Healing for Humanity
Family Summer Camp 2026
5th to 11th July
19th to 25th July
2nd to 8th August
16th to 22nd August
The most extraordinary week of your life.
5 days in south west France, at the foothills of the Pyrénées, on the stunning Clos de Gaye estate
A call to action for everyone to come together with people from all over the world, taking part in life-changing workshops, performances, discussions and dining under the stars, to restore our shared humanity
We are living through exceptional times. The news is coming at us 24/7, the threat of war, economic instability, climate change and humanitarian crises seem never-ending. It’s a struggle to hold onto our sense of hope and our belief in the innate goodness of our fellow man, despair and the apparent inevitability of self-destruction threatening to tear our world apart.
In times like these, we need a renewed sense of who we each are. To come together with others and affirm our inherent dignity and worth and our humanity. To rise up against the apparent inevitability of conflict, separation, division and hatred of ‘the other’. To believe in the possibility of a new way of being, and seeing, the promise of a different sort of world. To truly know and see each other’s ‘humanness’ and capacity for renewal, to know that out of times of great crisis comes, too, the opportunity to build something better.
A life-changing experience
Healing for Humanity is an opportunity to reconnect with both ourselves and each other, during an intense period of time in global history, in one of the most beautiful corners of our world.
A summer camp for children, young people and adults alike, it’s a celebration of the arts, culture, creativity, storytelling and the sharing of big ideas for a better world.
It will help you build the necessary mental health and resilience to take on the challenges of our world, and develop the 21st century skills of courage, creativity, compassion, empathy and being human, to be the leaders we really need right now
Lama, Jordan/China
“I loved seeing the kids so happy and connecting with each other, with calmness and a genuine connection. This is such a rare opportunity.”
Asma, Saudi Arabia
“I’m sitting here having an adult conversation and I’m hearing my children laughing, this is so much more genuine.”
Imagine…..
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Global Leadership through the Arts
…bringing people together from all over the world to take part in an extraordinary collection of arts-based workshops, performances, talks, discussions to change the world
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Diverse Languages and Cultures
... an international experience that exposes you to diverse cultures and languages, living and playing outdoors in stunning scenary, eating healthy organic food, learning about each other
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Engaging with nature
... exploring the beautiful Pyrénéean region, lakes, mountains, the Atlantic beaches and famed Basque coast, climbing trees, playing with chickens, bunny rabbits or taking a ride on a pony, the great outdoors awaits!
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21st Century Skills
... learning valuable 21st century skills and personal leadership - resilience, empathy, critical thinking and problem solving, creativity, communication and collaboration, social and cultural awareness
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Strengthening Family Relationships
….the most fun you will ever have with your children, growing and learning together, deepening and strengthening precious bonds, creating memories that will last a lifetime
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More joy and inspiration
…coming home transformed with a deep sense of joy, connection and inspired to take action in building a better world
And all this whilst staying on the stunning Clos de Gaye estate in south west France, in the foothills of the Pyrénées, on the border with Spain….
Welcome to Clos de Gaye!
Clos de Gaye (pronounced ‘guy’) means ‘Place of Joy’, a space being transformed into a private home, a residential retreat, a creative and artistic workspace, organic farm, community kitchen, restaurant and tea house, and a convening ground for global leaders, artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and all those charged with the care and governance of our planet. Think of it as the meeting point between the Bloomsbury set’s Charleston and Camp David. It is a place to stay, to play, to share and to transform our world.
The spirit of Clos de Gaye is one of contribution, generosity and accountability. Those that have a seat of the table have arrived there through hard work and a genuine desire to be of service to the world. Time spent here is for you to reflect on what has been achieved so far and to be a springboard into future leadership and the continued desire to be a force for good in the world.
Deep in the heart of the French countryside, embedded in the ‘old world’ rises a new way of thinking about the future. The best of European heritage, beauty and aesthetic, with interiors from all over the world, reflecting our founder’s upbringing in Asia, and bringing energy, dynamism and a sense of inclusion of the new world.
An opportunity to reclaim the very best of European culture and values, with a renewed way of thinking about its relationship with the rest of the world, restoring humanity to everyone.
