Academy of Magic Brugg: The English Holiday Camp in Aargau for Children Aged 8–13
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This autumn, LevelUp English's Academy of Magic comes to Brugg, Aargau — a residential English holiday camp for children aged 8 to 13, running from 27 September to 2 October 2026 at the Swiss Youth Hostel's historic fortified castle in the heart of Aargau.
Something extraordinary is coming to Brugg. The Academy of Magic — a LevelUp English original — opens its doors to a new cohort of young wizards and witches. The question is: are they ready?
What is an Academy of Magic? Surely magic isn't real? Two very reasonable questions. But on the second, you couldn't be more wrong. And on the first, you're in exactly the right place to find out.
Yes, the Academy of Magic is a holiday camp. But to think of it only in those terms would be to miss the point entirely. A better way to think of it is as a portal. It looks, on the surface, very much like the normal world. But for one week, inside the Swiss Youth Hostel's historic fortified castle in Brugg, separated from the outside world by defensive charms and ancient stone walls, something altogether different takes place.
When children arrive, they say goodbye to parents at the gate. After that, they meet their Professors.
LevelUp's trainers are, in ordinary life, native-speaking educators, creative professionals, and experienced performers. Here, they are something else entirely. Professor Edmonius, for example, has served as a magical Professor for over sixty years — formerly a senior faculty member at the Collegium of the Silver Flame, a prestigious institution founded in 1223AD, now relocated to undisclosed coordinates in the Swiss Alps. Professor Froggles, on the other hand, spent three unfortunate years as an actual frog, after a botched counter-curse during the Great Aargau Enchantment of 1987. She was eventually restored to human form by a particularly gifted student — a story she will tell you, in extraordinary detail, if you ask. Throughout the week, the Professors guide every young wizard and witch through their trials and tribulations.
But what trials? What tribulations?
Das Leben an der Academy of Magic: Was Kinder die ganze Woche tun
On arrival, every new student is sorted into their House — a ceremony that involves a rather dramatic reading of magical aptitudes, a little theatre, and more than a few gasps. Your House is your team, your confidants, and maybe, by the end, your family.
After the House sorting ceremony, every student crafts their own wand. No two are alike, and nor should they be. We go out into the forests of Brugg — wary, of course, of dark and lurking forces — to locate our perfect wand. We then decorate, adorn, and bejewel them to create wands suitable for the powerful young wizards and witches who use them.
From there: Broomstick Tournaments, potion-making challenges (more explosive than expected), magical duels, and enough spellwork to fill a rather thick textbook — if anyone were taking notes, which of course they are not, because this is not school. It just happens to take place entirely in English.
Every challenge, every quest, every argument about whose potion smells worse or who deserves the House trophy — it all unfolds in English. At the Academy of Magic, English is simply the language of the world. There are no grades, no language tests, and no pressure. When wizards and witches are so caught up in the magic, they simply forget that they're doing it all in English. In some ways, that is the magic. Your child's holiday week in Brugg won't just deliver new friends, or only more confidence speaking English, nor merely stimulate their imagination. It'll do all of that, and more.
An Autumn Holiday Camp Unlike Any Other
The Academy of Magic in Brugg runs during the autumn school holidays — 27 September to 2 October 2026 — making it the perfect way to fill the Herbstferien with something genuinely unforgettable. While most English holiday camps run in summer, this is a rare opportunity for children across Aargau and beyond to experience full English immersion in the autumn break, in a setting that couldn't be better suited to the season. Ancient stone, autumn forests, and the particular atmosphere of a fortified castle as the days grow shorter — it all adds up to something that summer simply cannot replicate.
Brugg, Aargau: The Perfect Setting for Something Magical
Not every location could host an Academy of Magic. But Brugg certainly can.
Brugg sits at the confluence of the Aare, Reuss, and Limmat rivers, in the heart of Aargau — a region with more Roman ruins per square kilometre than almost anywhere else in Switzerland. The town's medieval tower, the Schwarze Turm, has stood since the 13th century. The surrounding hills, the river bends, and the old stone — it all adds up to exactly the right atmosphere for a week of extraordinary things.
The Swiss Youth Hostel in Brugg provides a safe, beautifully maintained base for the week, with everything children need for a comfortable residential stay. It is also wonderfully removed from everyday life — a place where you can quite easily forget about the regular comings and goings of non-magical folk. And that's very much the point.
For families travelling from across Aargau and beyond — from Baden, Aarau, Zurich, Luzern, Basel, and Solothurn — Brugg is easily accessible by rail and road, making it a practical as well as a magical choice.
Who is the English Holiday Camp in Brugg For?
The Academy of Magic welcomes children aged 8 to 13. All English levels are welcome, from complete beginners to confident speakers.
It might seem daunting — to spend a week doing everything in English. But LevelUp's Magic Professors have been doing this for a long time. They are experienced in communicating complex things in simple ways, using physical as well as verbal communication, repeating and checking understanding at every step. German is always there as a fallback, but in practice it's astonishing how much can be absorbed when English immersion is combined with action-packed fun. Children pick up language naturally, through doing rather than studying. This is not a holiday camp that requires fluency before the fun begins.
German-speaking staff are on site throughout the week to support children and provide reassurance wherever it's needed.
If your child is curious, playful, and up for an adventure — they're ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is the Academy of Magic for?
Children aged 8 to 13. All English levels welcome, including complete beginners.
Does my child need to speak English to attend?
Not at all. The immersive environment — where English is simply how the magic works — is far more effective than any classroom. Children pick up language naturally through doing. German-speaking staff are on site throughout the week for support.
Is it safe? What if my child gets homesick?
The Swiss Youth Hostel in Brugg is a safe, well-staffed residential venue. LevelUp's team are experienced with children of this age group, and German-speaking staff are present throughout the week. Homesickness is natural and always handled with warmth and care.
When does it run?
27 September to 2 October 2026 — during the autumn school holidays (Herbstferien), making it an ideal option for families across Aargau and the wider region.
What is included?
Five nights' accommodation at the Swiss Youth Hostel in Brugg, all meals, the full Academy of Magic programme, and materials — including wand-crafting supplies. Travel to and from the camp is not included.
How do I get to Brugg?
Brugg is easily accessible by rail from Baden, Aarau, Zurich, Luzern, Basel, and Solothurn. It sits at one of the best-connected rail junctions in Aargau.
How many places are available?
Places are limited. LevelUp's Academy of Magic consistently sells out — early booking is strongly recommended.
Book Your Place at the Academy of Magic, Brugg
After all of this — the sorting, the wand-crafting, the Broomstick Tournaments, the Professors, the ancient castle in the heart of Aargau — you still want to argue that magic doesn't exist?
Fine. There's only one way to settle it. Come and see for yourself.
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