Galapagos Kids Club

Welcome to our Kids Club!

Our goal is to provide more than just fun and excitement. We want to give children a deeper understanding of the world around us, all within the context of the Galapagos Islands.

Nature focused

Our Kids Club is unlike those in traditional resort hotels. Instead of a classroom-like setting in a windowless basement, we prefer to embrace the natural environment. While we do have a dedicated activity room for some activities, we believe children are more engaged when not confined to a school-like environment. Many activities take place throughout the Camp’s grounds.

Tailored to all age groups

The Galapagos Kids Club welcomes children from 2 years old, with no upper age limit. We tailor our activities to the ages, interests and family dynamics of the group. from toddlers to tweens, teens, and young adults. Many parents and grandparents also want to join in. Share your interests with us, and we will present you with some ideas.

Flexible and personalized; no set program

As with all our Safari experiences, our Kids Club activities are tailored to the individual’s needs and interests. We take the time to learn what your child enjoys. This allows us to customize the program as best we can to incorporate their interests, ensuring a fun and engaging experience.

Down time for parents

Besides entertaining and educating your children, the idea behind the Kids Club is to give parents a little down time before dinner. It is important to note that the Kids Club is not a service we can offer while parents are out on Safari.

Opening Hours/Dates

Our Kids Club only operates during school holidays, and is only available towards the end of the day after the family return to camp from their day’s excursions, and before dinner is served. Usually between 4:30pm – 6:30pm. Exact timings will be confirmed during your stay.

Operating dates: a guideline
Festive school break (15 Dec -3 Jan)
Half-term school break (February)
Spring school break (March/April)
Summer school break (Mid June-end of August)

“No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced”.

– David Attenborough

Hands-on fun in nature

Kids Club Activities

Recycled Jewelry Making

Kids can create beautiful, eco-friendly treasures for themselves, such as friendship bracelets for themselves a friend back home.

Recycled Art Mural

Children can contribute to the Camp’s Galapagos-themed wall mural. Using bottle caps. the activity places an emphasis on the importance of recycling materials.

Tree Planting and Farm Walk

Children will take a walk around the Camp to learn the difference between endemic, introduced and invasive species in the Galapagos, and what can be done to manage these.

This activity includes planting a tree, which kids can dedicate to a fellow nature-lover or loved one, or perhaps just to themselves!

Mocktail Class

Join our fun Mocktail Class with our camp’s barman, where you’ll learn the importance of using fresh local ingredients, creating unique tastes and mastering useful techniques, finishing with a Shirley Temple sundowner at the View Point.

Pizza Class

Learn to craft delicious pizzas from scratch using fresh, local ingredients and expert techniques, turning simple dough into mouth-watering masterpieces!

Emphasizes the importance of using local products while decorating delicious cookies.

Fruit Picking

Kids can collect fruit while exploring reforestation efforts and citrus plants on the property. They’ll learn about the differences between endemic, native, introduced, and invasive species. Unlike the Tree Planting and Farm Walk tour, this experience does not include visits to the geomembrane reservoir or cocoa area.

Visit to the Dairy Farm

Kids can immerse themselves in the milking process and discover the dedication and care it entails. Learn how farm-fresh milk is managed and distributed to other dairy producers, ensuring both a quality product and sustainable practice.

Please note that this activity is scheduled on days featuring visits to Garrapatero or Tortuga, due to their more flexible timings. Additionally, the activity is dependent on weather conditions.

Painting

Use this creative session to reflect upon the day’s Safari experiences, drawing and painting some of the iconic species and landscapes of the Galápagos. The aim is not just to reflect what we see and think but to help us see and think what we have might have otherwise missed. A wonderful activity for journal enthusiasts!

Bag Painting

Kids can unleash their creativity in our Bag Painting Class, where they’ll transform plain bags into personalized works of art using designs inspired by Galapagos wildlife and their Safari adventures.

Easter Egg Painting

Join our exclusive Easter activity, where you’ll enjoy storytelling and an exciting Easter egg hunt, before getting creative and painting your own Easter eggs.

