A Summer of Fun: Part 2

The second instalment in our recruitment series, our member staff describes her experience of  the next stage of applying for a job with Xplore...The Selection Day and Training Week.

"A few days after my application, I received an email from Xplore, thanking me for my submission and asking if I could come to the UK for their selection day. I was planning to visit some friends in London anyway so that worked out perfectly!

A few weeks later, I flew into London Stansted and started my journey to Walnutree Manor; the manor house where selection days take place. Walnutree Manor is a beautiful manor house and is actually a listed building! I could almost still see the school children running around on the property 100 years ago just because it all looks so authentic.

The selection day was great fun and very interesting. We did different team building and group activities to see how we interact with others in terms of social, leadership and personal skills. I found that I learnt a lot about myself, for example, when we were set tasks, to begin with, I wait a little, listening to the ideas of others first but after a while I got really involved and help to successfully finish the assignment. 

I really enjoyed selection day and was excited to meet so many people from all over the world. Furthermore, it was very nice to meet staff from the Xplore Head Office. It made me feel comfortable to see how they work and strengthened my wish to be employed by Xplore.

A few days after I returned home, I got the notification that I was successful and had been  asked to work as a Camp Leader for the summer season. I could not believe my luck. I would actually work in a summer camp in England in one of the nicest boarding schools in the country for six weeks. I don’t think that I have ever been as happy to start a job but with summer still a few weeks away, I had to wait until I could begin.

In the run up to training week, I had complied several questions concerning topics such as insurance and payments. Everyone from Head Office was very friendly and happy to answer all my questions. No one was annoyed or too busy to be concerned with me which was something I had experienced in other companies before.

Our training week started on June 26^th running until the beginning of summer on July 4^th and took place at Worksop College, one of the biggest centres Xplore operates. I was very impressed by the centre, it is a beautiful old building and very much gives you the “Harry Potter feeling”. I was waiting to run into one of the wizards or witches in one of the endless corridors – unfortunately, it didn’t happen!

Training week in itself was worth the experience. It felt a little bit like a summer camp for adults because all staff members were doing the same activities the students would be doing during the summer. The first night was Friday night. Everyone arrived (around 200 new staff members, just like me) and we had a general introduction from Head Office. We were allocated our rooms and given an itinerary for the week as well as health & safety instructions. Everything was very well organised and all staff members super friendly and helpful.

The next day started with a typical English breakfast in the amazing dining hall (...just like in Harry Potter). Afterwards, we were divided into our groups for the week. There were groups for 'Camp Leaders', one for 'Teachers' and many different groups for the 'Activity Instructors'. All my Camp Leader colleagues were super nice and at the end of the week, I felt we were very good friends. 

After a couple of initial days, two German staff members from Head Office joined training week as well. They are very experienced and the ones we would work the closest with. Our Camp Leader training consisted of different areas. One major topic was planning and organising airport pick ups and drop offs as well as student room allocations. Besides organising, our main job as a Camp Leader was to take care of the children and to make sure that they would have the summer of their life. We talked about different scenarios, for example what we would do if a student is homesick or doesn’t find any friends. The Camp Leader training us had been a Camp Leader before for the past few years and told us many funny stories, giving us very helpful tips on how to handle different situations. I really noticed that most of my fellow Camp Leaders were studying subjects that were related to children or youth work and held a good qualification and had experience working with children. 

Our intense but fun week was over very soon, prepared for the challenge ahead, everyone left to go to their centre....our home for the summer"

So far so good, in the next and final blog post, we find out how Summer 2015 went and what it is really like to to work at a summer camp...

China Camp 2015

We are really excited about our China Camp for summer 2016.  After the success of last year we know it is going to offer another incredible 3 weeks of language, culture and amazing experiences. Watch out for further information on www.xplorelanguage.com

Here is some feedback from last year...

