Minecraft and coding camp in Monschau

Each child picks one Minecraft course and works on it in a small group. Four courses are published: an introduction to mod programming; building complex machines; automating a city of the future with command blocks; and entity mods as an introduction to artificial intelligence. The course is chosen during the booking process, and the operator states that not every camp week offers all four. Both beginners and children who already code are catered for. The group is divided in two and alternates between the IT course and the outdoor programme, so both halves get the same content, sometimes at different times of day.

The school offers a special discount — ask us for details. The published price covers the IT course, accommodation, full board and the entire leisure programme including excursions, and the operator states there are no hidden costs and offers a best-price guarantee. Travel to and from the camp is arranged by the family and is not included. A deposit is payable once the booking is made, with the balance due shortly before the start. Cancellation is free up to six weeks before the camp begins. Travel cancellation insurance can be added during booking.

The camp is hosted at the Evangelisches Jugendgästehaus Monschau, a bright and welcoming youth guest house on the edge of the historic old town, directly below Monschau castle. Children sleep in roomy shared bedrooms holding no more than five, with sturdy wooden beds, ample storage and large windows looking onto greenery. Rooms have washbasins, and showers and toilets are on every floor so there are no long waits. The sanitary facilities are modern and the grounds are laid out in terraces with plenty of room to play.

Full board is included in the price. Meals are taken together as one whole group rather than in the rotating course groups, as are the evening programme and the excursion to the mustard mill. Particular dietary needs — vegetarian diets, allergies and intolerances — are covered by the operator's own guidance and should be raised when booking.

Screen time is deliberately balanced with time outdoors. The leisure programme includes the operator's explorer quest, outdoor games and team activities, a stroll through the historic old town of Monschau and a visit to the town's mustard mill. Around the guest house there are large lawns, areas for ball games, table tennis and table football, space to run about and sheltered corners for quieter activities. Indoor and outdoor games are provided, and children are welcome to bring their own favourites. Several excursions are made together over the course of the stay.

The guest house offers modern sanitary facilities, shared bedrooms with washbasins and storage, and showers and toilets on each floor. Outdoors, the terraced grounds hold large lawns, ball-game areas, table tennis and table football, open space for running around and quiet corners for resting. The setting is in the heart of Monschau, just below the castle and beside the old town.

A week in which building, programming, laughing and outdoor adventure sit side by side. Children develop their own ideas, surprise themselves with what they manage, and barely notice how much they are learning along the way. Supervision is round the clock, the groups are small, and the mix of a real IT course with a proper holiday camp is the point rather than a compromise. Check-in is on the afternoon of the first day and check-out on the morning of the last.