The López Socas Complex is one of the six epicentres of the municipal summer camps, combining sports, leisure, and family reconciliation. More than 2,000 children aged 4 to 14 participate until August.
The López Socas Complex has become one of the meeting points for hundreds of children and teenagers in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria this summer. Until August, over 2,000 minors aged between 4 and 14 are participating in the summer camps organised by the City Council at six sports facilities in the city.
The recreational and sports activities include everything from football and basketball to treasure hunts, traditional games, crafts, and theatre. The aim is to promote physical exercise and socialisation while facilitating work-life balance during the school holidays.
Claudia, 12, has been attending the camp since she was little. She is now part of the older group, which includes teenagers aged 12 to 14. She says she would like to keep coming, but jokes that "they don’t want to extend the ages." For her, the camp has been the setting where she has forged friendships that last beyond the summer.
"I’ve been coming since I was little"
Among those friends are Valeria and Aitor, with whom she shares activities. Aitor highlights that the best part is playing football, especially after the recent victory of the Spanish national team in the World Cup. The enthusiasm spreads among the groups, who chant "champions!" when they gather for photos.
The monitors also get involved in the fun. Jordan, in charge of the older group, values the bond created with the kids. "I can talk to them one-on-one always with respect," he explains, adding that he would like to return as a monitor in the coming years.
The camp coordinator, Alba Camacho, emphasises the importance of heat prevention measures. Sunscreen is applied periodically, and access to water and shaded areas is ensured. The youngest children spend most of their time in covered areas, and on Fridays, a water party is held to cool off.
The City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria offers these camps at six facilities: the López Socas Complex itself, the Insular Stadium, the La Minilla Sports Centre, the San José Sports Centre, the El Batán Sports Centre, and the La Feria Sports Centre. Registrations are done bi-weekly, and there are still places available for the last weeks of August.
This initiative, which is repeated every summer, allows many families to reconcile during the months without classes. For the children, it represents an opportunity to play sports, meet other kids, and create memories that last year after year.
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