Australian Camp Connect Association Inc.

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ACCA Past Events & Pictures

September 2006 Dads & Kids Camp.
September 1 - 3, 2006. Lyrebird Park, Yellingbo, Victoria.

We had 28 people attend the camp, consisting of 11 dads and 17 kids. The numbers may have been down slightly on other camps but the enthusiasm of those attending certainly made up for that. Not all that attended were locals, Darren with his son Joel made the trek from Perth to attend the camp. Great effort Darren and Joel.

	On the Saturday we had the specialist / adventure program developed by Warren and Chen Lu who run Lyrebird Park. There were activities that looked at how we worked and communicated as a team as well as activities that challenged. One such activity was having to get a whole team across what was like an obstacle course from one side of a paddock to another, without touching the ground and standing only on blocks of wood. The program was really well thought out with the program of activities following on from each other in what seemed a natural progression.
	The entertainment on the Saturday night was not the usual DVD watching that is almost traditional at our camps. It was an opportunity to reinforce the notion that dads do play a vital role in the raising of their children mixed in with a whole lot of fun. Rob Koch had every one enthralled as he ran the 'Rich Kids' workshop. It was made even more special when the dads made a pledge to, in front of their children that they would be the best dads they could to their children.
	On the Sunday morning, after the kids had the chance to make some slime, outside under the veranda in what turned out to be the freezing cold. At the same time, inside the dining hall, the dads were given the opportunity to sit down, observe and listen to Rick Grounds, who was ably assisted by his wife, as he shared his love of cooking. Rick gave the dads pointers about cooking quick, easy and more importantly healthy meals that they could cook for themselves as well as for their kids. What's more, they had the opportunity to taste what Rick had created in front of them.

The last workshop, titled Creating Memories on a Budget, had the Dads and Kids discussing what they liked to do or would like to do when together that would not cost much money. There were lots of great suggestions put forward and shared amongst the group. It reinforced that who can share some wonderful moments with your children doing things that cost little or no money.

The workshops were well attended and received by the dads, reinforcing the notion that Camp Connect is more than just a fun weekend away. The feedback received from the participating dads was on the whole very positive. Most importantly all the attending dads thought that their children benefited from the camp and that their expectations of the camp were met.

Sydney Dads & Kids Camp, March 10 - 12, 2006.
The Collaroy Centre, Collaroy Beach, New South Wales.

The venue for this camp was the Collaroy Centre. It is located on Sydney's northern beaches, at Collaroy Beach, with magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean. The venue was most picturesque.
The weather was hot and humid, VERY HUMID but that didn't stop anyone from getting the most out of the weekend.

We had 40 people attend the camp, consisting of 15 dads, 24 children and Lizz. Seven people flew up from Melbourne to attend, the rest were all from Sydney or its surrounds. Being our first camp in Sydney, most of the attendees didn't know what to expect. It was a bit of a learning curve for us organizers as well, as turning up at the venue sight unseen presented some challenges of its own.

The workshops were well attended and received by the dads, reinforcing the notion that Camp Connect is more than just a fun weekend away.

	Father Dave's 'Wrestling With The Big Guy' was very popular. It was in with the mouth guards and down on the mats. The kids loved the opportunity to have a rumble with dad and try out the new maneuvers that Father Dave taught the group.
	The entertainment on the Saturday night was not the usual DVD watching that is almost traditional at our camps. It was an opportunity to step back into history with the 'Warriors Through Time' show, wonderfully put on by Graham Brissett [one of the attending dads at the camp] and David Sander. The show was very interactive with the kids getting plenty of opportunity to ask questions and touch, hold and even try on a lot of the authentic costumes that Graham & David used during the performance.
	On the Sunday morning, after the kids had the chance to make some slime, they went off to do archery and the low ropes course whilst the dads were in workshop. Maggie Hamilton, author of the recently published 'What Men Don't Talk About and Why' talked to us about the socialisation of boys, what is happening with teenage boys right now and how much girls need their dads. This ties in with what Camp Connect is all about. Maggie certainly had the dad's full attention and if time permitted could have gone on for hours sharing her research with us.

Other activities that the dads and kids had an opportunity to partake in were;
Abseiling
Flying Fox Archery
Making Slime High Ropes Course
Making home made ice-cream Low Ropes Course

Fathers Day Weekend Dads & Kids Camp, September 2 - 4, 2005
Camp Allambie, Strzelecki Ranges, Gippsland, Victoria.

Well our fourth Dads & Kids Camp has now been conducted. All who attended would agree that it was an outstanding success. With glorious spring weather, plenty of delicious food and some thought provoking workshops for the dads, everyone’s expectations for the weekend were met.

The dads & the kids had plenty to do to keep them amused.

Click here to download a copy of the flyer for this camp.

You can view thumbnail pictures from the event (with links to full size images) by clicking any of these following links:
1. Photogaphers Pictures,
2. General Pictures.

