Summer adventure awaits at SOAK

The Surf Coast Outdoor Adventure Kids program (SOAK) is running on weekdays from Thursday January 10 to Tuesday January 22 these summer school holidays.

The focus being to get kids 6-12 years outdoors having a different adventure each day.

During the school year kids spend a lot of time indoors and engaged in highly organised and controlled activities, so the summer holidays are a great chance for lots of independent play outside. Naturebased activities allow children the time, space and tools to be themselves and grow as individual.

Children who play outdoors connect to their environment by experiencing and learning about weather, flora and fauna, weed species and our impact on our environment.

This sense of place creates a foundation for a child’s being, a sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of their role in
the world and ultimately a lifelong desire to protect it.

SOAK’s school holiday program is playbased and child-led.

Each morning starts with a meeting at the camp fire and talk about the plans for the day.

What everyone sees and discovers each day will include a mixture of nature play, environmental and adventure activities.

This may include a selection of cubby building, tree climbing, mud play, buildyour- own zip line, nature craft, bush cooking, mountain-bike riding, yabby netting, low ropes course, raft building, rock pool ramble, beach play, estuary discovery, kitchen garden, canoeing plus loads more outdoor fun!

SOAK is all about fun but it also promotes developmental skills in young people. It teaches life skills and focuses on creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking.

In addition to the day camps and nature play programs, the team from SOAK is looking forward to again supporting KAOS on April 13-14, in the school holidays. KAOS is Kids Adventure Outdoors, a festival celebrating fun and adventure.

It is designed to inspire young people to try new outdoor activities and participate in active recreations in our natural environments. The aim of KAOS together with SOAK is to get more kids active outdoors more often.

The programs are run by the qualified and passionate staff at YMCA Kids Go Bush, and based at Anglesea Recreation Camp. For further information, phone 5263 1512, and find them on Facebook @YMCA Kids Go Bush.

To book, search “Anglesea” or “Kids” at eventbrite.com.au.