When choosing a programme or camp, we have lots of options! You can choose one of our age-specific holiday programmes which are designed with age appropriate activities, or choose from a range of full-week specialised programmes for children aged 9-15 years. Within our residential camp programmes young people are also grouped in specific age brackets, so activities can be tailored for their needs and abilities.
Enrolment opens approximately 5 weeks prior to the start of holidays. You can enrol online, or you can download and complete the enrolment form and drop it off at the City YMCA or the YMCA Bishopdale Recreation Centre.
*Please note, enrolments close the Thursday prior to the start of each week. Late Enrolments will need to be sent directly to the OSCAR Coordinator and may incur a $15 late booking fee.
**If you are enroling a child who is not a NZ resident or citizen but in NZ on a student or visitor visa, the cost of the programme will be 45% more than the advertised price. Parents of international students should be aware that if their child knows little English they may find participating on these programmes difficult.
Payment can be made via credit card online or by cash/eftpos at reception.
Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) Subsidies are available for our all of our programmes and Y Camp, so please enquire with your local WINZ office to learn more about if you qualify. You can also read more about the subsidy application process on the WINZ Website.
December Holiday Programmes |
January Holiday Programmes |
Y Camp |
Alpine Adventure Camp |
| City Y Programme 16-20 December |
WEEK 1 6-10 January WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4 – City Y Programme |
SANDHOPPERS 8-10 January Y CAMP WEEK 1 Y CAMP WEEK 2 |
ALPINE ADVENTURE 13-17 January |
| MON 16 DEC | TUE 17 DEC | WED 18 DEC | THU 19 DEC | FRI 20 DEC | |
| 5-10s at the City Y |
Beach Day | Mini Golf | Sports Day | BBQ at Margaret Mahy |
Christmas Party! |
| 11-15s at the City Y |
Beach Day | Mini Golf | Blow Karts | BBQ at Margaret Mahy |
Christmas Party! |
| MON 6 JAN | TUE 7 JAN | WED 8 JAN | THU 9 JAN | FRI 10 JAN | |
| 5-7s at Riccarton |
Flip Out & Park |
Summer Crafts | Movies & Sumner Beach |
Sports Day | Water Day at Riccarton |
| 8-9s at the City Y |
Sports Day | Movies & Sumner Beach |
Flip Out & Park |
Summer Crafts | Water Day at Riccarton |
| 10-12s at Riccarton |
Summer Crafts | Flip Out & Park |
Sports Day | Movies & Sumner Beach |
Water Day at Riccarton |
| 5-10s at the City Y |
Sports Day | Movies & Sumner Beach |
Summer Crafts | Flip Out & Park |
Water Day |
| Performing Arts 9-15 years |
Planning Day | Dance Workshop | Movies & Sumner Beach |
Props & Costume Planning |
SHOW DAY! |
| Activ8 Junior 9-10 years |
Laser Tag | Mega Air | Swimming | Quail Island | Water Day at Riccarton |
| Activ8 Youth 11-12 years |
Laser Tag | Overnight Arthur’s Pass |
Arthur’s Pass | Quail Island | Water Day at Riccarton |
| Frontrunners 13-15 years |
Laser Tag | Overnight Arthur’s Pass |
Arthur’s Pass | Quail Island | Water Day at Riccarton |
| MON 13 JAN | TUE 14 JAN | WED 15 JAN | THU 16 JAN | FRI 17 JAN | |
| 5-7s at Riccarton |
Sports Day | Jellie Park Swim Day |
Scavenger Hunt | Quail Island | Programme Challenge! |
| 8-9s at the City Y |
Scavenger Hunt | Quail Island | Jellie Park Swim Day |
Sports Day | Programme Challenge! |
| 10-12s at Riccarton |
Sports Day | Scavenger Hunt | Mini Golf | Quail Island | Jellie Park Swim Day |
| 5-10s at the City Y |
Scavenger Hunt | Quail Island | Jellie Park Swim Day |
Sports Day | Programme Challenge! |
| Activ8 Junior 9-10 years |
Flip Out & Park |
Packhorse Hut Overnight |
Driving Range | Mountain Biking | City Scavenger Hunt |
| Activ8 Youth 11-12 years |
Flip Out & Park |
Packhorse Hut Overnight |
Driving Range | Mountain Biking | City Scavenger Hunt |
| Tech Week 13-15 years |
Sustainable Engineering |
Robotics Workshop @ Imagination Station |
Augmented/Virtual Reality |
Turanga Music Workshop |
3D Printing Day |
| MON 20 JAN | TUE 21 JAN | WED 22 JAN | THU 23 JAN | FRI 24 JAN | |
| 5-7s at Riccarton |
Baking Day | Spencer Park Games Day |
Messy Play Day | Orana Park | Manhunt in the Gardens |
| 8-9s at the City Y |
Messy Play Day | Spencer Park Games Day |
