This post has been written in collaboration with Crusaders Camps
Last Tuesday night as Jacob and I drove our girls to church, we stopped behind an old, remodeled Ford. In the back of the car I could make out there was a well-dressed young couple. At first I thought the couple must have just got married, as you could tell from the back that the girl was wearing a tiara and the young man was wearing a grey suit. In my mummy brain moment, I told Jacob the couple in front of us had just gotten married. As the light turned green and we eventually passed the car, Jacob said no they’re going to their formal. There’s no ribbon on the car. Ah-huh! Of course. November. The month of school formals and schoolies week.
The realization made me smile because our first date was at my school formal. That was over 14 years ago.
I have fond memories at the end of 2001 when I graduated from high school. There was my school formal where I took my future husband (although I didn’t know it at that time), and then I went away on Schoolies Week to the Whitsunday Islands. My parents were fairly strict on where I went outside of high school, so I was relieved that they agreed I could go on a schoolies camp of sorts, up north which was known back then as Backflip. If I requested to go to the Gold Coast I knew the answer straight away. There was no point asking, but there was initiative of showing my mum an alternative destination.
That Whitsunday’s trip was fabulous. A team of leaders and a couple of hundred (could have been less) 17 year olds (who had parents that thought similarly to mine!) travelled by Qrail to Proserpine. We were divided into groups and our itinerary included sailing around the Whitsunday Islands for a couple of days, relaxing at Long Island Beach Resort for two days and 1 night, and hanging around Airlie Beach. There was never a dull moment. I had such an awesome time, my friend took this photo of me fast asleep at a table, outside a café, in the heart of the shopping precinct of Airlie Beach. I think I slept for half an hour or so! Embarrassing!
The best part of going on Backflip was having the safety of leaders that were similar in faith and were there to ensure us kids had a good time and didn’t get ourselves into trouble. When you’re 17, and you’ve finished school, you think you know everything and you’re keen to try everything. Thank goodness for the safety net of those leaders!
When I think back to my teenage years, some of my best trips away were on church camps or school camps that offered a variety of activities with a safe and spiritually enlightening atmosphere.
The Crusaders Camps in Sydney are just like that. Camps that are run through school holidays that offer adventure activities for kids, while encouraging the development of their mind, body and spirit.
These days, so many teens and young kids revert to the IPad or TV during their holidays. While I believe teens and kids need to learn how to make their own fun, sending them on a camp is not a fob off option. The Crusaders camps are organized to ensure your teen has a good time and gives them the freedom to search out their spirituality in a safe environment.
Camps like The Crusaders are a great option for working parents who are unable to take time off work to look after their kids during school holidays. Often it can give a buffer until you can take time off to spend with your kids.
If you live in Sydney and its surrounding suburbs and you want your child to have super cool memories of their holidays, why not check out Cru Camps? Or at least get your child to check out what’s on offer at the camp. Not only will your kids make the best memories, they will make new friends. I still keep in contact with some of the friends I made on that Schoolies trip many years ago.
Did you go on Schoolies week when you were 17? Ever go on an organised camp during school holidays?
This post has been written in accordance with my disclosure policy.