A place where AI, computer games, mobile phones and Powerpoint presentations are BANNED!
Are you ready to be human again?
“This place is amazing! These are one of the types of places that people won’t believe existed if you don’t show them a photo. ”
- Norah, 12 years old, Mozambique/Holland
“I love meeting kids from all over the world and every day it was different activities that taught me a lot but were also fun. I also loved the camping but also being with friends!”
- Afton, 14 years old, USA
Artists and Facilitators
The line up so far….
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Jennifer Foster
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Gina Badenoch
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Alexandre Fischer
Gardening and Poetry
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Dong Fen
Theatre and Chinese language
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Caroline Watson
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Lisa Mowser
Dance and Movement
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Milos Milivojevic
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Anja Milivojevic
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Laurie Rubin
Singer and Peacebuilder
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Jenny Taira
Composer and Musician
Our artists are also joined by Harvard University Pre-Texts facilitators
Harvard Pre-Texts’ programme is an educational protocol that can support a range of goals, covering literacy, innovation or civics.
All summer camps are lead by Caroline Watson, visionary founder of The Centre for the Arts and Global Leadership, and the Global Arts Impact Agenda. An award-winning entrepreneur, Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum (Davos) and a talented performer herself, using the arts to effect large-scale social change across the world, Caroline is the owner of Clos de Gaye and a masterful hostess and creator of extraordinary experiences.
Caroline Watson, Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, Harvard, Yale, INSEAD, Oxford
Coach and leadership development expert to global heads of state, corporate executives and world leaders.
Unfolding leadership potential
“Caroline is a wonderful events organizer, Her multifaceted skill sets, combining her talents as an actor and leadership expert, shines through in every detail she orchestrates. Caroline’s passion, strong sense of inclusion, impeccable organizational skills, and innate flair for hospitality ensure that every event is a seamless and rewarding experience……Caroline's events are expertly curated adventures that leave a lasting impact.”
— Shirley Liu, L’Oréal Paris
Caroline will also be hosting a series of workshops for adults at each one of our camps on the following topics:
Leadership Presence and Compelling Communication
Building on our founder’s background as an actress, we help you work on ways to improve your presentation skills, build your self-confidence when giving talks or raising funds, and understand how to compel others to follow or hire you!
Purpose and Vision: New Horizons for your Leadership
Digging deep and getting clarity on our values and what we stand for are the cornerstones of building a career and a meaningful family and personal life, built on a sense of purpose and vision, allowing us to achieve outsize goals and ensuring we live with integrity in line with our values
Building a ‘Portfolio Life’: Finding more Joy, Career Progression and Economic Resilience in an Uncertain World
Whether you are an artist, creative, young visionary, or looking to pivot in your career and eager to make your mark on the world, it’s a daunting time to launch out with so much uncertainty in our world. Now is the time to dig deep into what it is you have to say in the world and to build a ‘portfolio’ of activity that plays to your strengths and interests and enable you to support the life you want to live.
Cross-cultural Communications: Mastering the Challenges of Life as a Global Citizen
How do we speak so others will listen? How do we communicate in a language other than our own? How can we get across what we need in a respectful, kind and joyful way? Living across different cultures can be a challenge so it’s imperative we develop the tools and techniques to successfully achieve what we need to do in our day to day life, whilst listening and learning to what other countries and cultures can teach us too.
Negotiation and Conflict Management Skills – Getting What You Need With Confidence and Respect
Whether it’s managing difficult conversations, asking for a pay rise or asserting your independence from friends and family, this workshop uses Forum Theatre as a technique to ‘rehearse for real life’ conflict resolution skills to get you through even the toughest of negotiations with grace, diplomacy - and results!
Building a Future For Us All: Where We Are Now, Where We Want To Go, How Do We Get There?
In this innovative ‘Frozen Picture’ workshop, come together with others to reflect on the challenges facing us as a global community and the actions we can each take to build a better world. You’ll come away feeling inspired, energized and ready to build on the foundations of a relaxing and inspirational summer camp experience, able to make your contribution to the future wellbeing of our planet!
