Summer vacations for children of Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic: what opportunities does the country offer?
After the start of the full-scale war, many Ukrainian families ended up in the Czech Republic as refugees. For parents who are forced to build a new life in a foreign country, children’s summer vacations often become a difficult problem: adults work, and children remain without school routines and usual activities. This is especially true for families where parents work full time and cannot be at home with their children all the time. It is in this situation that the Czech Republic offers an extensive system of summer activities to which Ukrainian children temporarily staying in the country have access.
Day camps are the main form of summer leisure
The most accessible and convenient format for working parents is příměstské tábory, or day camps. The child spends the day in the specified program from morning reception until evening, and spends the night at home. This model allows parents to work calmly, knowing that the child is under supervision and engaged in active activities.
The topics of such camps are very diverse. The organizers offer technical programs (fundamentals of programming, robotics, 3D printing), sports camps (soccer, gymnastics, rock climbing), environmental courses (work with botanical gardens, zoological stations), artistic directions (drawing, theater skills, animation), English language courses with native speakers. Considering the difficulty of adapting Ukrainian children in a new environment, many organizers specially integrate refugee children into mixed groups where Czech and foreign children work in parallel.
You can find a suitable program on a large aggregator www.tabory.info, as well as directly through the websites of municipalities and specialized centers. The price varies greatly: from 1,200 to 3,000 kroner per week, depending on the city and subject. Some camps offer discounts for children of refugees — you should check directly when registering.
Municipal Dům dětí a mládeže is a reliable and affordable option
Municipal DDM centers (Dům dětí a mládeze) operate in almost every city in the Czech Republic, which offer affordable programs for children of all ages in the summer. It is these institutions that have become the main support for many Ukrainian families in finding activities for their children.
DDM organizes both week-long camps and separate thematic days: open air, sports quests, cooking courses, excursions, creative master classes. The classes are designed mainly for children aged 6–14, and are open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Lunch is usually included in the price. The basic price is from 100 to 500 crowns per day.
You need to search for the appropriate center by searching for “DDM + name of the city” or through official websites – for example, ddmpraha.cz (Prague), luzenky.cz (Brno), ddm-plzen.cz (Plzen). It is worth noting that DDM sometimes provides separate places for children with temporary protection, but due to high demand, it is better to reserve places in the spring.
Library and museum programs are a free alternative
For many families who can’t afford paid camps, summer activities at libraries, museums, and galleries are a good option. Many are free or require a minimal fee.
City libraries host literary marathons, drawing workshops, theater groups, board games, and lectures for schoolchildren. For example, in Prague there is a series of events “Léto v knihovně” (mlp.cz), in Brno there are camps of the Moravian Library with themes of fantasy and games. Galleries like the National Gallery in Prague run interactive art classes for 5-12 year olds.
Ukrainian families should monitor the posters of their local libraries (knihovna) — in many cases, the organizers go out to meet the refugees and offer adapted options for participation, even with a weak knowledge of Czech.
Programs at universities and language schools
Some Czech universities open short-term courses for schoolchildren in the summer. For older children available, for example:
— engineering and design camps at the Technical University in Liberec;
— language camps for teenagers at the Masaryk University in Brno;
— ecological summer schools of the Czech Agrarian University in Prague.
Language schools additionally offer daytime English language camps, morning conversation clubs with native speakers, thematic weekly courses for children of different age groups. Some programs are partially adapted for children from Ukraine.
Open youth spaces — nízkoprahová želáciky
Special attention should be paid to the so-called nízkoprahová zalegni — open clubs for teenagers aged 12–18. For refugee families, these centers often become the only free alternative where a teenager can find communication, self-realization and support.
Such clubs conduct practical classes in video editing, graphics, design, dancing, and street sports. There are game areas, recreation areas, board games. The clubs involve mentors who accompany teenagers in an informal atmosphere, without grades and forced classes. Registration is usually not required – it is enough to come during the club’s working hours.
Online courses are available for families who cannot attend face-to-face activities. For example, the Skvělé Česko platform offers creative online classes, language courses and development programs. Um sem um tam recruits volunteers for online tutoring in various school subjects.
Practical advice for parents
Registration for most summer programs in the Czech Republic should start in the spring, as places fill up quickly. However, some of the organizers leave reserve places even in June, so you should not delay in applying. When registering, you should specify:
— whether they accept children with temporary protection (dočasná ochrana);
— whether confirmation of refugee status or additional documents is required;
— what conditions of medical insurance apply to children in the camp;
— as organized food, support and logistics.
Smaller cities often have local programs that are cheaper and sometimes more accessible than those in the capital.
For many Ukrainian families currently living temporarily in the Czech Republic, the summer vacation is another test in new conditions. However, the wide network of Czech children’s programs allows you to find a solution for almost any budget and age. The main thing is to find out about the possibilities in time and reserve a place in time.