Board Games

Dive into a variety of board games that encourage reflective, bonding moments for children and their families.

Dance Class

Explore the rich cultural heritage of Ecuador through our dance class, where you’ll learn the vibrant rhythms of salsa and merengue. End the session with a lively hour on the Viewpoint platform before sunset.

Traditional Games

Enjoy timeless fun with traditional games like elastic, hopscotch, musical chairs and statues, pin the tail on the donkey, and Twister.

Staff Supervision

Please note that while our Kids Club staff are trained to supervise and entertain children, they are not certified educators. The activities provided are designed for fun and engagement rather than formal education.

Sustainability for Kids

In line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.7 and using the framework of the Head, Hands, Heart model, our aim is to informally educate our young guests about sustainability, biodiversity, and the importance of protecting our environment through fun, hands-on activities in and around the Camp.

Our activities are also designed to spark interest and curiosity while out on Safari, ensuring that children are fully engaged and inspired by their surroundings.

Education for Sustainable Development in the Galapagos Islands

What is Sustainable Development Goal 4.7?

SDG 4.7

By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.

What is the Head Hands Heart Model?

Head Hands Heart

Educational tours Galapagos Islands

Our theme-based activities incorporate the Head Hands Heart model (Sipos et al., 2008; Singleton, 2015) – a holistic educational framework that combines sustainability education with transformative learning; emphasizing engagement with a specific place or environment.

What themes do we cover?

Plastic Pollution

plastic pollution in the Galapagos

Plastic pollution poses a serious threat to ecosystems worldwide, including the Galapagos Islands. Every year, the local community removes over eight tonnes of plastic from the archipelago’s beaches. This not only endangers wildlife but also contributes to climate change and health issues as most plastic is made from fossil fuels.

Children will learn how we can help combat plastic pollution through creative and eco-friendly projects.

Biodiversity and Conservation

Biodiversity and conversation in the Galapagos Islands

Children will gain a deeper appreciation for the flora and fauna of the Galapagos, and the crucial roles they play in maintaining the balance and health of this unique environment, while learning the importance of conserving the islands’ fragile ecosystems.

Responsible Consumption and Production

Educational Galapagos family vacation

This theme highlights the importance of sustainable consumption practices which support local agriculture without putting undue pressure on the islands’ ecosystems. It’s important to remember that 97% of the Galapagos Islands is protected national park, leaving only 3% for human habitation and agriculture.

Through engaging activities, children will learn about the value of eating locally sourced food (when it makes sense to!), the benefits of reducing food miles, and the role of sustainable farming in preserving the delicate environmental balance of the Galapagos. Discover how choosing fresh, local produce not only promotes good health and well-being but also helps maintain the ecological integrity of this remarkable archipelago.

A penny for your thoughts?

Oh, the Thinks You Can Think

Reflection. Kids Club Galapagos Islands

While experiential learning focuses on actively engaging with your environment and learning through first-hand experiences, we believe transformational learning requires a further step. Reflection.

Often framed as ‘quiet time’, for example while painting or journaling, reflection encourages children to make sense of their experiences, reevaluating their perspectives and beliefs about the world and themselves.

This mindful process is equally important for adults. Charles Darwin only began to formulate his groundbreaking ideas once he returned to England. There he developed a habit of taking a daily walk along ‘The Thinking Path’, a practice which provided him with regular time for thought and reflection.

Our Kids Club provides children with the time to quietly reflect upon what they have seen, heard, tasted, touched, smelled in the wilds of the Galapagos.

More Resources for Families

How is Galapagos Safari Camp family-friendly?

Our Galapagos Family Safari

Can you be too young for the Galapagos Islands?

A Grand Galapagos Safari – A Multigenerational Galapagos Adventure

A Family Galapagos Vacation: Cruise or Hotel?

Galapagos With Kids.

Educational Tours in the Galapagos: Preparation

Experiential learning in the Galapagos Islands