Children's Camps.....
Being subsidised to go to camp is the only way that some children will ever attend a school holiday camp. This gives them a break from their normal life, benefit from making new friends. Their confidence and self-esteem is lifted and it opens a door for new life revelations.
At our Intermediate plus camps we introduce the campers to a variety of life skills.
After each camp if we have observed things that concern us about any camper we discuss it with the caregiver and offer a suitable intervention. Here we network with existing organisations that can provide such services, rather than re-invent the wheel.
One Childs Experience at a Childrens Camp
John (not his real name) was a hurting young man with abandonment issues. He lost his dad to the prison system and his mother didn’t want to have anything to do with him. He lived with his devoted grandmother. In 2013 John and his grandmother attended every family event and meal and he attended camp for the first time. His behaviour would be described as angry and he was a bully. From 2013 through to date PFNZ has regular contact with this family with them attending everything we put on and us making house calls.
Following a camp we focus on getting the young people connected to an ongoing programme that provides them with a good role model, alternative peers and something positive to do with their time. After the love he received on camp and events John decided to slot himself into the local church and through their programmes for young people he has gained additional support, a good role model etc. Peter (PFNZ Staff member) has watched this boy change over a period of time as he responds to all the support and input he gets.
On Camp Survivor (Raglan) the most dramatic change was observed. He and another boy had a disagreement. Normally John would have simply thumped the other kid and as he is a big boy that comes easily. However, not only did he not thump the other kid, he chose off his own bat to go and apologise to the boy even though it had been deemed ‘not his fault’. The boy that was known to us back in 2013 would not have acted in this way. He had been far too angry. Around this time reports came from the school that his academic performance had increased along with improved behaviour.
With this change of behaviour in place his grandmother asked PFNZ to write a letter of recommendation, outlining the changes in him so that he could be accepted into boarding school. John
was not only accepted but he has settled in well and performing well academically.
Dec 21, 2016
Hosted by Whakatane Presbyterian Church
For further information contact Maria on 07-308-4268
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