Campaign to boost summer camps

A MAJOR advertising campaign has been unveiled that aims to "breathe new life" into France's summer camps and improve their image after 20 years of decline.

The promotional push by the French government sets out to "restore confidence" and encourage families to register their children for a colonie de vacances this summer.

Youth minister Patrick Kanner said summer camps were often the only way for a child to get away from their home neighbourhood and meet new people - offering "an unrivalled experience of freedom".

The campaign was one of the recommendations of a 2013 parliamentary report which found a "collapse" in the number of families using colonies.

Visitor numbers peaked in 1995, when 14% of five to 19-year-olds stayed at a summer camp. By 2011 that figure had halved, with MPs blaming soaring prices, with an average week's stay costing as much as €600.

Summer camps have suffered some negative publicity in recent years, with a handful of incidents attracting national media attention. Last July, an eight-year-old child died at a camp in the Ariège from severe food poisoning.

Mr Kanner said more spot checks would be carried out - and there were strict checks in place for the quarter of a million adults working with children at colonies each summer.

"En colo, j'ai confiance" - I trust summer camps - is the main message from the campaign, which is accompanied by a document for parents with 14 frequently asked questions.

The campaign also reminds parents that a stay can be affordable, with help from the CAF family benefits body and tax-efficient chèques vacances.