Youth camps
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What are youth Camps?
STARTTS Youth Camps
Camps are dynamic and supportive programs designed to empower young people from migrant backgrounds and refugee experience. These camps provide a safe space for participants to connect, heal, and grow through shared experiences and skill-building activities.
In total, both the Youth Team and the Rural and Regional Staff run 10-15 camps per year.
Why do we take young people to camp?
- Enhance your connection and relationships amongst others
- Help you build resilience, self-esteem and confidence to cope with future challenges!
- Create opportunities to share and learn from other cultures
- Develop life skills, including leadership, teamwork and problem-solving for personal growth
- Encourage wellbeing and healing using activities that support your physical and mental health
- Develop new skills and coping strategies to manage stress
- Nurture a positive outlook for the future, with access to additional supports
Camps
Yearly Camp Calendar
The Youth Team has a set schedule of yearly school holiday camps.
Find out more information about camps below!
Young Women’s Retreat
Young women's retreats encourage young women to relax, meet people and find ways to overcome life challenges!
- 18-25 Yo
- 3 days, 2 nights
- January
Young Men’s Retreat
Over a long weekend, this retreat supports young men to come together to try new things and connect with others.
- 18-25 Yo
- 4 days, 3 nights
- January
Mixed Junior Camp
Held during school holidays, Junior camps enhance meaningful relationships among peers and support young people to develop self-esteem.
- 10-13 Yo
- 3 days, 2 nights
- April
Young Women’s Camp
For young women to build their confidence, learn skills, enjoy time away from their normal environment and have fun!
- 14-17 Yo
- 4 days, 3 nights
- January + July
Young Men’s Camp
For young men to build resilience, develop teamwork and leadership skills, and enjoy hanging out with other boys.
- 14-17 Yo
- 4 days, 3 nights
- January + July
Community-Specific Camps
Camps organised for specific community groups, dependent on funding. Activities, length and available spots dependent on community needs.
- TBD
- TBD
- On request
Camp Age Groups
Junior Camp = 10 to 13 years old
Occurs twice annually across 3 days (2 nights) for mixed girls and boys 10 to 13 years old.
Young Men’s Camp & Young Women’s Camp = 14 to 17 years old
Occurs twice annually for 4 days (3 nights). Boys and girls go separately.
Young Women's Retreat & Young Men's Retreat = 18 to 24 years old
Occurs once annually dependent on funding. Typically held over a weekend to accommodate to school and work commitments.
Time And Location
All camps typically take place during the school holidays to ensure young people don’t miss any school.
Young people are collected from a confirmed meeting point and returned to this same point to be collected by parents/guardians after the camp.
Camp locations are not disclosed publicly but will be discussed with young people and parents/guardians in the planning phase before the camp. In general, camps take place within 2 hours bus trips from Sydney.
Please note: If a young person requests to come to camp and provides us with their intake form, they are not automatically attending the camp. A camp staff member will contact the young person’s parent/guardian to discuss additional information and confirm their attendance.
What do young people do at camps?
Outdoor Education
Activities including flying fox, high ropes courses, rock climbing, abseiling, a giant swing and kayaking! Always fun!
Creative Art
Creative and mindful activities including painting, screen-printing, clay, drawing and weaving workshops that encourage relaxation and boost mood!
Psychosocial Activities
Workshops using yoga, bushwalking, drama and games to discuss mental and physical health, emotions and relationships.
Team-Building Activities
Games and activities focusing on build rapport and relationships, including football, dancing, capoeira, fitness tests and swimming.
Evening Fun & Campfire
Fun activities after dinner including outdoor movie nights, campfires and roasting marshmallows, a final-night party and games before lights off!
Journey of Courage Camp, 2024
Outward Bound Camp, 2022
Inside Scoop
What do young people think about camps?
Check out what young people have said about coming to camp with us!
Thank you for this great opportunity. This camp helped me appreciate everything I have in life and my loved people. It is such a great camp with good and caring leaders, who will always push you to do you best and make feel strong and that you can do anything in life. Again, thank you so much for this great opportunity, and hope there will be more of these opportunities for other people who needs and loves to go. Thank you!
I am grateful from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity I was given to come to this camp… The memories will be always everlasting. I will miss the teamwork, discipline and inclusion we all displayed during the camp... the activities, everyone’s little jokes, kind leadership and the campfire under the clear full of stars of the night sky and the beautiful gatherings and feeling of living in the fresh environment will be one of the most cherished moments for me. I thank you for providing us this beautiful opportunity and the perfect team captains who were always there to help us, protect us and guide us.
When I got offered about the camp, I was very happy and it’s the only place where I experience new stuff and get to know how some people live. Sometimes it’s a bit challenging but also sometimes it’s very very nice. I always get amazed of the stuff I see in natural. I hope and wish all young people experience this opportunity, every time I go camp I learn new stuff and reveal the real nature. It’s one of the best opportunities that anyone could ever experience and especially for the people who doesn’t go out much
Did you know?!
STARTTS has been running camps since the 1990s!
For 30+ years, we’ve taken young people across NSW to connect, try new things and enjoy time away from the city! Check out our old camp videos from the 2000s and 2010s… If you spot yourself in one of the videos, contact us! We would love to hear from you!