'I really enjoyed my time in China. I got to know so many new people and tried the Chinese food (that is quite different from what I normally eat) and did some really cool activities. On the first few days everything felt quite surreal and it took me a few days to get used to speaking English but then it felt almost normal. The whole trip was a big adventure. I made friends from all over the world and I really hope meeting them again soon. Looking back on three incredible weeks the only thing I can say is: I want to go back.' Luisa aged 15
 

'On the whole the trip it was not only a great opportunity for some first class sight seeing and a chance to practice and improve my Mandarin but also helped open my eyes to the world outside of my sheltered life in Suffolk. I shall always cherish the memories I have made there and highly recommend the trip to anyone wishing to have the best three weeks of their life!' Katja aged 15

Our group of language students were also joined by a group of English school students who were in China to represent England in a RoboCup competition. 'Team Beccles' came second in the international RoboCup competition and we were all very proud of their achievements. 

Beccles Free School 
RoboCup Team!

'Thank you so much for the Jinan Xplore camp experience and for hosting us so brilliantly. Many new friends were made and we all learnt so much about Chinese food and culture. Your tireless efforts and fun activities were a real credit to your welcoming and exuberant team and Xplore. The house building, Mandarin lessons and football were particular favourites. They will have had such an experience this past 10 days and most of that is down to you and Xplore for giving them such a wonderful cultural opportunity.'  

http://www.becclesfreeschool.org.uk/beccles-students-amongst-the-best-in-the-world/

A Summer of Fun: Part 1

Thinking of working abroad this year? In this blog article, the first in a series, a member of our summer team describes her experience of applying for a job with Xplore...

'It was always my dream to work with children probably also the reason why I want to become a teacher. When I was looking for a summer job I had the amazing idea to work in a different country. The company Xplore just kept coming up with good evaluations on different job websites so I had a closer look on their website. I was amazed on how many different products they offer such as Day Camps, Language Camps, Activity Camps, and High School Programmes. Furthermore, Xplore does not only operate in the UK but also has offices in Germany, China and the USA. It just seemed that they offered something interesting for everyone. After studying their general website I followed the link to their recruitment page. Everything was very nicely structured and I got all the information that I needed to decide that I wanted to apply for a job with Xplore. I just had to decide for what kind of job I wanted to apply now. Maybe an Activity Instructor delivering fun activity sessions such as archery or quad biking. Or a Camp Leader, being the main contact for the international and English residential campers and helping them with their daily routine. Besides the wide range of products and different jobs I also liked that I could work in the summer camps for 6 weeks and not 3 months many other companies in the youth travel and activity industry offer.

After some thought about the different jobs I decided that I wanted to become a Camp Leader for Xplore during the summer. Even though I liked the idea of doing fun activity sessions with children I felt that I was better in organising and supervising children. I wanted to be the person who would be picking up the children from the airport, integrating everyone into the camp, creating an incredible atmosphere everyone would remember and finally saying goodbye again when bringing the children back to the airport.

The application process was easy and very well structured. I just needed to click on “currently recruiting”, chose the job I wanted to apply for and get started. First, Xplore wanted to have some general information about me such as name, address, and phone continuing with my covering letter and my CV. Then I had to describe what I hoped to gain through employment with Xplore, what I could bring into the role as a Camp Leader and what was setting me apart. One of the trickiest questions was to use the analogy of a bus as a working team and to decide which part of the bus I would be. I decided that I would be the TV in the front overlooking everything but also entertaining the children and creating a fun and good atmosphere.

After I clicked the “send” button I was a little nervous but also very excited and hopeful to spend my summer with Xplore.'

Next up... the summer and how it met the expectations of our Camp Leader! 

Grapes that taste like candy floss...

We love having a multinational team across the Xplore offices! In this article our brilliant German intern Sina explains why she came to England and what she has learnt from being part of the English culture...

