During school holidays, many families face the challenge of balancing work with the care and support of their children. For those without access to private camps, extracurricular activities, or family trips, summer can become a time of educational and social disconnection.
In this context, the Rafa Nadal Foundation’s Summer Schools offer a valuable opportunity: a free, inclusive, and educational program that allows children and adolescents to enjoy meaningful free time, surrounded by peers, professional teams, and enriching experiences.
At the Rafa Nadal Foundation Centers in Palma, Valencia, and Madrid, the summer of 2025 will be filled with play, coexistence, sport, nature, culture, and values-based learning. Each center, according to its identity and context, has designed an innovative thematic program focused on the holistic development of children and teens, leaving no one behind.
“Planet Summer” in Rafa Nadal Foundation Center of Palma: Sustainability, the sea, and overall well-being
In Palma, the Special Summer School “Planet Summer” will run from June 30 to August 8, in the mornings (9:30 AM to 1:30 PM). A total of 203 children and adolescents will take part—136 already enrolled at the center and 49 new participants.
Through hands-on experiences, the program raises awareness about environmental care, encourages a connection with nature, and promotes personal and social values through sports and artistic expression.
Sustainability is the central theme. From creative recycling workshops and an environmental scavenger hunt to sea outings with the Almas Marinas Foundation, every activity becomes a chance to learn through play.
As always, sport is at the heart of the Rafa Nadal Foundation. Activities like “Water Scarf,” “Sailor Training Circuit,” “Captain Says,” and cooperative parachute games help develop motor skills, coordination, teamwork, and respect. All are summer-friendly, incorporating water, the outdoors, and natural settings like the Inca municipal pool or science workshops at CaixaForum.
A key pillar is healthy habits education. Children are encouraged to follow routines such as hygiene, caring for personal belongings, and eating balanced snacks. These habits are tracked daily through visual “recycling bins”—one per group—which are filled based on the day’s achievements, reinforcing collective effort and group commitment.
As a final touch, every two weeks the group that achieves the most goals will be rewarded, boosting motivation, consistency, and a sense of belonging.
“Traveling the World” in the Rafa Nadal Foundation Center of Valencia: Cultural diversity and global citizenship
In Valencia, the 2025 Summer School will become a symbolic journey through different countries and cultures. With the theme “Traveling the World,” children will explore traditions, games, foods, and values from the many nationalities represented in the center. Between 80 and 100 children will participate, evenly split between boys and girls.
Each child will receive a personal passport, stamped daily after “visiting” a new country. This playful approach fosters empathy, respect, and curiosity, while enhancing teamwork and intercultural understanding. Every day, a “guide of the day”—a child or teen—will take on a leadership role alongside educators, promoting autonomy, responsibility, and collaboration.
Key activities include:
- Traditional games from different countries to discover cultural values through cooperative play.
- Global sports, linked to different continents, to expand horizons and foster a love for physical activity.
- A healthy eating workshop where children prepare and taste dishes from various cultures, discovering new flavors and sharing time in the kitchen.
Field trips will also play an important role. On Fridays, excursions to Las Arenas Beach will be held, along with visits to natural sites like the “Route of the 3 Waterfalls” in Anna and the Gorgo de la Escalera—offering time to disconnect, enjoy, and reflect on environmental care.
“Ministry of Time” in the Rafa Nadal Foundation Center of Madrid: Traveling through history to build the future
Lastly, the Rafa Nadal Foundation Center in Madrid will also join this summer initiative with a program as fun as it is educational. Under the theme “Ministry of Time,” children will take time-travel journeys through different historical eras to learn about the past, connect with the present, and reflect on the future they want to build.
With space for 50 participants per fortnight, the School will run from June 30 to August 8, from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. During this time, the “time machine” will take the group through Prehistory, Ancient and Medieval Times, the Modern Era, and the Contemporary Age, in an adventure that blends sport, art, science, culture, and play.
The goal: to create a space for discovery, coexistence, and personal growth, where each child feels like the protagonist of their own story.
Highlights include:
- Cultural visits to Madrid’s Royal Palace and the historic Habsburg quarter, connecting learning with local heritage.
- Sports inspired by past eras: playful versions of gladiator games, medieval activities, and modern physical challenges.
- Educational workshops to understand how the world has evolved and how we shape its transformation.
- Group dynamics focused on coexistence, rule-following, and active participation.
Healthy eating habits, such as the importance of snacks and respecting rules in every activity, will be emphasized in a safe and engaging environment where learning happens through emotion, experience, and shared play.
A commitment to equity, play, and social transformation
The Rafa Nadal Foundation Summer Schools are much more than a summer leisure program. They are a tool for inclusion, prevention, and development in vulnerable contexts, ensuring every child and adolescent has access to meaningful opportunities for learning, play, and growth.
Through proposals adapted to each territory, they offer a tangible and transformative alternative for summer—helping families reconcile work and childcare, strengthening social bonds, and ensuring that education continues outside the classroom.
Ultimately, these schools are safe, diverse, creative, and healthy spaces that embrace diversity, the environment, sport, art, and history as tools for education in freedom, community, and values.