My Camp Kulin Experience
Months ago I had friends over and my friend Kate told us about this camp she did out in the desert for kids who had been through trauma. She spoke about how these kids came into the scholarship camp with low self esteem, low self-worth, issues with respecting authority and so on, and how this one week of activity with these really lovely kids you could see a world of difference in their attitudes, behaviour and demeanour. She talked about how it wasn't your average camp, how much work it was, and how difficult it was to get in as a counsellor.
Fast-forward to a month ago and another friend sent me a link through the Curtin University volunteer portal with an ad for volunteer camp leaders at the same camp. She thought it might be up my alley. I was just finishing up an English camp for wealthy kids in Hanoi, Vietnam, and was about to fly home. I sent Tanya an expression of interest email. Her enthusiastic reply told me "it’s all about giving the kids a great week" and warned me that it "may or may not mean water bombs, Miss Camp Kulin parade dressed in newspaper and tape, giant dodge ball and all other kind of crazy!" Little did I know.
Day one started with a briefing for counsellors on each of the kids, some of the problems they face, and therefore problems we may encounter while having them on camp. In my group of 4 boys aged 12-13 (the oldest at camp), for one of the boys this was an opportunity to steer impressionable boys from a very dark path they are exposed to. Suddenly I realised how crucial my role is at this pivotal time in this young man's life, and how lucky he was to have a sponsored position.
Fast-forward to a month ago and another friend sent me a link through the Curtin University volunteer portal with an ad for volunteer camp leaders at the same camp. She thought it might be up my alley. I was just finishing up an English camp for wealthy kids in Hanoi, Vietnam, and was about to fly home. I sent Tanya an expression of interest email. Her enthusiastic reply told me "it’s all about giving the kids a great week" and warned me that it "may or may not mean water bombs, Miss Camp Kulin parade dressed in newspaper and tape, giant dodge ball and all other kind of crazy!" Little did I know.
Day one started with a briefing for counsellors on each of the kids, some of the problems they face, and therefore problems we may encounter while having them on camp. In my group of 4 boys aged 12-13 (the oldest at camp), for one of the boys this was an opportunity to steer impressionable boys from a very dark path they are exposed to. Suddenly I realised how crucial my role is at this pivotal time in this young man's life, and how lucky he was to have a sponsored position.
The kids arrived and camp started. From moment one I realised that this being my first camp, I was suddenly a sponge, learning so much about an area I knew little about. These skills I'd be taking with me into the classroom and into any situation in life involving kids. Having received briefings from Kate and Tanya, it was a lot like I expected and I felt adequately prepared, but I was still learning a lot. Without a doubt it's one of the best run camps I have ever been on. But that isn't what surprised me. What surprised me was the bond the leaders have, right down to calling Tanya 'Mum', which I eagerly joined in on. These vastly different people and personalities had this strong, altruistic goal we were working on together, and we came together like a family while the kids were asleep. I was instantly one of them and was proud to be so.
During the day it was my job to assist make the changes in the kids as opportunities arose. One double-whammy I'm proud of is having one child we're trying to groom leadership qualities in to teach a child who feels like they can't do anything how to tie their shoelaces. There were kids who needed to learn how to win who may not get encouragement at home (slowly coming out of their shell and participating more and more as the week went on), kids who need to learn how to lose, and kids who need to learn how to be independent. I gave kids a "well done" they needed because some of them never receive it otherwise. This is an example of how we engineer a pivotal moment for a child. The high leader to camper ratio also means we can give them the attention they need.
The biggest thing I will tell people is that Camp Kulin makes a difference. You can see it from day one to day three, let alone five. It's not just about giving kids some fun - it's about giving them fun they don't have, or a week away from the rest of their life, or an opportunity to develop attributes that are putting them at a big advantage. Or perhaps it's about steering them off a dark path, or giving them a positive role model. In every case it's whatever they need, and I am ecstatic that I was able to make a difference.
To learn more about Camp Kulin, find out how to become a volunteer or sponsor a child, visit The Camp Kulin Home Page or Faceboook group.
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During the day it was my job to assist make the changes in the kids as opportunities arose. One double-whammy I'm proud of is having one child we're trying to groom leadership qualities in to teach a child who feels like they can't do anything how to tie their shoelaces. There were kids who needed to learn how to win who may not get encouragement at home (slowly coming out of their shell and participating more and more as the week went on), kids who need to learn how to lose, and kids who need to learn how to be independent. I gave kids a "well done" they needed because some of them never receive it otherwise. This is an example of how we engineer a pivotal moment for a child. The high leader to camper ratio also means we can give them the attention they need.
The biggest thing I will tell people is that Camp Kulin makes a difference. You can see it from day one to day three, let alone five. It's not just about giving kids some fun - it's about giving them fun they don't have, or a week away from the rest of their life, or an opportunity to develop attributes that are putting them at a big advantage. Or perhaps it's about steering them off a dark path, or giving them a positive role model. In every case it's whatever they need, and I am ecstatic that I was able to make a difference.
To learn more about Camp Kulin, find out how to become a volunteer or sponsor a child, visit The Camp Kulin Home Page or Faceboook group.
Back to Camp Leader