilience, and determination but also of the hard work and expertise of our staff who help to bring about such transformations.

Now we’ve wrapped up the summer courses, we need to assess the impact on students, and begin preparations for the upcoming year. It's a pivotal time for reflection, evaluation, and planning within the context of Academic Summer's educational endeavours.

September is also known as ‘organic’ month. When it comes to your business/organisation/personal life what do you do to be ‘more green’? If it’s in business do you work with other brands to be more sustainable?
I'm an advocate for sustainability, with a Tesla and solar panels on my home, a proponent of organic food to the extent that I'd pass on a latte without organic milk!

Our core team operates remotely, making us a paperless company; our commitment to remote work predates the current trend, dating back to 2008, and with the recent surge in remote work, we now enjoy more advanced and convenient technology.

In the past, extensive travel was essential as our team is scattered across the globe while our global target markets beckoned. However, we've significantly curtailed our travel while maintaining strong relationships; though nothing can replace the joy of in-person interactions, we haven't entirely abandoned face-to-face meetings.

World Gratitude Day takes place this month (Sept 21). What are you grateful for in your business/organisation/at home? 
Expressing gratitude is a heartfelt journey that begins with acknowledging the trials and tribulations life has presented. In recent years, I faced some challenges, from the loss of both my parents to the precarious threat that COVID-19 posed to my business. I confronted personal health battles and said goodbye to my beloved doggy. In the backdrop of these personal struggles, the world grappled with its own tumultuous events. I am thankful for my faith that gets me through these difficult events in our lives. 

Yet, I've always chosen to confront setbacks head-on, seeing them as seeds of opportunity. From adversity, I've witnessed the blossoming of positivity. Today, as I sit on a beach in Bulgaria alongside my husband and cherished friends, we raise a toast to what has become our most triumphant year to date. The anticipation of returning home to the welcoming presence of my two beloved dogs, Teddy and Kimble, and the strengthened bonds with their babysitters, my aunt and uncle, forged through the crucible of loss, fills my heart with warmth.

In my professional life, the indomitable spirit of my Academic Camp team shines brighter than ever, their loyalty unwavering. Moreover, this challenging journey has imparted invaluable lessons about my own health and well-being.

Each day, each interaction, carries profound significance, and I find myself genuinely grateful for the gift of life, with its trials and its triumphs, knowing that even from the darkest moments, the light of positivity can emerge.

What are your hopes for business for the rest of this year? Are you launching a new product, service, running an event or something else later in the year? 
We are thrilled to announce our exciting new partnership with David Game College, a prestigious institution renowned for its commitment to excellence in education. Together, we will offer high-calibre career pathway courses in Law, Medicine, Engineering and Business, right in the heart vibrant City of  London. It is a profound honour to collaborate with the esteemed David Game himself, a truly inspirational figure with a wealth of educational experience. He has steadfastly maintained his integrity and unwavering beliefs, resisting the corporate trappings often associated with private education.

In addition to this groundbreaking alliance, we are strengthening our bonds with our Canadian school, opening up exciting opportunities for our international students to participate in authentic camps alongside their Canadian peers. This partnership promises to enrich the educational journey of students from around the world, offering them a truly global perspective and a wealth of experiences to cherish.

We are dealing with a lot of messages around ‘bad’ news such as the rising cost of living and interest rates rising. How are you keeping positive? What tips can you share with others?
The immense joy I find in working with young people fills me with hope for the future, and perhaps, we are indeed fortunate, for our students breathe life into everything we endeavour. They arrive at camp brimming with ambition, eager to absorb knowledge, forge friendships, and embrace life's experiences. Smartphones are set aside in favour of spirited games like hide and seek, smores by the campfire, talent shows and scavenger hunts while the classroom becomes a stage for thought-provoking intellectual discussions and innovative and thrilling ideas.

These remarkable students are not just passive learners; they are global citizens in the making, forming friendships that transcend borders and graciously introducing their cultures to one another. Witnessing Ukrainian and Russian children collaborating within the same classroom, working on projects and supporting each other, is a testament to the power of unity and shared aspirations.

Observing these future leaders in action, I am filled  with a sense of optimism that transcends the prevailing sense of doom and gloom. These budding visionaries possess the resilience and determination to confront life's adversities head-on, with the unwavering commitment to make our world a better place.

And finally, September 30 is International Podcast Day. Do you listen to podcasts or do you have one of your own?
This exciting venture is something we've been actively developing, and I am truly enthusiastic about it. As a company, our collective expertise  comprises a diverse array of academic qualifications, including PHDs, MAs, BAs, BSCs, PGCERTS, DIPEDs, all within the realm of education. Together, we've accumulated over 150 years of hands-on experience in the field, and we believe it's the perfect time to share our wealth of knowledge and insights.

Our upcoming initiative will involve a deep dive into a multitude of topics, including CLIL, cultural awareness, effective teaching for international students, fostering soft skills in education, exploring the concept of multiple intelligences, and much more.

On a personal note, I also enjoy delving into...The Rest is Politics,  Blessed and bossed up. I enjoy current affairs, entrepreneurship and women in business Podcasts. 

To learn more visit www.academiccamp.org