'When I realised that my year as an exchange student in Paulding, Ohio, USA, was almost ten years ago (and it sure feels like it), I thought: “I need to go abroad again”.  But where should I go? Definitely to an English speaking country. But which one? Again the USA? Or Australia, New Zealand, maybe South Africa? Well, then I heard my Mum in the back of my mind saying: “Sina, you should go to England. It’s such a beautiful country and you could finally learn the proper way to talk the English language.” The United Kingdom? To be honest I wasn’t too excited about the idea of living in the UK. Stansted Airport to Cologne Airport is only a 50 minutes flight, it’s not a very exotic country to live in and after all what else is there to see than London, Oxford and Cambridge? But it sounded appealing as well. Indeed I had only been to London, so still Oxford and Cambridge to tick off my list. I wouldn’t need to get a complicated working permit and it would be easy to go home for the weekend. After several hours discussing the UK as a possible country with my friends I decided that it is worth giving it a try. I applied for an internship in a youth travel company specialised in group travel, summer camps and academic placements called Xplore. I had heard especially good things about their academic placements and I thought it could be a very interesting place for me to work. Long story short, 6 months later I was on a plane to the UK.

After 3 months in Suffolk, I must say I have fallen in love with the country, the British people and Xplore. To be honest, I didn’t expect it to be such a surprising country and more similar to Germany than it really is. How could I have known that you can buy grapes that taste like candy floss, already cooked pancakes and an estimated amount of 200 different kinds of crisps? But not only the food is fascinating. The most random fact I have heard so far is that British citizens can just rename themselves, and not only their first names, no(!) also their surnames. In Germany it is almost impossible to change your first name not even dreaming of changing your surname. As always when I spend time away from my home country confronted with a different culture I also reflect about German customs. I realised how silly it is that all new movies are only released on Thursdays or that people actually wait until pedestrian lights turn green even when there are absolutely no cars around. Furthermore, I learned that I am almost the only person in the office who drinks coffee after lunch because it is 'teatime'. Also, I realised how direct Germans are. A yes is a yes and a no is a no. This is not meant as an affront or insult but merely serves to state the actual conviction of the speaker. In the UK it seams that I often have to decode the sentences hoping to guess the right meaning. I do like the British emphasis on indirect communication even if I am not sure that I can ever adopt it.

I am very happy that I have the chance to work another two months with Xplore. Besides different customs and an amazing countryside (there is so much more to see than London, Cambridge and Oxford) I have seen how much fun it can be to work in an office. Xplore is a company that pays special attention to create an amazing atmosphere and an unforgettable experience for all children that book with them but also for their employees. Xplore really practices what they preach. Last but not least, I can just acknowledge what a former employee of Xplore once said: 'Xplore is not just a job but a way of life and I am proud to say I have lived it!'"

Last Minute Offer!

Walnutree Manor, Xplore's residential centre in the heart of Suffolk, is available to hire throughout the year and we have late availability deals for this September. 

One night exclusive use, self catering from £650 a saving of £200!
Two nights exclusive use, self catering from £999 a saving of £300! 
This beautiful mansion house set in 20 acres of Suffolk countryside is an ideal venue for team building days, corporate events, family gatherings or groups with an educational, cultural or sport focus.  

With accommodation in the main house plus a separate boarding facility we can cater for one large group or several smaller groups offering up to 100 bed spaces.  
We have a chef on site and can offer your group a catered package or if you would prefer to be self catered that's fine too!  You also have the choice of whether you want to take part in the multitude of activities we have on site such as quad biking, climbing, archery and team sports to name a few. Facilities include a function/meetings room and sports hall.

Whatever your group's requirements, be it a family gathering or a corporate team building event we can provide you with a tailor made package!

Please contact our sales team for more information and a tailor made quotation.  

info@xploregrouptravel.com
www.xploregrouptravel.com

Xplore USA on ABC news!

Have you ever considered hosting an international student over the summer?

Xplore run a 3 week summer camp in beautiful Asheville for students from all over the world. 

