Camp Burdekin
Youth camps for kids in care.
Donate to Camp Burdekin
Become a donor to Camp Burdekin and you can play a fundamental role in providing our young people with opportunities that they wouldn't otherwise experience.
What is Camp Burdekin?
The idea behind Camp Burdekin is that we take approximately 16 young people away for two to three nights on camp.
One camp is held in July to the alpine area for snow activities. The other camp is an adventure-based trip typically held in either April or November.
Why?
Camp Burdekin provides the opportunity for our young people to laugh and find joy in this world.
The children and young people we work with have often been exposed to a high degree of trauma. They work hard to make the best choices in life and to step away from peer influences, however, this can be difficult to manage when their peers are often like family to them.
The explosion of access to the internet and social media means that young people are forever intertwined with influences beyond the real world.
While on camp, we want to spoil these young people. We all deserve to be able to stay in a warm house, have food served to us, to see and ski or board our slopes and to view areas of this beautiful country.
Whilst these experiences occur, our skilled staff weave into the day, discussions on goal setting, confidence, self-esteem, drug and alcohol use, financial planning and a myriad of other accidental counselling sessions on a variety of topics.
When we take young people out of their natural environment, they are able to open their mind to view the world and their place in it in very different ways. Often, they can dream and think big and see themselves as successful individuals.
What will the children do on these camps?
The young people will engage in physical activities while on camp - from skiing to fishing, climbing a wall, building a fire, to making damper.
Our staff will creatively weave discussions and activities around important life lessons they need to address, from keeping their room clean, cleaning their teeth and planning their day. Simple life lessons that will reflect and build on transferrable skills that they require back in the real world.
A client says...
“I was given the opportunity by Burdekin to go on a trek in Kakadu with a few young people and mentors. From that trek, there were many words of wisdom shared among each other around the campfire. The words that resonated with me the most, helped me grow a positive identity within myself, and define what I truly value.
I will always remember and reflect on these words and concepts, in particular:
- Forgiveness – where progress is all about moving on in life from those times that are hardest, and to do that we need to be able to forgive, let go, and focus on yourself and what is good in life
- The fact that we all matter – regardless of what we do, regardless of who we know, we all matter just the same.
- Resilience – which is the ability to put everything in perspective, and move away from whatever crisis we may face to progress towards achieving our goals, whatever they may be.
I believe that we need all these values to become a better person in both a personal and professional sense."
Make a donation
Donate here to Camp Burdekin and make a genuine difference to these young people, enabling them to build the future they deserve.
Stronger, better, and more capable – together.
