Meet The Team

What sets our team apart is their dedication to The Summer Wild and to their activity. Some have been part of the camps we run for 30 years and are experts in their fields, others started as children at the camp and have stayed on to become instructors and bring the energy and enthusiasm of youth with them. Each and every one of them returns every year filled with enthusiasm, commitment and the joy of meeting up with old friends.. They literally love it as much as the kids do.

“Oli is one of our longest serving members starting in the first year of YD back in 1991. Since then he has worked most of the roles and now help manage YD.”

Oli LyndalePart of the furniture
Camp Manager & Instructor

Indie Lyndale

Indie has been running camps and working in the outdoors for over 30 years. She is a highly experienced outdoor instructor and has run courses and camps in the UK and mountains abroad. From snow shoeing in the Alps to climbing and caving here in Somerset and Devon.

Busting with energy Indie brings fun and adventures to everythign she puts her hands to.

Camp Manager & Instructor

Oli Lyndale

Oli came to the first ever summer camp we ran back when he was 7. He is now 39, so this gives a little idea of his dedication.

Over the years Oli has taught everything we run at our camps, from rock climbing to t-shirt painting, candle making to adventure.

He is full of energy and always a great person to have around.

Instructor

Lukaz

Lukaz is a cornerstone of our camps. He loves working with children and brings a brilliant energy to everything he does.

Lukaz helps out with many of the activities but also runs the camp through the nights. He is a friendly, approachable fellow that will finish every week with a whole group of new friends!

Instructor

Luis

With an incredible background ranging from professional basketball player to dedicated carer of children Luis has walked many paths. He brings a calm and wisdom to everythign he does and he is an important part of Young Dartington.

Working as a camp leader he cares for everyone and will be a big brother to all that attend.

Instructor

Claire Lyndale

Claire has been part of our camps for years now and can always be found pitching in with whatever is needed.

Among her various lines of work Claire works as a teacher and runs a first aid company so never fear, help is always close by.

Instructor

Adam Barker

Adam has been part of our camps since the early years.

This incredible man has spent years living in the wilds, from the woods of England to the deepest amazon. He has spent his life dedicated to learning the skills of old from the masters and he brings knowledge and experience that is rare to find.

Instructor

Ellie

Ellie is our Circus Extraordinaire!

With incredible skills ranging from silks to fire eating she will teach you new skills you never thought to try.

She has a great love of the circus and a lovely calm manner which is what you need when you find yourself hanging from the ceiling!

Instructor

Nathan Gribble

Having spent most of his life living in the ground Nathan is practically a goblin so it seems appropriate we are now running camps in Goblin Combe.

A lover of the wild places this highly experienced outdoor instructor has decades of experience and is always cracking funny jokes.

Silliness Councilor

Doolally

A true champion of silliness Doolally always ensures everyone is having a great time.

She brings a good ear to anyone who wants to share and always gets stuck in to the fun and games

OUR HISTORY & PHILOSOPHY

We started running children's summer camps back in 1991 at Park School, Dartington. Indie Lyndale was the climbing instructor from the very first year and then became manager in 2002.
We value doing real activities in real places, getting covered in face paint and really enjoying the summer and being out in the countryside. We employ dedicated and qualified adults who love the activities they instruct.
We are very child-centric and place great emphasis on the individual child’s freedom to choose what they want to do, when and with whom. It’s their holiday after all.
There is always lots to learn at our camps but it’s not at all like school. We just have tons of fun activities to get stuck into!