The students live with local American families and enjoy activities, excursions and language lessons. 

We know its a great programme but don't just take our word for it, click on the link to watch our very own Sarah-Jane talking about this great opportunity on ABC news.  

www.xploreusa.com

Xplore team get racing!

What do our activity teams get up to on a sunny Sunday afternoon I hear you ask... Well this Sunday it was all about raft racing! 

Ready and waiting for the race to begin

Our teams built their rafts at the lake side in the morning, to showcase the great skills of our activity instructors! They were ready for action with plenty of time to first enjoy the beautiful Suffolk sunshine! Some younger members of the crowd had the chance to take a look at how a raft is put together and talk to the team about their race tactics! 

Our teams came 4^th and 8^th out of 14 rafts. It came down to the last straight, so was a close final! We were the highest ranking new competitor this year. 

It was a great day for both teams who are now busy making plans for bigger and better rafts for next year!!

Enjoying the summer sunshine
and some team games before
the start of the race

Making us proud with their
sterling efforts!

With cheers from the
lake side the team crack on!

Xplore program gives families a global experience...

Xplore USA's homestay program in Asheville has been highlighted by the area's local parent magazine for offering the unique opportunity to host international students over the summer. Check out what local families are saying about the program!

Here's a link to the full article:

http://www.citizen-times.com/story/life/family/2015/05/31/program-gives-families-global-experience/28024197/

Open your home to an international student

Welcoming an international student into your home may seem like a daunting prospect but there are so many reasons why people choose to do so. In this clip, two of our host families explain what makes the experience so worthwhile and how the hardest part is saying goodbye...

 

If you feel you could open your home to a young international student we would love to hear from you. www.xploremychoice.org 

Meet our young international students

Meet some of our young international students and hear about their experience of studying in English high schools and living with fantastic host families! 



For more information about hosting students visit www.xploremychoice.org
For more information on studying abroad please visit www.xploremychoice.com

Tours Build Teams

'Tours build teams on and off the field' and the article below from a fantastic group we recently had tour with us explains exactly how...

'I feel very privileged to be part of Ipswich YM RUFC.  We have a very special set of players in every age group across mini, junior and senior set ups.  I know this to be true as through my roles across the divides I get to poke my nose into most of them.  Our tour over Easter 2015 to Worksop gave all who went much to be proud of, but also it gave me lots of things to ponder about how we can make this great club even better and hopefully really begin to tie all the sections together.

I decided back in September that I wanted to take our U10’s boys away on tour as a group if I could raise enough interest, get the location right, find the right fixtures and get the right price.  The normal fayre being offered through Leicester Tigers wasn’t going to work as I felt it was too far to travel and there wouldn’t be enough focus on the boys from the tour organisers so set out to find something different.

I finally went with Xplore based in Stowmarket partly because I liked the fact that I could meet with them regularly face to face, partly because I liked the sales rep who I had met at Bury Festival the year before but more so because they agreed to allow me to work with them to build the programme for the boys whilst we were away.

We stayed at Worksop College, which is a Day and Boarding Public School set up for Sport and has produced England Cricket, Hockey and Athletics stars as well as Aviva Premiership Rugby players.  The facilities are outstanding and the setting was perfect for our weekend.  The food was excellent and there was great choice including vegetarian options at every mealtime.  There was also a bar and tuck shop on site.    

  

Xplore take the boys off your hands when you’re not playing rugby to do activities and even patrol the corridors after 10pm lights out.  That said our parents were fantastic coming to all the activities en masse and we also ate together as a family.

Friday afternoon the boys activities were crate climbing where they had to work in teams to build structures and get one another from one side to the other and up and down obstacles and after that they did archery.  In the evening they had indoor relay games against Stowmarket and Diss.  It was on this evening that the song “YM Sexy Beasts” was born.  If you ask the boys for a rendition I’m sure they will sing it to you.

