To Infinity & Beyond -- October Camp 2014

“To Infinity & Beyond” through the Milky Way, past stars, all the way to Mars and back to Earth.  The latest holiday camp at Lonsdale Park was a space odyssey of truly epic proportions.  The 55 children who signed up for this adventure were sent to 4 different planets for the week.  The week began with dinner in the dark ; ration packs being handed out along with glosticks to help them on their way.  Mars, Neptune, Pluto & Venus were proudly represented in all sort of activities including a very wet and tropical Space hunt for clues which led them on to a Space Race.  The Bush Walk & cooking lunch on a fire was also enjoyed along with the usual camp activities of archery, quad bike rides, the confidence & blindfold course and lots of organised games. Uncle Jono and his specialist drama team continued the space theme in the daily chapel times as we learnt about how the world was made.  The final camp send off with a night around the fire toasting marshmallows, looking at the stars through a telescope & singing songs was hampered by the rain but instead led to an impromptu Talent Quest indoors that produced some hidden gems.  The night finished with a blast as we let 6 lanterns off up into space.  The team which ended up with the most rocket fuel and won the big overall prize was Neptune and congratulations to Kiah & Nellie Young who were awarded the top camper prizes.  A big thankyou once again to all the youth leaders and adult helpers who served tirelessly for the week and made camp happen.  Also a huge thankyou to local businesses Pak n Save, Bells & JNL for their generous donations, and to other individuals & churches who gave resources and time towards camp.  All the photos can be found here.  

We will be taking a break over summer & our next camp is planned for the April holidays.

In the local paper again :-)

Egyptian Adventure -- April Camp 2014

We started our Egyptian Adventure with a “feast on the floor” which included yummy pita pocket kebabs.  We also enjoyed a day at the beach building pyramids, a crazy ancient treasure wide game, some fantastic craft groups, and the usual games and activities including sled rides behind the quad bike.  The food was fantastic, the weather mostly good and from all reports every kid had a great time.  One child described it as the “best few days of his life so far”!  We ended the camp with “Egypt has talent” which was a great climax to camp.   Our chapel times were based around the story of Joseph and some of our leaders “wowed” us with their acting skills each night as they dug up different artefacts of Joseph’s life. 

This was our 10^th camp since we  started 3 years ago and I think they just keep getting better.  We were again full with 50 children, 10 adults & 10 student leaders.  It was a great time, that was only made possible by willing people and a generous community who helped make it happen. We would again like to thank Bells Produce, the Salvation Army and other individuals who donated food.  We would also like to thank the local churches who helped in many ways including resources and helpers.  There were also many others who helped, contributed and donated in loads of different ways – thankyou! 

You can find the photos & video of this camp here on our website.  Our next camp is planned for the first week in the October school holidays. 

Another report in the Northland Age

King of the Jungle -- Summer Camp 2014

The mood was certainly tropical as the campers began to register for King of the Jungle camp in the misty rain.  This did not dampen the enthusiasm though as they kicked off the camp by sculpting from play dough their team mascots & preparing a chant to represent their tribe.  From the pink zebras, to the yellow lions, orange tigers & blue elephants each team stood their ground as they survived the ordeals of jungle life. 

The campers enjoyed the beach trip with sculptures, the big dig and a swim to cool off with.  The safari adventure the next day was a big hit & had all the adults & leaders hiding in rather strange places.  The bush walk was again a success, & the giant waterslide on the last day was some good old fashioned kiwi fun.  The regular activities of the confidence course, archery, slug-gun shooting & go kart driving were well enjoyed alongside the usual games.  Possibly the highlight for many children would have been partaking of some jungle food in the form of a 10 meter long banana split!

We had our traditional serial story each night – this time it featured “Madagascar 7” which was written & read by our guest speaker from Sydney.  We also enjoyed Safari Adventures each morning with our Jungle Explorer Aunty Steph.  All the kids enjoyed the theme song & other singing and as camp wound down with our last night bonfire and marshmallows, it was great to hear the kid’s voices under the stars. 

Through the ups & downs, comebacks & losses it was the mighty Tigers who came out on top taking away the coveted “best team” prize.  Lois Ratima & Kauri Travers were awarded the best girl & boy camper awards. 

