Reflections from the Future Camp Managers Tour

At Living Springs, we are proud to be a place where people grow through fun, challenge, nature, and connection. Whether it’s a school group discovering our ngahere (native bush) for the first time, a teenager stepping up as a leader or a child experiencing their first night away from home, every camp experience here is crafted with purpose.

In May, Bex Crosbie, our Kids Camp Director, had the opportunity to join the Future Camp Managers Tour in Australia, alongside peers from Christian Camping New Zealand. Throughout the tour, Bex visited a wide range of camps, heard from seasoned leaders, and explored different ways camps across the ditch are serving young people. Bex wears many hats at Living Springs. As the Kids Camp Director, she leads a passionate team of volunteer leaders to run fun, values-driven holiday camps for children aged 8–14. With a background in youth development and a heart for helping young people grow in confidence and character, Bex is known for her creativity, passion, and leadership. She is also actively involved in developing future leaders and has a heart for growing programme delivery across the camp.

 

The trip sparked reflection. Not just about Kids Camp, but about Living Springs as a whole. It was a chance to zoom out and ask: What do we do well? Where can we grow? And how can we keep shaping a place where young people thrive? One of the biggest takeaways was the power of clear values and a strong leadership culture. The most impactful camps weren’t the ones with the flashiest gear or the biggest facilities—they were the ones where the purpose was clear, staff felt supported, and everything from meals to morning meetings aligned with the camp’s “why.”

This affirmed what we already know at Living Springs: that camp works best when it’s more than just a programme—it’s a community built on shared purpose. We’re encouraged to keep investing in leadership development, staff training, and clear communication of our values across every area of camp life. The tour also highlighted the uniqueness of our environment here at Living Springs. Many camps offered outdoor experiences, but few could match the richness of our natural setting, our conservation ethos, and the way we integrate environmental learning into everyday camp life. This made Bex reflect on how we can go even further in this space. How can our identity as a future eco-sanctuary shape not just our environmental programmes, but also our food choices, accommodations, storytelling, and activities across the board? We were inspired to think about Living Springs not just as a camp with environmental education, but as a camp grounded in care for creation, where every camper leaves with a deeper connection to the Whenua (land) and their role as a kaitiaki (Guardians).

Another strong theme was the importance of depth and meaning over doing more. In New Zealand, we often try to offer a wide range of options to suit every group but some of the most effective camps visited focused on doing a few things well, using strong themes and debriefing to bring it all together. It reminded Bex that the power of camp doesn’t lie in the number of activities, it lies in the intention behind them. Whether it’s a hike, a trust fall, or a group discussion, we want our programmes to create space for young people to reflect, connect, and grow. Bex was also challenged to think about how we tell our story, how we explain the why behind our activities and how we equip our staff to guide those moments with confidence.

 

The trip also brought home some helpful, simple ideas we can apply straight away—like clearer systems for gear storage, visual tools to support smoother meal times, and more consistent ways of leading reflection after each activity. These may sound small, but they add up. A well-organised gear shed, a smoother transition at lunchtime, or a deeper debrief can help our leaders/teachers focus more on what matters: building relationships, supporting growth, and helping every camper feel seen and supported. This experience was a chance to celebrate who we are, be inspired by others, and keep dreaming bigger for the future of Living Springs. It reaffirmed that we have something truly special—a site rich in nature, a legacy of care, and a team that is passionate about the next generation.

But it also reminded us that we’re never finished learning. We’ll keep refining what we do, keep listening to our staff and campers, and keep asking: How can we grow people even better?

If you have any suggestions on how to make our camps better please let us know