It’s never ‘just a camp’ at Living Springs

Our October Kids Camp was a blast! Here Bex Crosbie, Camp Director, tells us how each camp has its special moments and one of them, this time, was the monorail…

Kids Camp at Living Springs is four nights and five days full of fun, friendship, adventure and plenty of memories! It’s great because, as Director, I get to be part of it all – the fun, of course, but also the challenges and the moments that make camp so special.  

Four times a year, during the school holidays, we welcome kids aged 8 to 14 to our grounds and bunkhouses. They try new things, make friends and get involved in everything camp has to offer. From colour wars and bouldering to swimming, campfires and Gaga ball, there is always something happening. But some of my favourite moments are the ones you might not expect. 

This camp, one of those moments was the famous monorail. 

One camper, who had been coming to Living Springs for years, finally worked up the courage to give it a go. Previously they had always sat on the sidelines, so seeing them take that step and give it a try was pretty special. It might seem like a small thing, but for that particular camper, it was a big deal. As they roared around the final bend, our team celebrated right alongside them – and it was a great reminder that sometimes the little victories are the ones worth celebrating the most! 

 

 

Building up an inclusive community 

Another highlight was seeing a former camper come back to Living Springs as a leader. He wanted to give other kids the same great experiences and memories that he had been given when he was a camper himself. I love seeing things like this happen. Someone who once came to camp to have fun and make friends is now coming back to help create those same experiences for the next group of kids. How cool is that? 

Over the past year, our ‘Build Up’ theme has been all about encouraging one another, celebrating each other’s achievements and making sure people feel included. This camp was a great example of that in action, from cheering on campers trying something new to celebrating those monorail moments of challenge together. It has been awesome seeing campers and leaders put this concept into practice throughout the year. 

We have loved our year of Build Up, but we are already looking ahead to 2027! A brand new Kids Camp theme is coming soon, and we cannot wait to share it with everyone. Watch this space… 

Kindness is at the core 

Behind all the activities and excitement, Kids Camp is also a place where kids can explore their faith, learn about Jesus and discover what it looks like to practice kindness, respect and perseverance. Our leaders play a huge part in this. They give up their school holidays to invest in the lives of our campers. 

When Friday comes around, we pack everything away, clean the cabins and say goodbye to another group of kids. After a busy week, the team is definitely ready for a rest! But we also leave with some pretty great stories and memories from the week. 

Watching the kids and leaders grow in confidence, try things they never thought they would and make friendships along the way is one of the best parts of my job.  

Kids Camp is about having a go, lifting one another up and discovering that you have a place to belong. And after a camp like this one, we are already looking forward to doing it all again! 

The next Kids Camp is January 18th-22nd. If you’d like to join in  want to find out more, get in touch: bex@livingsprings.co.nz