We would like to thank once again the many individuals, churches & businesses who helped to make the camp possible. Special thanks to Shackeltons Pharmacy for donating items for our first aid kit, to Karikari Educare & the Salvation Army for the use of their vans, and to LJ Hooker for the use of their gazebos.  Our next camp will be 27^th April – May 2^nd.  Check out the camp photos here.

We made the paper again...

Pretty cool -- but can you spot the mistake?

ICE AGE Xtreme -- October Camp 2013

The cold didn’t hang around for very long at our ICE AGE Xtreme Camp as we all enjoyed some very nice summery weather as we took in all that Lonsdale Park & camp had to offer.  The bushwalk & cooking lunch over the fires was a hit again, although there were reports of a few cold sausages & lumpy Milo!  The visiting dance crew, go-karts & archery seemed to be some of the campers top favourites.  We also enjoyed the usual great food, craft, badges, games & the traditional camp fire.  Our evening serial movie was “Treasures of the Snow” which held us spellbound & enjoyed by all.  Our teams, Blizzard, Avalanche, and Snowflakes & Icicles battled it out in all sorts of challenges, Xtreme games & activities.  The result was a whiteout as the Snowflake team ended up coming from behind to take out the big prize overall.  Kairo Kamlade & Josh Morris were our two best overall campers. 

As usual our thanks goes to many members of the community who helped to make this happen.  We are thankful for our student volunteers, our craft & dance tutors, our adult leaders, the person who donated a sheep, who lent us the go-kart & trailer & the people who drove the bus for us.  Without the great team working together this would not happen. 

More photos & the camp video can be found here.

Our summer camp is from 5-10 January & the registrations will open online about mid-November.  

A Knights Journey -- April Camp 2013

It was going to be a camp like no other and once the 50 subjects had arrived the King of the realm welcomed them all to the journey of a lifetime.  The opportunities were laid out before them of which some succumbed but many conquered.  The camp was divided into four kingdoms, the Huns, the Romans, the Vikings & the Celts.  Each fought valiantly for the top position.  Many children were knighted each day as they progressed toward the prize at the end.  Activities included some from the ancient realm such as jousting, fencing, wrestling, archery, tug of war, hide n seek & some from the modern realm such as go-karts, shooting, crafts and badges & the traditional talent quest.

Each night we had a segment of the story “Pilgrims Progress” in movie form and every morning we studied the armour of God. 

The week culminated on the last night in a fantastic feast complete with pigs heads & medieval dress and then before it was over we had to crown the victors who were the mighty Romans!  The top boy & girl camper, Ashley Ujder & Glen Stapleton were also hailed as heroes in our final prize giving. 

The weather was fantastic, the food was great & it was awesome to have a full team of leaders & adults to help keep things running smoothly.  We are also thankful to the wider community who also helped in many ways from donating a pig, lending equipment, organising crafts and driving vans. 

Our next camp is planned for the October school holidays.  
Photos from this camp are now on our facebook page & also in our photo gallery.
You can view the camp movie on our You Tube channel here.

Report in local paper

Thanks Northland Age

Report in local paper

Mission Impossible – Summer Camp 2013

Camp was again full & bursting at the seams with awesome campers & great leaders.

We had great weather, and were kept safe while we enjoyed trips to the beach, the bush walk again, fire with marshmallows and all the other normal activities and games.

Agent X (aka Camp Mum) did a great job presenting the missions to us & we learnt a lot while having fun sneaking & hiding & repeating the theme songs!

Our teams – the FBI, CIA, SAS & KGB took the Mission seriously to try & earn the most points while learning how to engage behind the enemy lines.

The KGB were the victorious team who dominated in the end, so well done to them.  Hemi & Sophie were our two best campers overall.

Thanks also to all our wonderful leaders & adults who helped to make this camp happen.

You can check out all our photos on our facebook page or by clicking here.

More details of our next camp coming soon – April 21st-26th

Made the local paper!

Our camp report was in the local paper yesterday -- thanks Northland Age :-)

Survivor Camp October 2012

Well this camp was like no other! To start with, we were fully booked out about 6 weeks before camp started & were having to turn people away & start a waiting list! A lot of these children were new to camp & we are now attracting them from all over the Far North.  A local business also sponsored 3 of their employee’s children to come.
Another positive difference was a full team of helpers that we met with a couple of times before camp to plan & discuss together.  It was really nice to spread the load & have other people’s gifts, ideas & input into the running of camp.
We also introduced some new activities this time as well such as archery & quad bike rides and we also introduced “badges” with the children.  This was where we had 7 adults running different activities or crafts with a small group of about 7 children and at the end of the week they received a badge for their efforts.  These included things like, camp cooking, photography, pokerwork, cross-stitch, rope work, Maori craft, Maoritanga & woodwork.  We think this was a good addition to our camp program & gave the children different skills they may not have an opportunity to learn elsewhere.  The camp site has also had an ampitheatre/firepit finished being built, so we were able to use this one night which was enjoyable.

We ran all the other normal games & activities and we were blessed with good weather and only a little bit of rain, but nothing that stopped what we had planned.

Using the “Survivor” theme the morning chapel times consisted of exploring the words – Outgive, Outlove, Outserve & Outlive. And in the evening chapel times Jono used his recent trip to Mt Everest to talk about the plans God has for our lives using the words -- way, guide, equipment, perseverance & companions.

We want to thank our supporters once again who helped make this camp happen.  Pak n Sav & Bells Kaitaia donated food, the triboard mill (JNL) donated 20 sheets of triboard for us to sell & ACC donated bags which we used for the children to stick their badges onto.  Aside from the leaders & helpers who gave a week of their holidays to be at camp, we also had other individuals help in specific ways.  Rob Stanyon made our flash new archery targets, Jacey Horan painted all of our beautiful decorations, Wes Braddock came & tutored our camp cooking badge during our Bush Walk, James Young came & expertly showed how a hangi is prepared & cooked, Marie Driver came and gave patient instruction in flax weaving, Ang Beazley who tirelessly drove a van both to & from camp for our bus children, and Lara Mayall who came and cooked amazing food for our leaders weekend.  There were also other people who gave time, lent things & sponsored children; we are thankful for all who helped make this happen.  

With a great team of adult helpers & youth leaders the children had a memorable week & from all reports a very successful camp.  We are in the process of trying to decide if we will have a camp in summer; otherwise April is our next planned camp.

Click here to see the rest of the camp photos.

Team -- Fire

Team -- Water

Team -- Wind

Team -- Earth

Another amazing holiday adventure

The latest Holiday Camp at Lonsdale Park was another great success.  Almost full, with only 2 beds to spare we had 46 fantastic children for a fun-filled week.   

The weather was kind to us & the children enjoyed a week of new games and challenges plus the traditional activities, bushwalk, campfire and talent quest on the last night. 

Our theme was “The Amazing Race” and we talked about how we should run the race of life, making decisions at the crossroads, how to deal with distractions, difficulties and hindrances.  Jono also used this theme to tell the story of the Amazing Sheep Race which went from sinful sheep, to substitute sheep to stuck sheep & the super sheep saving him.

We also had a awesome bunch of  8 quality young students for leaders and 9 other adults which were a great team and helped spread the load.

We would like to thank those businesses and individual’s who sponsored, donated and help make this camp happen.  Thank you to Pak n Sav, Bells Produce for generously donating food, and to Saviour Life & Abundant Life Church for your continued support.
The next camp is planned for the first week in the October school holidays.

Check out the rest of the photos here

Summer 2012 Report

Black Beards

With December being a very wet & humid month & most of us wondering where summer was, Treasure Island Camp looked likely to be a washout.  But this didn’t seem to deter parents & children from registering early and camp was almost full 2 weeks before it even started.  We ended up with 43 children and could have taken only 5 more girls to reach our maximum numbers.  We had 5 student leaders & about 6 adult helpers.  We really struggled to get student leaders this time and we had to go ahead with only 1 in each cabin.  It was very hard for them, but they did a great job.  We would ideally like to have 2 in each cabin (total of 4 boys & 4 girls) for every camp.

Blue Bounty

We had beautiful weather, the children made new friends & went home tired out after spending 5 sunny days using the confidence course, a 20 metre waterslide, numerous games, a bush walk, a beach trip, chapel times & loads of other fun including finding out about where our real treasure comes from. 

