School Camps
Raukawa is the ideal place for schools to deliver their EOTC programmes and run camps from one day to as long as is required.
Camping is a journey, fostering a culture of respect for self, respect for others and respect for the environment and to the YMCA, camping is more than a program – it’s a philosophy. With 50 years experience in camping, Raukawa has developed a unique approach that we offer to all New Zealanders.
Please feel free to contact us with your questions or special requests. We trust that you will share our enthusiasm that Raukawa is “where the experience begins”
Planning a camp or programme at Raukawa
Planning a camp can be a daunting task, but the Wanganui YMCA in general and more specific the staff of Raukawa has years of experience with a variety of groups ranging from small to large, young and old. Our approach to your specific needs is highly participative and we gladly share our experience of what works well, and are open to discuss new approaches and ideas. Please let us know how we can help.
A good camp begins with a clear idea of your aims for the group.
Decide on the focus of the camp
Some questions to consider in planning a camp include:
- Is the focus on curriculum related learning?
- Is the focus on recreation such as end of year fun?
- Is there a desire to learn specific skills?
- Is the primary aim to have the group experience challenge and self-awareness?
Decide on the type of programme
We provide four broad types of programmes:
- Programmes whose objectives are to have fun and an enjoyable experience in the outdoors
- Programmes with education through adventure based learning as an objective
- Programmes focussed on the achievement of a specific objective. These programmes would mainly be aligned to address one or more soft skills i.e. behavioural based
- Programmes whose aim is to gain specific technical skills such as climbing techniques
Determine general requirements
Generic planning questions include:
- How many participants?
- What ages are the participants?
- Do the participants have prior adventure base learning experiences?
- What type of Programme?
- What type of Accommodation?
- What catering / cleaning option?
- Which dates would suit you?
- What is your budget?
Many schools prefer to provide the same opportunities for every child, though equivalent opportunities (different activities of similar value) for the various year / age groups also achieve similar results. A programme based on sequential learning and increased challenges from a variety of camps can also be considered. Any camp programme is in the final instance also dependent on previous experiences, numbers and camp philosophy and own unique approach to EOTC. If you or your team have specific interests relevant to the camp objective, it is worth considering incorporating it into the programme.
In the event of bad weather, Raukawa Adventure Centre will do the utmost to organise alternative activities to fill the planned programme timeslot or re-arrange the activities between the various camp days. It is always a good idea to bring along some arts and crafts, games and books for those unexpected weather conditions.
Our adventure activities emphasize confidence building, teamwork and communication, whilst learning enough to enjoy themselves in a safe environment. Students not only finish with an enjoyable experience but also gain confidence (and motivation) to enjoy the same or similar activity in the future, and also gain valuable capabilities to transfer the skill or experience to another area or context.
We encourage a familiarisation visit prior to your camp to meet the staff, see the camp layout and facilities and ask any questions you may have.
Leadership and supervision structure
Our leadership / supervision structure for on-site activities is depicted in the following table:
Our abseiling activity requires 2 instructors.