Soak up the fun outdoors

YMCA Kids Go Bush are always looking to offer more ways to connect children and young people to the outdoors.

YMCA Anglesea’s school holiday program Surf Coast Outdoor Adventure Kids (SOAK) is play-based and youth-led.

YMCA Kids Go Bush is all about fun but it also promotes developmental skills in young people from tots to teens.

With various sessions to choose from over the school holidays on selected weekdays, there is something for all young people.

The focus is to get young people outdoors having a different adventures outdoors each day with a youth-focused unscheduled timeframe throughout the day.y

Camp-based days are suited to primary school age, and include a selection of cubby building, tree climbing, mud play, build your own zip line, nature craft, bush cooking, mountain bike riding, rogaining, giant swing, archery, climbing wall, plus loads more fun activities.

Themed activity days include SOAK Does Paddle and SOAK Does Skate, and are designed to allow more time on a single activity to increase skills and learn from the passionate instructors.

These holidays, eligible parents and carers can receive Positive Start funding to attend camps, as part of the Victorian Government’s initiative to re-engage primary and secondary students to boost their emotional and physical health and wellbeing in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

At YMCA Anglesea Recreation camp students in Year 7-12 can attend a five-day camp full of adventure and primary school age students need to attend three consecutive day camps to be eligible for funding. Day camps are open to all families, regardless of Positive Start eligibility, everyone is welcome to attend SOAK.

In addition to the School Holiday Day Programs, YMCA Anglesea is running some family playgroup events for early years adventurers and siblings at their family connection events, so if you would like to share some nature craft or bush cooking with your mini adventurers, it’s a great way to be supported getting outside this winter.

Holiday sessions are a great introduction to the term-based Early Years or Forest Learning programs.

The Kids Go Bush term-based programs includes Bush Playgroup on Monday and Tuesday mornings and Bush Kids for kinder age on Friday mornings. The independent Forest learning program includes Forest Kids on Thursday for those aged 4-9 and Forest Skills for older learners aged 9-14 on Wednesdays. This immersive and experiential outdoor offering suits those not yet at school and home school families and extends the early years philosophy of play based learning, connecting with the outdoors, choice and active collaborative play.

If weather is extreme or uncomfortable, there are indoor spaces and shelter around camp and indoor adventurous activities.
The focus of programs is to guide into independent supported play, initiating new experiences, challenging comfort zones and learning in the amazing Surf Coast environment along the way.

Bookings are now open at ymcavic.venue360.me/public/events/homepage

For more information, phone YMCA Anglesea Recreation Camp on 5263 1512, email [email protected], or head to Instagram (@YMCA_KidsGoBush) and Facebook (/kidsgobush)