Sample Day Schedule
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8am Breakfast
Croissants, Pain au Chocolat, fresh fruit and coffee overlooking the Pyrénées
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9.30 - 11am Finding Your Voice
Voice and breathwork with classically-trained opera singer Jennie Foster
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11am Break
Coffee and tea in the gardens of Clos de Gaye
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11.30 - 1pm Poetry and Potager
Find inspiration in our cottage garden, to unearth the poet within you!
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1pm Lunch
Salads, local cheese, saucisson, fresh bread and all good seasonal produce from the local Béarn region
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2.30 - 4pm 'Frozen Picture' Workshop with Caroline Watson (Adults)
What challenges are we facing in the world right now? What do we want our world to look like, and how do we get there? An embodied workshop to prepare you to take action in your leadership!
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2.30 to 4pm Science and Magic (for kids)
Is it magic? Is it science? Explore the intersection between science and the arts and the power of your imagination with Said Hasnaoui
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4 - 5pm Afternoon Tea and Storytelling
Bringing the whole family together for memorable moments with our favourite characters from literature. Stories for kids and grown ups alike, and delicious cake for all!
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5 - 7pm Free time
Take some time to hang out with your new friends, go for a walk through the fields, enjoy quiet time in the library of Clos de Gaye, or catch up with work in our co-working space
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7pm Dinner under the Stars
Feasting and friendship, dining and discussion, and changing the world…..
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8 - 9.30pm Music and Magic
Enjoy an impromptu performance from our resident artists or a staged show as part of our Festival
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9.30 - 11pm Campfire and Stargazing
What is your star wish going to be?
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11pm And So To Bed
Sweet dreams!
Activities for all the family
Workshops on offer are either for adults and children of all ages to take part in together or specialised workshops for children run parallel to those for adults, ensuring that everyone is taken care of.
Teenagers too will benefit from bespoke workshops on ‘Finding Your Purpose’ and exposure to inspirational adult mentors, ready to help, support and guide young people into the future.
We have multiple spaces for children to play, and plenty of trees for climbing and making playhouses, and over 15 acres of land to run around in too!
There is a dedicated ‘story corner’ for little ones with books, toys, games and other activities, as well as playmats, paddling pools and walkers for babies.
We have a large trampoline too, all easy for adults to keep an eye on their little ones whilst spending time with other adults too.
And starting this summer, we are launching ‘La Petite Ferme’, a delightful little corner of chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs for cuddles and play time for our little ones.
Caroline’s own family - husband Alex, and children Chloe, Leah and Zac - will also be a core part of the action and love having new friends and playmates to welcome to Clos de Gaye!
They are always on hand to show you to your accommodation, help carry your luggage, and happy at all times to recommend their favourite trees to climb.
Each of our events helps to bring healing to humanity
By bringing together like-minded people from around the world, each committed in their own way to being part of the solution, not the problem, we give you space and time to rest, reflect, restore and revive your spirits to be the change our world really needs.
We aim to host between 5 and 10 families per camp, to ensure the experience is sufficiently intimate to build deeper connections, whilst also enabling us to offer a diversity of talks and workshops to suit all interests. Our camps cater equally well to individuals coming on their own, as for families with all ages of children (including babies) provided for.
Expect learning, laughter, singing and dancing, rest and relaxation, amazing food, incredible views, excitement, fun and lashings of joy, in stunning surroundings.
These are events that will not only change your life, but bring the needed healing and transformation for our world too.
Accommodation is available in the Manor House, Rose Cottage and in our luxury bell and ‘stargazer’ tents on the field of Fischer’s Farm. You also have the option to bring your own tent and just hire a pitch. These are wonderful special experiences that would create a lifetime of memories.
The campsite comes equipped with compostable toilets and stunning views over the Pyrénées! You’ll never have an experience quite like that :-)
Alternatively, you can also purchase just the ticket for the weekend workshop and organise your own separate accommodation and transport options.
All meals are prepared using fresh, local, and often organic ingredients, sourced either from our cottage garden or from local providers in the Béarn and Basque regions. Halal, kosher or other dietary needs can be catered for on request.
Clos de Gaye is situated in the Jurancon wine region and there will be thoughtful pairings of wine and other non-alcoholic drinks with each meal.
Our spaces are unique, artistic and soulful.
