Experience Camp!

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 one of our camps!

 


 

Our Locations

Y Wainui Park


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!

Y Arthur’s Pass (APOEC)


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.
 

 


 

Upcoming Camps next Holidays

 

Winter Sandhoppers

age range
next camp
cost
full info

Winter Sandhoppers includes more indoor activities at Wainui Park, as well as archery, high ropes and all our other non-water activities!

Book HERE

7-8 year olds

10-12 July 2023
at Wainui Park

$300
Handbook & Gear List

 

Y Camp Cook

age range
next camp
cost
full info

This 3 day camp is about discovering the joys of cooking and meeting like-minded friends. On the second night the campers will cook a meal for the local community and any parents/caregivers.

Book HERE

12-15 year olds

2-4 July 2023
at Wainui Park

$300
Handbook & Gear List

 

Winter Y Camp

age range
next camp
cost
full info

This 3 day camp is about meeting new friends, keeping busy with activities, experiencing independence and resilience – all while having lots of fun!

Book HERE

8-11 year olds

5-7 July 2023
at Wainui Park

$300
Handbook & Gear List

 

Winter Explore

age range
next camp
cost
full info

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.

Book HERE

11-14 year olds

3-7 July 2023
at Arthur’s Pass

$600
Handbook & Gear List

 

Ski Camp

age range
next camp
cost
full info

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 Mt Hutt and Porters ski fields.

9-15 year olds

2-7 July 2023
at Methven (Mt Hutt)

8-13 July 2023
at Arthur’s Pass (Porters)

$1,450
 

$1,295


Handbook & Gear List

 
 

 

Future Camps

Sandhoppers

age range
next camp
cost
full info

Sandhoppers is a 3-day introductory residential camp based at Wainui Park in the school holidays.

Book HERE

7-8 year olds

4-6 October 2023
at Wainui Park

$300
Handbook + Gear List

 

Grasshoppers

age range
next camp
cost
full info

Grasshoppers is a 3-day introductory residential camp based at Arthur’s Pass in the school holidays.

Book HERE

7-8 year olds

27-29 September 2023
Arthur’s Pass

$300
Handbook & Gear List

 

Winter Grasshoppers

age range
next camp
cost
full info

Winter Grasshoppers is a 3-day introductory residential camp travelling to Arthur’s Pass on the Tranz Alpine. Fun in the snow!

Book HERE

7-8 year olds

July 2024
at Arthur’s Pass

TBC
Handbook & Gear List

 

Y Camp

age range
next camp
cost
full info

Our iconic 5 day Y Camp is about meeting new friends, keeping busy on all our outdoor activities, experiencing independence and resilience, and discovering everyone’s own capabilities – all while having lots of fun!

Book HERE

9-16 year olds

25-30 September 2023
and
2-6 October 2023

at Wainui Park

$360
Handbook & Gear List

 

Alpine Adventure

age range
next camp
cost
full info

Learn outdoor skills, environmental education, and experience a first introduction to having an expedition during this 5 day camp. Activities may include hiking, river crossing techniques, shelter building and orienteering.

Book HERE

11-14 year olds

October 2023
at Arthur’s Pass

$400
Handbook & Gear List

 

Alpine Expedition

age range
next camp
cost
full info

The camp is designed to give young people the opportunity to learn about themselves whilst completing an expedition on foot with their peers, in a remote environment. Our staff work alongside the young people to develop their self-awareness, expand their ability to work with others, and encourage them to take on leadership roles.

Book HERE

14-16 year olds

TBC
at Arthur’s Pass

$400
Handbook & Gear List

 

 

Transport

Return transport is provided from Christchurch to the camp destinations.
 


 

Volunteer Leader Opportunities

16 years+
Volunteering is a great way to gain hands on experience and show future employers that you are willing to get stuck in and serve others.

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:

  • You must be 16 years+
  • Available to attend our training day (this is compulsory and takes place the day before each camp)
  • Be responsible
  • Be enthusiastic!

To find our more about volunteering at camp please contact ycamp@ymcachch.org.nz

 


 

Looking for holiday programmes in Christchurch?

Holiday Programmes

Policies & Procedures for OSCAR camps

Policies & Procedures

Enter your keyword: