Adventure, outdoors, bush skills and nature play

At the Y Anglesea Discovery Camp, the focus is to get young people outdoors having a different adventures and outdoor experiences.

Now more than ever, we know our young people need experiences and options to develop life skills and also try new skills in life.

Research tells us that spending time outside has significant benefits for children’s learning, emotional resilience and developing skills for a healthy life.

This summer, we are running several school holiday options across the weeks on selected days, so there is something to inspire all young people to get active and inspired outdoors.

Running during January, our camp Program Team is running “Schools Out” program, where young people aged 6-14 will experience four adventurous activities over the day.

These may include vertical climb, mountain bike, team challenge, bouldering, bush cooking, beach games, archery or the Giant Swing.

Our Program Team is all about fun but also promote social and personal growth skills in young people as they expand comfort zones and try new skills.

All programs are run by the qualified and passionate staff at The Y Anglesea Discovery Camp.

Our Kids Go Bush Team is running “Forest Skills” day sessions – these will focus on bushcraft skill development, environmental awareness and youth-led nature play.

Activities will be chosen by the young people and may include cubby building, tree climbing, build your own zip line, nature weaving/craft, bushcraft tools, whittling, bush cooking, plus loads more outdoor fun!

The day will be led by the young people and allow time to be immersed and inspired in the bush!

A child focused and unscheduled timeframe throughout the day, allows development of real life skills, learning by doing, and focus on creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking.

This allows for ownership, leadership and negotiation skills as games, themes and skills develop.

For our early year families and those newer to outdoor learning, we are running Family Play Adventures.

These are great one-off events for the whole family to connect with each other and spend time outdoors.

We provide nature-based craft, early tool use and fire cooking activity during the session.

Our single sessions are a great introduction to our term based Forest learning and Early Years Nature programs.

Our YMCA Kids Go Bush Team runs Bush Playgroups and Forest skills programs for families and independent learners wanting to leap into independent outdoor play.

With independent learning sessions from ages 4-9 and 8-15 across weekly, our forest skills learners immerse in outdoor learning, without parents or guardians.

They become independent learners developing confidence, leadership, community, bush craft skills and awe in the discovery in the bush world around them.

We know 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.

Plus it is great for our physical and mental health.

Bookings are now open for our programs online at ymcavic.venue360.me/public/events/homepage

For further information, phone YMCA Anglesea Recreation Camp on 5263 1512, you can also find us on Facebook and Instagram @YMCA Kids Go Bush and @Anglesea Discovery Camp

We all know getting outside is great for our physical health and mental wellbeing… so come join us!

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