Pricing Options
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Tent Pitch
Pitch your own ten
2999 euros per tent (up to 4 people)
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Furnished Bell Tent
Our beautiful tents with futon beds, chairs and charming little touches to make you feel at home
4999 euros - up to 3 people
5999 euros - for a family of 4
6999 euros - for up to 6 people
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Luxury Stargazer Tent
A luxury option, lie in bed and enjoy your own nightly star show in the comfort of a proper bed, an experience like no other
7999 euros (up to 4 people)
8999 euros (up to 6 people)
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Manor House at Clos de Gaye
Double rooms and family suites, fully equipped with desk space and air-conditioning, pricing from 8999 to 14999 euros
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Rose Cottage
Enjoy your own private gite in the heart of the action, fully equipped with private living room, office space and airconditioning
12999 for up to 4 people
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Weekend Tickets
For those who wish to organise their own accommodation and transport to and from Clos de Gaye
Adult ticket 499 euros
Children (5 - 14 years old) 349 euros
Children (0-5 years old) 199 euros
What’s included in the ticket price?
Each guest will enjoy:
All workshops, performances, talks and discussions, and day trips to the Pyrénées and Basque Coast
Continental breakfast, buffet lunch and evening dinner with other participants
Coffees, teas and soft drinks available throughout the day
Afternoon Tea and Cake
Unlimited access to:
- The Big Tent on the field of Clos de Gaye
- The Barn at Clos de Gaye
- The Arts Studio
- Trampoline, Playground and The Rose Garden
- Splashpool for kids
- ‘Story Corner’ with books, toys, games and other activities for little people, including babies
- The Library, Salon and Dining Room of Clos de Gaye (with high-speed fibre internet) between 5 and 7pm every day (strictly for adults only looking to catch up with work, spend quiet time reading, or taking a break from their kids :-)
- Invited access to the main house at Clos de Gaye, for specific workshops
FAQs
FAQs
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Well, it’s the south of France, so we have gorgeous weather here! We are fortunate to benefit from the micro-climate of the Pyrénéean mountains which means that, whilst we do occasionally get very hot weather, it rarely lasts long and is tempered by brief rainfall. We are certainly not seeing the extremes of temperature that many others in Europe are experiencing, making south west France a particularly good destination in the fight against climate change. Summers are generally pleasant in the high 20s or low 30s (86 degrees fahrenheit)
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We have a commitment to doing everything sustainably and in an ecologically-sound way. We have beautiful compostable toilets with running water sinks, and rather fabulous outdoor hot water showers that give you a view of the Pyrénées whilst you wash!
Bathrooms in the Manor House are of course, regular bathrooms, with flushing water :-)
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Clos de Gaye is in a very safe region, far from big cities, traffic and pollution. Most events take place outdoors, and the local wildlife is very tame. With the exception of a few mosquitoes, there is little danger from wildlife or insects. In terms of child safety, all of our facilitators have criminal background checks and take part in our trainings on safeguarding.
Obviously, parents are still responsible for their children throughout the course of the stay but the property is far from traffic, leaving children pretty free to wonder around with little risk.
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We regularly get feedback that guests really like the opportunity to switch off from technology and that this is one of their core goals in ‘getting away from it all’. That being said, we are aware that people sometime need to check email or to keep up with business or personal communications. There is a co-working space in the main house with high-speed fibre access between 5 and 7pm for you to check email or take any personal calls. Other than that, 5G is usually pretty accessible throughout the site. We respectfully ask, though, that phones are left in your tents and not brought into workshops or meals, and that any calls are conducted in your own personal accommodation and away from public spaces. This is to maintain the human interaction and support an inclusive and loving community for the duration of the camp.
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Not if you don’t want to! We believe that everyone has an inner artist and we hope that you will learn more about what that means for you. But we also believe that creativity comes in many different forms and that you can learn so much about unleashing that potential within you and applying it to your work and life as scientists, entrepreneurs, bankers or investors. And you might just find that you end up initiating a flash mob on the field at Clos de Gaye after all……
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We strive to be as inclusive as possible and welcome you to reach out to us with any questions you have and for us to know how to support your participation in the camp. The camp site is at the bottom of a hill, and the main house perched further up, but it’s not far and we are keen to ensure everyone can be part of what we are doing and will happily work with you to make sure that can happen!