March 2005 Dads & Kids Weekend Camp
March 18^th - 20^th, 2005. Log Cabin Christian Camp, Creswick

Well our third Dads & Kids Camp has now been conducted. All who attended would agree that it was an outstanding success. The Log Cabin Christian Camp in Creswick provided an ideal location. With glorious autumn weather, plenty of delicious food and some thought provoking workshops for the dads, everyone’s expectations for the weekend were met.

The dads & the kids had plenty to do to keep them amused. There was frisbee golf, archery, scavenger hunts, orienteering, yabbying, flying fox, trampolining, table tennis and quoits. There was no better way to finish off the weekend than some leisurely [but at times not so leisurely] canoeing on the dam.

Kaye Fallick, author of ‘Get Yourself A New Life’ & Hunter Dean, director of Human Performance Specialists donated their time and expertise to run the workshops for the dads. Sandy & William were the volunteers who looked after the kids while the dads were busy in the workshops.

Click here to download a copy of the flyer for the Dads & Kids Weekend Camp - March 18-20, 2005.

You can view thumbnail pictures from the event (with links to full size images) by clicking any of these following links:
1. Dads & Kids having fun!,
2. Dads at Work - Learning,
3. What ACCA is all about or
4. Volunteering for Camp Connect.

Again all the feedback that we received about the programs was very positive.

Camp Connect August - September 2004 Programs

These programs consisted of a Dads Workshop Day on the 28^th August. It was the first time that we attempted to run one in conjunction with the Dads & Kids weekend. It was held at the Mountain Valley Centre in Boronia. We had three people run workshops for us over the day.

Click here to download a copy of the flyer for the Dads Workshop Day - August 28, 2004.

Workshop 1. Presenter: Peter Leech - Dad Talk
This looked at the barriers that we face in the parenting of our children and how we can overcome them.

Workshop II. Presenter: Joy Van Neuron - Bayswater Parentzone
Dealt with the relationship that we have with our ex partners and the impact this has on our children and what we can do about trying to improve it. Another component of it was listening with feeling and is about recognising the feelings that children may be expressing behind what they are saying.

Workshop III. Presenter: Julian Browne
Looks at the things that we can do with our parenting that will produce positive long-long term development outcomes with our children.

All three workshops were very well received. We had 10 dads in total register into that program, 5 of who had attended last years Dads & Kids Weekend camp at Mt Evelyn.

The second ACCA Dads & Kids program took place over the Father's Day Weekend 3^rd - 5^th September, 2004 at the Wombat Corner Camp at Emerald, Victoria.

Another great weekend was had by all who attended. We had 10 dads and 15 kids attend for the full weekend and another 2 dads with 2 children join us on the Sunday for the Fathers Day Mini program.

We even had John and his three children drive down from Queensland to partake in the program.

As for the Dads Workshop Day, there was a good mixture of families who attended last years program together with dads & kids new to the camp connect experience. There were 6 dads & 8 kids for who this was their second Dads & kids Weekend program. For the other 5 dads & 10 kids it was all a new experience for them.

There were three workshops held over the weekend.

	Workshop I. Presenter: Hunter Dean & Edwin - Human Performance Specialists Dealt with breaking down the barriers between dads & their kids.
	Workshop II. Presenter: Richard Yiap – Australian Fatherhood Foundation Looked at our 5 love languages and those of our children. This was for dads & kids. Workshop III. Presenter: Richard Yiap – Australian Fatherhood Foundation This was a dad’s only workshop that looked at how we could be creative with our parenting.

Click here to download a copy of the flyer for the Dad's & Kids Weekend program. You can view thumbnail pictures from the event (with links to full size images) by clicking here.

Again all the feedback that we received about the programs was very positive.

Inaugural ACCA Dads & Kids Weekend Camp 5 - 7 september, 2003
YMCA Camp, Mt Evelyn, Victoria.

The inaugural ACCA Dads & Kids program took place over the Father's Day Weekend 5^th - 7^th September, 2003 at the YMCA's Mt. Evelyn campsite. The detailed program can be downloaded/viewed as a PDF file by clicking here. We actually ran two programs over the Father's Day weekend. There was the full weekend program that was run from the Friday evening to the Sunday afternoon. There were 17 dads and 24 kids registered into this program.

In addition to the full weekend program we also took registrations for the mini Father's Day program. Those who attended this program attended the Sunday component of the full weekend program. This was an option for those fathers who for whatever reason could not attend for the full weekend or who just wanted to get a taste for what a Camp Connect program was all about. We had six dads and nine kids do this Sunday only program.

With the first programs being a pilot for the organisation, the feedback we received from the participants was invaluable to us. The important thing was that ALL the participants' expectations of the weekend were met. Most importantly, every dad was of the opinion that his children benefited from the weekend. Thus as an organisation, we succeeded in achieving our aims.

You can view thumbnail pictures from the event (with links to full size images) by clicking any of these following links:
1. At Play,
2. A Workshop or
3. Putting Fathers back into Fathers Day.