E.I. Camps brings children and teenagers together for meaningful experiences abroad, combining international friendships, language practice and time outdoors with opportunities to grow in confidence and independence. Education is at the heart of what we do. Young people learn by joining in, making their own decisions and discovering what they can contribute to a group.
Natasha Meertal, our founder
Natasha Meertal
Natasha Meertal is the founder and driving spirit behind E.I. Camps. She studied education and taught in Leningrad, and also studied at the Adler Institute in Israel. She lives in Tel Aviv and, as a mother of two, brings both professional insight and a parent’s understanding to the project.
Her involvement is personal and practical. Natasha visits prospective destinations, meets the people who will welcome the children, and gets to know the team, the spirit of each place and what it can offer young people. She helps families choose an experience that suits their child, prepares Group Companions and nurtures the relationships with host institutions that make the project possible. Her belief runs through it all: young people grow when they have room to take responsibility, with people beside them who care.
One trip to Latvia. A whole new beginning.
Where our story began
Our story began more than 20 years ago, when Natasha searched for a meaningful holiday for her children. She wanted something real and lasting: a place where her children could make friends, take responsibility and discover what they could do for themselves. Childcare alone was not the answer, nor was a holiday filled with one adrenaline rush after another.
That search led to Latvia and a visit to a good friend who ran a private school. Every summer, the school moved its activities to a lovely place in the countryside. Here were children learning, playing and spending time together outdoors, with room to take part and grow.
That was it. This was the beginning of E.I. Camps.
From that first encounter grew a network of partner camps and schools, each with its own character. The question behind our choices remains deeply personal: what will a young person take from this experience into the rest of their life?
Every group begins a new journey
Every time an E.I. Camps group sets off, we see the beginning of a wonderful journey. Each destination offers its own discoveries, but the journey is also personal: getting to know new people, finding a place in the group and discovering what you can do. We bring care and purpose to every departure, whether it is a young person’s first experience with us or the next chapter in a growing connection.
For the people waving them off
A little reassurance for parents
Someone they can turn to. Someone you can call.
Every E.I. Camps group travels with a Group Companion who represents our project throughout the experience. On arrival, the local team leads the program and day-to-day camp life. Our Group Companion stays with the group as a consistent point of contact for the children, parents back home, the local team, and E.I. Camps.
We choose each Group Companion carefully: someone who listens, uses good judgment and understands what young people need when they are away from home. They are there for the children to turn to, for parents to contact and for the local team to work with. They help resolve concerns and make sure our values are reflected in how the group lives and spends time together.
Room to try. People to turn to.
The things that stay with you
First and foremost, we respect young people and the trust they place in us. They spend precious weeks of their holidays with us during a brief and formative stage of life, as they discover who they are and who they want to become. We want that time to be meaningful.
Friendships built on shared interests and mutual respect, with a sense of belonging that can continue long after camp.
The freedom to express yourself, understand your emotions and take responsibility.
Space to create, build confidence and discover the ability to lead.
Time outdoors and a closer connection to nature.
Personal attention for every child in a safe, welcoming environment that feels like home.
Active days with a healthy balance of activities and a regular routine.
A community that grows with you
Camp is often where friendships begin. Over the years, E.I. Camps has grown into a community of young people who stay in touch after returning home, meet again on later journeys and share an important part of their lives. Some former participants return as Group Companions, bringing their own experience to the next generation.
We hope young people carry these habits home: listening to others, respecting differences, taking responsibility and doing their part. They learn them in everyday moments - through the choices they make and the experiences they share. Alongside lasting friendships, they can shape how a young person lives, relates to others, and finds their place in the world.
We see the lasting value of our work as we watch participants grow into young adults and stay connected over the years. Their continued friendship and enthusiasm for returning tell us what these journeys mean to them. Each year, more than half of our participants have traveled with us before, and many return for further journeys until they reach 17.
Time together. Friendships that stay with you.
Where could your next story begin?
Over the years, we have added destinations that reflect our values, each with its own character and something distinctive to offer young people. Discover Baltic shores and forest landscapes, Mediterranean island life, Georgian culture and the energy of Berlin. Behind every destination are people we know and work closely with, ready to welcome our young travelers, bringing young people together through shared experiences that encourage curiosity, friendship and growing independence. Wherever we go, each group sets out on a new journey, accompanied by an E.I. Camps Group Companion and welcomed by the local team.
Latvia
Beach days and Baltic sunsets
Pine-covered dunes, wide sandy beaches and sunsets over the Gulf of Riga give Saulkrasti its special charm. In this seaside setting, an international camp community comes together through creative activities, games and time outdoors. Shared adventures make it easier to start conversations, find common interests, and feel part of the group.
Northern Estonia’s forests, coastal scenery, and long summer evenings create a setting far from everyday routines. An experienced, welcoming team leads creative activities and creates opportunities to meet young people from other countries, bringing the setting to life. It is a place to share ideas, explore talents and enjoy the freedom of creating something together.
Our host school opens a window onto western Georgia, with its green landscapes, dramatic mountain scenery, distinctive traditions and historic sites. Its international camp brings children together through sports, creative workshops, performances and shared play. The appeal is personal as well as cultural: meeting new people and discovering everyday life in a different country.
Berlin brings history, culture and green spaces together. The Brandenburg Gate, remarkable museums and riverside parks reveal different sides of Germany’s capital. Set in a historic building, our host school offers a multicultural educational environment where language learning and shared activities encourage young people to communicate, ask questions and see familiar things from a fresh perspective.
Set in Lithuania’s green countryside, our partner camp brings together the pleasures of traditional camp life: spirited team games, creative workshops, sports activities, talent shows and evenings around the campfire. The nearby river adds to the landscape’s beauty. With so many ways to participate, young people can discover new interests and experience the satisfaction of contributing to a team.
Blue Mediterranean waters, lively waterfronts and centuries of island history make Malta an inviting place to explore. Based at our partner school in St Julian’s, the experience combines English learning with an international community and an active holiday. Here, language becomes a way to make friends and engage with the world beyond the classroom.
Prague’s historic streets, green parks and nearby castles make Czechia an inspiring place to explore. At our partner school, English lessons and creative activities with local students bring young people together. Shared cooking, theater and outings offer plenty of ways to connect, try something new and discover a different culture in good company.
E.I. Camps complements classroom learning with opportunities to develop independence, communication skills and a sense of responsibility in an international setting. Shared activities, everyday decisions and contact with peers from different backgrounds give teenagers practical ways to develop social confidence and a sense of belonging.
Our educational approach combines personal attention with participation in group life. We encourage young people to express themselves, contribute to the community, and ask for support when they need it. Languages become tools for making connections, while creative activities, sports and time outdoors create different ways to take part.
Are you an educator helping a family explore an international camp experience? Contact our team to discuss the young person’s interests, readiness and support needs.
Find your people
Be yourself
Give it a go
Head outside
We’re here for you
Find your rhythm