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The main language of communication for the camp is English but, given that our participants come from all over the world, you are likely to hear many languages during your stay. Our facilitators come from all over the world and common languages spoken include French, Chinese, Arabic, Spanish and Hindi. We always strive to offer simultaneous translation for whatever language needs our participants have and try to plan accordingly in advance.
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Yes! This camp is unlike any other experience you will have had before, filled with beautiful moments, amazing connections, thought-provoking conversations and stunning scenery. We guarantee you will want to come back next year - and bring your friends too!
Any questions? Feel free to reach out to us through the link below. We are happy to help you think through your trip!
The most extraordinary experience of your life.
Awe. Transformation. Impact
“I can't really put into words what [the programme] has done for me. It has been life-changing”
Past participant, Middle East
Getting Here
From your home to Clos de Gaye
Clos de Gaye is situated less than 20 minutes away from both Pau airport and train station in south west France. We are also 50 minutes away from Tarbes/Lourdes airport that has regular connections from many cities in Europe. Biarritz, Bordeaux and Toulouse are all between 1 - 2 hours drive or train ride with multiple flight options available there.
In keeping with our vision to have a positive impact on the world, we encourage international visitors to start their journey at Gare Montparnasse in Paris, so you can use train travel to ‘set the scene’ on your journey and reduce your carbon footprint as well as enjoying a few days in the beautiful City of Light.
We suggest that you aim for a plane or train to arrive in Paris on the morning of the retreat date, and to take either the 10am train or the 2pm train from Montparnasse to arrive in time for dinner or afternoon tea.
Transfers from the train station to Clos de Gaye can be arranged ahead of time and the transfer time takes less than 20 minutes.
We also kindly ask all international visitors to offset the carbon from their plane travel from their origin to their final destination at Clos de Gaye through a reputable carbon-offsetting scheme.
Dates
5th to 11th July
19th to 25th July
2nd to 8th August
16th to 22nd August
Come together with people from around the world to take part in transformative workshops, discussions, performances and experiences that will change the world.
All of our summer camps and retreats at Clos de Gaye are carefully curated experiences to get the right mix of people. If you are interested in applying to attend one of the camps, please reach out to us at the link below.
As a family-friendly space, we have a strict no alcohol policy outside of mealtimes (when wine is provided). Drug use, even cannabis, is strictly prohibited and will result in guests being asked to leave if breaching those rules.
For fire and safety reasons, we kindly ask guests not to smoke around the campsite nor inside the buildings. A small space will be allocated for smokers as needed.
We are in a residential area and ask that you are respectful of our neighbours and the beautiful countryside we live in by clearing up any mess you leave and depositing it in the recycling boxes, and by refraining from too much noise after 10pm.
Good to Know
As a socially-entrepreneurial for-profit company, choosing to purchase a camp or retreat at The Centre for the Arts and Global Leadership creates employment opportunities for artists and creatives, supports low-income and marginalised communities to also take part in extraordinary experiences at Clos de Gaye and elsewhere in the world, and enables us to support the ‘higher order’ leadership of current and future leaders, bringing about profound and transformative impact to our world.
Possible side trips to add to your itinerary
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Paris
City of Lights, one of the most romantic capitals in the world. An easy train ride from Paris with lots to see and do, we recommend a few days stop here en route to Clos de Gaye when flying internationally.
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Toulouse
Just two hours from Clos de Gaye, this gorgeous ‘pink city’ is unique in France for its distinct architecture and vibrant and youthful spirit. Our partnership with the Hotel des Arts provides a wonderful addition to your stay with us.
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Spain and the Basque Coast
With it’s dramatic landscape and Michelin-award winning cuisine, the Basque coast and the towns of Bayonne and Biarritz, St Jean de Luz and the Spanish city of San Sebastian make for a stunning driving holiday to finish off your trip.
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Bordeaux and the Landes Region
Stunning French city in the heart of the famed wine region, world class dining, and the possibility to visit vineyards, chateaux and the surrounding Dordogne and Landes region
Ready to join us for this extraordinary experience?
Secure your spot now!
