Happy Campers

We were fortunate to recently attend an annual camp by a lake in north Queensland. We attended last year, though were not camping on-site, and so spent the next few months acquiring enough camping gear to camp in comfort with four young children. We are so glad we made the investment. Not only were we able to use the tent and other items for the camp, but we have camped elsewhere and are surprised at how easy it has been. Anyone thinking of camping trips with young children - give it a go! We found it far easier than we had imagined.

The annual home based learners camp was in a magical part of our country, a place we love to return to at least once a year to breath the crisp air and swim in cool waters. The company was wonderful – old friends we love to catch up with, and new friends to meet. For us, the company of like-minded homeschoolers at an annual camp is a huge boost in our confidence in the decision to home educate. And being with the older home educated children and teens is always inspiring and encouraging. They are a beaut bunch of kids!

Activities were varied. One afternoon we attended an African drumming workshop. When we heard about it, we didn’t imagine we would gain so much from it. It was an afternoon of intense learning and fun, followed by a powerful evening of shared music, singing and laughter. The team who ran the workshop were so passionate, vibrant and fun.

Apart from the organised workshop (in 2000 there was abseiling available), activity at the camp is left up to those who attend. There were canoes available for hire, a clear lake to swim in, co-operative board games, bush to walk through, wildlife to observe and plenty of music to join in with or simply enjoy. A group of women joined for yoga and t’ai chi – which I thoroughly enjoyed. The children ran and played games together, sang songs, dressed up, went fishing, climbed trees, hula-hooped, discussed favourite books and splashed about for hours in the lake. We enjoyed a shared meal, and a shared birthday morning tea – which brought the group together for some conversation and laughter. The chance to chat and share was the best part about being at the camp.

There are a number of annual camps around Australia. They are organised through networks and advertised on web sites (see the State sites in the link list), in newsletters and on e-mail groups. If there were no regular camp happening near you, it would be worth inviting a few families to join you at a nearby spot for a couple of days of sharing and adventure. Our first camping experience with the kids was at a National Park 25 minutes from home with two other local home educating families. It was terribly cold (six degrees C at night … cold for us Queenslanders) and yet we had a memorable weekend with so much fun, music and laughter.

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