We played Stowmarket on the Saturday morning along with Sheffield in a three way tournament and were warmly greeted by Sheffield and warmed up on a very wet and miserable morning in Sheffield.  That said, team spirit was excellent and the boys were fully focused on the challenge ahead.  The game against Stowmarket was full on no quarter given rugby.  As coaches we were very proud of our boys.  We ran out comfortable winners and that team also beat the other Stowmarket team by a cricket score.  The development side lost three games, two fairly narrowly to Stowmarket and one heavily to Sheffield.  The A game final against Sheffield we lost 3-1 but it was a game we could and should have won.  Some silly mistakes and missed opportunities cost us but at this age it is all about learning and understanding our roles whilst having as much fun as possible so no problem there at all.  We were very happy with our mornings work and had a great set of photos with Sheffield who we presented with medals.  Thanks to Any Moore and the club for the medals, which we presented to Sheffield, St Neots and The Dukes (Dutch Touring Team).  They went down a treat.

Saturday afternoon our tour theme of Pirates kicked in and all the parents and boys dressed up and we had our own pirate court where all the coaches were tried for crimes against fashion among other things and unsurprisingly found guilty by the boys.  The punishment was eggs cracked on our heads much to the boys amusement.  From there the boys had swimming with inflatable obstacles and some diving.

The parents then put on an Easter egg hunt around the college and every boy ended up with a big egg and a bag full of sweets.

In the evening it was campfire and marshmallows and credit again to our parents, they all came out and we all got around the fire and sang lots of songs.  There was a competition and each club set of boys had to make up a song, which our boys won with “YM Sexy Beasts”.

On the Sunday we left after breakfast and headed to St Neots.  Xplore sent us on our way with a packed lunch each and we were met with glorious sunshine and by some very nice St Neots people.  We had agreed to mix this up ability wise as the Dutch side we were due to play, play U9 and U10 together.  There were two pools and one of our sides went unbeaten winning all four of their pool games on the way to the final where they eventually lost to Stowmarket A who hadn’t mixed up their teams.  Some of the rugby we played on the way to the final was outstanding and for the four development boys in that team of eight it was the first time they’d ever made a final.  I can’t speak highly enough of them.

Our other side came second in their pool and the team picked up an injury in the second game, which meant that they played their final two games with seven players.  They did the club and themselves proud by sticking to their tasks and grinding out a draw in one of the two remaining games.  Lee Elliston said to me on the Thursday night before we went away on tour that tours build teams.  He’s right of course but whilst we had a better than average group of parents before we went on tour, like our boys they are now also very much a team.

Even though we lost in the final to Stowmarket it felt like we’d won.  The weekend was a resounding success and I think parents and boys alike were all sad that it had to come to an end.  Both St Neots and The Dukes were very pleased with their medals.

So we had a truly great weekend.  Our boys and their non-playing siblings were commended wherever they went for their behaviour, manners and the way they play the game.  The experience of all dorming together has brought the playing group closer together.  They look out for one another, they back each other up when it gets physical, they greet each other like family (the first Tuesday at training after tour was really good to see this) and they are all so proud to wear our club shirt and represent our great club.  

Moving forward I would like tour to become part of the mini and ideally the junior section calendar.  I have spoken to Xplore and they are happy to help us organise this.  The opportunities for us as a club to galvanise parents into getting more involved in club life through feeling more part of the fabric are very achievable through using the tour as a vehicle and us going away as a club.  As an example I have asked my parents for volunteers to form a tour committee and have six volunteers as of this point in time.   Ideally we will go away as a mini section at the very least and this will enable cross pollination of age group relationships and if we can get the wider club involved we can I hope see the beginnings of the a truly great family club with the mini and junior section supporting the senior section on a Saturday and vice versa on a Sunday.

Xplore are great people.  We have now booked to go away again with them next year and have other age groups coming with us this time.  Roll on next season, roll on tour.'