Silver Swords

It was great to see the community backing what we are doing by sponsoring and referring children to come to camp.  We also saw more adult helpers willing to help out in the kitchen and running the program.  It was also lovely to have the support again of family with one brother even coming all the way from Australia to speak & help out. 

Gold Galleons

Each camp has been an unknown when it comes to the financial side of things, but it was great to see Shackleton’s Pharmacy sponsor us with a generous amount of sunscreen to keep the children protected.  Special thanks also goes to St Mary’s Community Church in Pukenui who donated toward a set of leaders caps.  And we are always grateful for the Northland Age who promotes community activities such as these holiday camps. 

We are looking into maybe registering as a charitable trust, and actively seeking some funding and business sponsorship.  If there are other businesses in the community who would like to sponsor various items for next camp, then please contact us. 

We would also like to see more sponsorship of children, especially from the churches in our local area. 

Treasure Island Camp

Make sure you check out the rest of the camp photos here

October 2011 Report

Once again the build-up to camp was not without the usual drama & excitement of any roller coaster ride as we watched God bring together the leaders, helpers & children that made up October camp 2011. 

We had 33 children in total, 9 youth leaders and 7 adult helpers. We started off with a great leader’s weekend, gelling as a team, setting things up & generally getting ready for the campers to arrive.  The adults & leaders came from Tauranga, Auckland & the local area and it was exciting to see each of them catch the vision for camp & give themselves whole-heartedly to the mission at hand. 

Out theme this camp was “Red & Yellow, Black & White, ALL are precious in His sight,” and we focused on different aspects of our uniqueness and loving & accepting our neighbours as we love/accept ourselves.  The cabins were turned into 4 different countries that represented the four colours & we decorated the hall with the flags & colours too.  The children really got into the spirit of it & camp definitely felt like one big happy family.

Scott Doddrell from Auckland was our speaker at chapel times and did a great job of getting the message across.  We had at least 2 girls respond, and others wanting to talk & ask questions.  We gave away at least 12-15 Bibles (thank you to a generous sponsor) and we know that seed has been sown.  There were many children at camp who never heard of a Bible, and some who knew nothing of its message.  We count it a real privilege to share with these children & that their parents entrust them to us for a week (to complete strangers!)

We did have about 3 days of rain at camp which caused us to change the program a bit, having to miss out the Bush Walk & a few other things, but all in all the program went well & the kids really loved it.  We did unfortunately have a rather severe broken arm on the last day, but quick medical attention was at hand (thanks St John!) and he was hospitalised for the night. 

We have since had lots of great feedback from parents and other parties with children wanting to book in for the summer camp, singing the songs at home and raving about the food & the great time they had. 

For the full set of photos go here

Autumn 2011 Camp Report

2 weeks out from camp we had about 15 children registered.  We estimated that by camp we might be up to about 20.  I had contacted a few local newspapers earlier to see if they would be able to run an article about the camp.  10 days before camp started we had an interview with the main paper & they ran a very good article on the Tuesday before camp started.  As a result our numbers more than doubled & we ended up with 42 children registered.  We unfortunately also had to turn some children down, so it is quite realistic to expect a full camp of 48 children next time. 

We had a lot of difficulty securing enough leaders & adult helpers, but in the end we had 5 student leaders who did an amazing & tireless job looking after about 10 children each.  We also had both of our sisters doing the cooking & my brother came from Australia as the speaker and also helped a lot with the program.  Although we could have done with more help, those who were there worked very hard & we had a good team atmosphere. 

We had a lovely group of children who were well-mannered and got on well with each other.  The children loved the activities at camp & we kept them very busy with lots of games, super-hero challenges, a bush walk, flax weaving, daily cabin inspection, chapel times and loads of other stuff. I think the singing would be what they remember the most, with reports of them going home & teaching the songs to their families.  

 

We had great support from the community with fish, mandarins, prizes, feijoas, apples & other things donated to camp. 

All comments and feedback from parents has been positive and asking when we will be running the next one. 

We would like to run the next camp in the July school holidays but have yet to have the camp site confirm it is available.  The October school holidays have already been confirmed (7^th- 14^th).