New Zealanders are known around the world for our resilience, our ‘can do’ attitude and our skills in outdoor environments. The YMCA believes this hype, but also knows that young people need opportunities to develop these capabilities – we are not born with them. The outdoor camping tradition where children must learn to cope with new people, new environments, new challenges without the comfort of familiar adults and surroundings has long been considered a safe and memorable place to build self confidence, self esteem and self determination.
We also know that parents and caregivers need to trust that their children will be kept physically, emotionally and spiritually safe – and this trust is hard earned. Our focus on all our residential camps is pastoral care first and foremost, because if children and young people do not feel safe they cannot develop the other stuff. Our camps are designed to be a place where children and young people can make friends, have fun, be adventurous and most importantly, go home with positive memories, happy stories and new skills. We look forward to meeting your son or daughter at a YMCA camp!
Y Camp is a very popular six-day residential school holiday camp. From the age of 7 years, children can come and participate in the vast array of fun activities led by our outstanding local and international volunteer instructors.
A strong focus is on social interaction and as the children grow into teenagers, leadership development and goal setting is incorporated into the programmes. Three camps run through the summer holidays, one in the April holidays and one in the October holidays.
9–10 year olds
This programme is designed for primary school aged children, and activities may include fishing, kayaking, streamsteering, low ropes, arts and crafts, archery, bivvy building, swimming, sneak outs and much more.
11–12 year olds
The focus of this programme is on building social interactions while having fun! It is designed specifically for intermediate aged children, and activities may include kayaking, rock climbing, coasteering, abseiling, outdoor cooking, grass skiing, swimming, archery, campfire and much more!
13–14 year olds
This programme is designed to meet the needs of the teenaged youth. The focus is both on social interactions as well as the outdoors, and activities may include kayaking, coasteering, orienteering, archery, rock climbing, high ropes, raft building, leadership development and much more.
15 year olds+
With a maximum of nine participants, this programme is designed around individuals’ own goals and developing leadership skills. Activities may include overnight camps or trips, a solo camping trip and a wide range of outdoor pursuits and journeys.
7–9 year olds
Sandhoppers is an introductory camp for younger campers that only takes place in January. It is a shorter 3 day residential camp with lots of opportunities to participate in many fun activities.
6 day residential Y Camp
$320
3 day residential Sandhoppers Camp
$165
Children are dropped off at the City YMCA, and will then be transported by coach to Wainui Park.
We are now running a series of new residential school holiday camps out of our YMCA Outdoor Education Centre at Arthur’s Pass.
Young people can come to learn outdoor living and survival skills, while having heaps of fun with their peers, in a unique alpine environment. Led by experienced instructors, the main focus is learning and adapting to your environment, working as part of a team, and developing connections and friendships with others.
Since these programmes are designed for small groups of only up to 18, we are able to provide unique experiences that allow the participants to have lots of hands on fun and make close connections with others on the camp.
Learn outdoor skills, environmental education, and experience a first introduction to having an expedition. Activities may include hiking, river crossing techniques, shelter building orienteering etc.
Multi-day tramping trip around Arthur’s Pass National Park. Participants will be self-sufficient – carrying their gear, camping out in tents, cooking on stoves and navigating their way on a journey.
An introduction to winter in the mountains! Centre-based with day trips. Get the opportunity to go on the Tranz Alpine train, learn about the area, seek out the snow and participate in fun outdoor activities!
5 day residential camps
Summer Adventure$375
Autumn Expedition$400
Winter Explore$450
Spring Expedition$400
Camps include all activities, accommodation and meals – the camps are NOT WINZ or MSD subsidised
Parents Handbook – Spring Expedition Camp
Spring Expedition Gear List
Parents Handbook – Winter Explore Camp
Winter Explore Gear List
Every winter the Christchurch YMCA runs two 5-day residential ski camps for 9-15 year olds. These camps are a great way to gain skills and confidence in skiing and snowboarding and make new friends! We have highly qualified and talented instructors who lead ski camp and work alongside the equally skilled staff on the skifields.
This year we are offering two options:
Week 1 will be based at Mt Hutt Bunkhouse in Methven, skiing at Mt Hutt.
Week 2 will be based at YMCA Arthur’s Pass, skiing at Porter’s.
Both of these weeks cater to all skills and abilities, and includes transportation, accommodation, food, lift passes, & 2 compulsory lessons on Day 1 & 2.
WEEK 1 – MT HUTT
5 day residential Ski Camp based at Mt Hutt Bunkhouse
$950
6-10 July 2020
WEEK 2 – PORTER’S
5 day residential Ski Camp based at YMCA Arthur’s Pass Education Centre
$800
13-17 July 2020
Ski Camps are NOT WINZ or MSD subsidised
