Camp opening up

By Monique Ebrington
ADANAC camp in Yarra Junction will again give Yarra Valley kids the opportunity to swap computers for camp during the Christmas holidays.
Last year ADANAC’s Turbo Community Kids Camp saw 80 children from the community enjoy five days of fun.
Camp manager Marcel Edmonds began the scheme after he realised there was a limited amount of outdoor entertainment for young people in the Yarra Valley.
He said he often found children playing on the camp’s trampoline during school holidays and, with wife Betsy, decided to open the camp for local children.
With an overwhelming amount of children enjoying the camp this year Marcel said they will be running two camps in January.
“This year we planned for 25 kids and we got almost 80 kids,” said Mr Edmonds.
“It was amazing because the community seemed to show a real need, a real desire and an appreciation for the camp — before and after it ran.”
He said Turbo Community Kids Camp aims to not only provide entertainment and a mini holiday for kids but also to help working parents.
“The chance to go on camp, during the long haul of the summer holidays, is a great break for the parents and it’s a break for the kids,” he said.
“It’s better than hiring a video game for the week.
“I think the parents see the value in their kids coming on camp.
“They’re learning here, not in an educational way, but life skills like relationship.”
Nestled along Hoddles Creek, the five-hectare camp includes a 130-metre flying fox, lake, canoeing facilities, a 110 meter waterslide, indoor basketball court.
ADANAC’s Turbo camp will run two camps, Monday 11 to Friday 15 and Saturday 16 to Wednesday 20 January, and cater for two age categories, an eight to 12-year-old group and 12 to 15-year-old group.
Bookings will be taken up to the day before camp if places are available.
Phone 5967 1594.