Orana Park | Baking Day | Manhunt in the Gardens |
| 10-12s at Riccarton |
Baking Day | Spencer Park Games Day |
Orana Park | Messy Play Day | Manhunt in the Gardens |
| 5-10s at the City Y |
Messy Play Day | Spencer Park Games Day |
Baking Day | Orana Park | Manhunt in the Gardens |
| Creative Arts 9-10 years |
Planning Day | Art Gallery | Orana Park | Planning Day | Exhibition Day |
| Activ8 Junior 9-10 years |
Jellie Park Swim Day |
Spencer park Games Day |
Overnight Wainui Park |
Adrenalin Forest | Manhunt in the Gardens |
| Activ8 Youth 11-12 years |
Jellie Park Swim Day |
Spencer park Games Day |
Overnight Wainui Park |
Adrenalin Forest | Manhunt in the Gardens |
| Frontrunners 13-15 years |
Jellie Park Swim Day |
Spencer park Games Day |
Overnight Wainui Park |
Adrenalin Forest | Manhunt in the Gardens |
| MON 27 JAN | TUE 28 JAN | WED 29 JAN | THU 30 JAN | FRI 31 JAN | |
| 5-10s at the City Y |
Photo Challenge | Willowbank | Craft Day | Swimming | Bigger and Better |
| 11-15s at the City Y |
Photo Challenge | Willowbank | Archery | Swimming | Bigger and Better |
Programme information and enrolment forms are available
from the City Y or the Bishopdale Recreation Centre.
You have 2 Options:
Yes! Please call into the City YMCA and speak to one of the staff about filling out a Waiver Form. We don’t want to have the price of our programmes be a barrier to your children participating, so please if you need support get in contact with us and we can discuss payment plans and/or subsidies.
Yes! Our holiday programmes are approved for the OSCAR Subsidy unless stated otherwise. We prefer for your programme to be paid for in full before the holidays begin and once WINZ send the subsidy to us we are able to refund the subsidy to you. If you are unable to pay in full, but you know you will be receiving a subsidy, then you can fill in a Declaration to Honour Payment Form and pay small deposit to secure your booking.
All OSCAR Subsidy forms will need to be signed off by the OSCAR coordinator at the City YMCA. The form will be completed and returned for your to send to your local WINZ office. You can read more about the OSCAR Subsidy on the Work & Income Website here.
No. We have day programme options for children as well! You can enrol in any of the day(s) that are available for our age-group Day-Programmes. Our smaller more specialised Week-Long programmes must be enrolled for the full week, unless otherwise discussed with the OSCAR Coordinator. These include Arts, Activ8 Junior, Activ8 Youth, & Frontrunners.
All programmes begin at 9am and conclude at 5pm. For parents dropping their children off at the City YMCA to be transported to their programmes offsite, you must drop off your child by 8:45am to ensure they are on the 9am shuttle.
Our staff are all fantastic individuals with a real passion for working with young people. Most of our Supervisors are trained or trainee teachers, while our Activ8 supervisors are all outdoor professionals or training to be. Our volunteer leaders are all 15 years or older and work with us out of their own motivation and passion.
All of our Holiday Programme Staff are required to undergo our OSCAR Holiday Programme Training, referee checks, & complete a NZ Police Vet (returning nil record) before they can work on our holiday programmes. For this reason we believe we have the best team of staff possible to run safe & fun holiday programmes.
A programme outline of each day’s activities is available above as well as at the Sign In/Out desk. Each day your child will need to have a packed lunch & snacks, a drink bottle full of water, and appropriate clothing for the weather/activities.
Please ring the City YMCA on 03 366 0689 or you can contact the supervisor directly. Their cell phone number is available at City YMCA reception during the holiday programme period.
Regardless of what programme your child is on, please ring the City YMCA on 03 366 0689 to let us know your child will be absent.
We value your feedback! Your first port of call for any issues or concerns is the programme supervisor. Alternatively, if you have anything else you want to talk about please don’t hesitate to contact our Children’s Services Coordinator at holprog@ymcachch.org.nz
P 03 366 0689 E holprog@ymcachch.org.nz
