New Zealanders are known around the world for our resilience, our ‘can do’ attitude and our skills in outdoor environments. The Y 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 Y camp!
Wainui Park, on the Banks Peninsula, has been the venue for Y camps for over 90 years, and is the perfect location for children to learn, grow and develop.
Children ages 7-10 years stay at Wainui Heights, where they are accommodated in bunk rooms (up to 6 per room) with ensuite bathrooms. Children aged 11 years and older are accommodated at Powell Village, where they enjoy a more rustic stay in our cabins.
Wainui Park has a wide range of activities both on and offsite, including kayaking, high ropes, coasteering, archery and much, much more.
We’re sure your child will come home inspired and with some great stories to share!
Our Arthur’s Pass Outdoor Education Centre (APOEC) is set in the heart of the small rural township of Arthur’s Pass. The towering mountains and alpine landscape are sure to inspire anyone that visits!
The Centre is much smaller than Wainui Park however this gives a more intimate feel to our Camps. Participants stay in dorm rooms (up to 11 per room) when onsite, check the programme to see if overnight camping is included, as this is often a feature of an APOEC Camp.
What’s truly special about APOEC is that we use the landscape around us for activities. We give young people the chance to connect with nature whilst learning about themselves through challenging activities under our expert instructors’ guidance.
Wainui Park – January
APOEC – April & October
Wainui Park – January, April & October
Wainui Park – January
Wainui Park – July
APOEC – July
Wainui Park – January, April & October
Wainui Park – January
APOEC – January, April & October
APOEC – July
APOEC – July
Wainui Park – January, April & October
Wainui Park – January
APOEC – January, April & October
APOEC – July
APOEC – July
Sandhoppers is a 3-day introductory residential camp based at Wainui Park in the school summer holidays. Participants will have lots of opportunities to enjoy many fun activities while making new friends and enjoying camp for the first time.
for 7-8 years
Grasshoppers, based from APOEC is a 3-day residential camp. If you loved your time at Wainui Park with Sandhoppers, why not jump into our Grasshopper Camp! Our range of activities explore the nature and environment around Arthurs Pass whilst making new friends along the way.
Our Winter Camp includes travelling to Arthur’s Pass on the TranzAlpine and having lots of fun in the snow!
for 7-8 years
in October 2022
As this may be the first opportunity for campers to be away from home for four nights, this 5-day camp at Wainui Park is designed around building independence and resilience while enjoying a mixture of our onsite and local activities.
In winter we have an exciting week of activities exclusively for our Fantails! This week kicks off with a day of activities in Christchurch (sports day and Clip ‘n Climb) before we head over to Wainui for our first night at Wainui. During our time at Wainui we have some great onsite activities designed around team building and developing new skills. We return to Christchurch on Friday morning for some more fun in the city before reuniting with family.
for 9-10 years
The focus of this 5-day camp is on building social interactions and skill development while having fun in a mixture of onsite and local activities at Wainui Park. Participants are given the opportunity to participate in many activities designed to teach them more about their own capabilities and that of their peers, all whilst having fun!
for 11-12 years
The focus of this 5-day camp is on building social interactions and skill development while having fun in a mixture of onsite and local activities at Wainui Park. Participants are given the opportunity to participate in many activities designed to teach them more about their own capabilities and that of their peers, all whilst having fun!
for 13-14 years
This camp is designed around goal setting, developing leadership skills and reflection. We have a maximum of nine participants to enable us to provide campers with a wide range of outdoor pursuits and journeys onsite and offsite.
for 15-16 years
in October 2022
As this may be the first opportunity for campers to be away from home for two nights, this 3-day camp at Wainui Park is designed around building independence and resilience while enjoying a mixture of our onsite and local activities, and only runs in the January holidays.
for 9-10 years
The focus of this January only 3-day camp is on building social interactions and skill development while having fun in a mixture of onsite and local activities at Wainui Park. Participants are given the opportunity to participate in many activities designed to teach them more about their own capabilities and that of their peers, all whilst having fun!
for 11-12 years
$265
Learn outdoor skills, environmental education, and experience a first introduction to having an expedition during this camp based at APOEC. Activities may include hiking, river crossing techniques, shelter building orienteering etc on this 5-day camp.
for 11-14 years
An amazing introduction to winter in the mountains on this 5-day camp! Have a fun ski day at Porter’s, learn about the area, seek out the snow and participate in adventurous outdoor activities all based from APOEC!
for 11-14 years
Every winter we run a residential ski camps for 9-15 year olds, based from our Arthur’s Pass Outdoor Education Centre. 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 ski field at Porters Alpine Resort.
This week caters to all skills and abilities, and includes transportation, accommodation, food, gear rental, lift passes, & lessons on each ski day (four skiing days in total).
for 9-15 years
Return transport is provided from Christchurch to the camp destinations.
Leaders work alongside our qualified instructors and are responsible for supervising the campers. They will work with one age group for the week and have the opportunity to participate in the activities.
Prerequisites for Y Camp leaders are:
To find our more about volunteering at camp please contact Gemma ycamp@ymcachch.org.nz
