Chilled thrills: The Cork summer camp with a different vibe

Mon, 28 Jul, 2025 - 07:00

Margaret Donnellan

As we head into high summer, parents and children across Cork are in the throes of summer camp season.

From GAA to gymnastics, drama to soccer, there’s a camp to suit almost every child, and with primary schools closed for two months, they are a necessity for many families.

It can be tricky to find a suitable offering for quieter, more introverted children when most camps focus on sports or other high-energy activities - and, in fact, many sporty children may like a break from intense physical activity and competition, too. This is where Happy Vibes Kids Camp comes in.

Mae and Oran dance with ribbons at a movement session at the Happy Vibes Kids Camp

Happy Vibes is a camp with a difference. With a focus on yoga and mindfulness, children engage in arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, nature walks, storytelling, meditation, free play and more, all with the aim of “creating happiness from the inside out”.

“It went from a whisper to a roar,” says camp founder Lorraine Leahy, of her decision to establish Happy Vibes.

She was in her thirties and living in London when she discovered yoga. With a corporate background in delivering leadership events, Lorraine observed an increased focus on resilience and mental health training for professionals. “And something came to me: I’d love to bring this to kids, because I wish I’d had this when I was younger.”

Children today lead hectic lives, particularly at term-time when many will often go straight from class to a different after-school activity. Happy Vibes aims to provide a nurturing environment for kids where they can explore creativity and self-care, and develop skills for mindful relaxation that they can use in their daily lives beyond the summer camp.

The kids love it, and feedback from parents has been extremely positive, too, with many observing their children applying skills learned at camp to their day-to-day lives. The camp leaders refer to this phenomenon as ‘When Happy Vibes Comes Home’.

Lorraine recalls one mum in particular, whose child used breathing and other relaxation techniques learned at Happy Vibes when she felt nervous before a recent music recital.

“It’s a fun camp and it’s great to see kids enjoy the week, but to see things that are going beyond the camp and making a difference? That’s amazing,” said Lorraine.

She ran her first camp in 2023, and Happy Vibes has gone from strength to strength ever since. This year, camps are being held in Ballinlough, Douglas and Carrigaline.

Happy Vibes also runs camps at Halloween and Easter breaks, and there are plans afoot to expand to more locations, as well as trial an after-school session in the new academic year.

The Fuller family and friends, from left, Amy Purcell, Remi Bowerman, Sarah Fuller, Hannah Fuller, Ruth Fuller, Matt Bowerman, David Fuller and Cosmo the dog. Sarah and Hannah are attending Happy Vibes this summer.

Yoga and mindfulness have grown in popularity in recent years, but they’re certainly not common hobbies for kids in Cork. How, then, would a parent know if Happy Vibes is the right summer camp for their child?

“A child who is a little more thoughtful, a little more sensitive, and on the creative side. These are typically the kids who absolutely thrive,” says Lorraine.

There’s a good mix of boys and girls at the camp, with yoga, mindfulness and art appealing to both genders. Happy Vibes also attracts children on the autism spectrum. “They really adore it because it’s not too overstimulating.”

This isn’t to say the camp doesn’t appeal to sporty or extroverted kids. Douglas-based mum Ruth Fuller has sent her seven-year-old daughter Sarah to Happy Vibes a few times. Sarah loves sports, including tennis and swimming, and attends a number of different camps. She really enjoys Happy Vibes as a space where she can slow down and take a break from her busy schedule of school and competitive extracurricular activities.

“It’s a lovely, gentle, calm camp where nothing is expected of the kids,” says Ruth. “It’s not goal-oriented, or an activity where there is an element of competition. It’s about feeling close to nature. It’s really peaceful and calm and relaxing.”

Happy Vibes welcomes children between the ages of 4-11, with activities tailored to different age groups. Ruth’s younger daughter, four-year-old Hannah, will join her big sister at this year’s summer camp and can’t wait to attend.

Bishopstown-based Aoife Lucey’s ten-year-old daughter Tessie attended the first Happy Vibes camp in 2023 and has been a regular ever since. The Luceys discovered Happy Vibes at a summer camp expo in Mahon Point, when they were looking for something a bit different from the regular camp experience.

“Tessie does a lot of camps, but this is always the first one that we have to book in,” says Aoife. “She doesn’t mind that she doesn’t know anyone going into the camp, because she loves making friends there.”

Aoife notices the positive effects Happy Vibes has on Tessie when she comes home in the evenings.

“She’s really happy and she tells me all about it. She’s showing me all the yoga moves that they’re doing!”

This summer is a busy one for Happy Vibes, and while Lorraine Leahy is focusing on the delivery of this season’s camps, she is also looking to the future with the wellbeing of Cork’s children in mind.

“It’s not about the business, it’s about bringing this to as many kids as possible. To see the smiles on their faces, to see parents happy and getting the benefit from us - that’s everything.”