City Day Camps

City Day Camps Frequently Asked Questions

Campers on camp

Leadership and superversion on camp

Refunds and Cancellations

City Day Camps Frequently Asked Questions

What does a typical day of City Day camp look like?

Campers will arrive between 8:30 and 9:00 every morning and we will start the day with fun team games and activities.

During the morning, we will also have Morning Tea at 9:30 am, as well as a session to hear some Christian input including a short message from our Camp Speaker.

Lunch will be served at 12:30, following which we will go on an excursion to various sites across the Melbourne CBD.

Following the excursion, we will return to City CYC for a quiet activity before pickup between 5:00 and 5:30.

Do you have to be a Christian or go to church to come on camp?

Being ‘Christian Youth Camps’, this is one of the most common questions we are asked about Holiday Camps. We have a wide variety of children who come to our camps, and these range from campers who are part of a local church or youth group, to campers who have little or no background with faith.

Campers are not required to come from a particular denomination or have any affiliation with a church in order to come to camp. Many children come because they are invited by friends, come to one of the campsites on a school camp, or stumble across this website!

Having said this, it is important that all Campers are aware that age-appropriate interactive Bible-based sessions are held each day as an integral part of camp. They are Christian camps, but you don’t have to be a Christian or go to church to attend.

What does the Christian input on the camp look like?

All CYC Ministries Holiday Camps include age- appropriate Bible-based sessions each day. In general these would include a time of singing, a short message from the camp speaker, a game or activity relating to the message, and time to ask questions and reflect on the session. In addition, all Leaders on camp are Christians, and are available to answer questions that campers may have about the Christian faith.

Our camp speakers are predominantly from local churches and/or other Christian organisations and are chosen based on their ability to effectively communicate with the specific age group for the camp.

Given the breadth of different backgrounds of our campers, we aim for our sessions to be inclusive and sensitive to the demographics of each camp.

If you would like to find out more about our beliefs, you can check out our Statement of Faith here .

What expectations do you have of campers whilst on a Holiday Camp?

The majority of our expectations for campers whilst on our Holiday Camps are outline in our Camper Code of Conduct which will be sent to Parents/Guardians prior to camp, with the expectation that will be communicated to campers.

That being said, our biggest expectation is that campers will engage with every aspect of camp, knowing that if they do they will have a great time doing it!

Can I book my child in for only some days of City Day Camp?

Although our City Day Camps are designed as a full week program, we realise that this is not always logistically possible. One of the best parts of camp is the opportunity to make new friends and build relationships throughout the week, so we do encourage campers to come for the full week where possible to get the most out of camp. However, if you are needing to book for part of the camp, we can make this happen, so please contact us to discuss part-time attendance options.

What meals are provided on City Day Camps?

On our City Day Camps we provide campers with lunch, as well as morning tea and afternoon tea. Fruit is also available throughout the day. We request that unless arranged prior, that campers do not bring extra food to camp.

We do suggest that campers bring a refillable water bottle with them to camp.

What if my child doesn't know anybody else on camp?

One of the best parts of camp is meeting new friends! One of the main focuses of our program is to build relationships amongst campers. Campers will be placed in groups and teams, which will allow them to develop bonds from day one, and our Leaders are trained to help foster these new friendships. Our goal is to make sure that camp is a welcoming place for all!

Does my child need spending money on camp?

We kindly ask that you do not send any money with your child to camp. Our days and excursions will be so jam packed; there will not be opportunities for shopping. In terms of food and drink, this is all provided through camp. With regards to souvenirs, as most of the excursions involve walking and/or catching the tram/train, we would not want children to spend money on souvenirs that could potentially get lost before returning to camp.

What happens on wet weather days?

Camp will go on, rain or shine! If there is significantly inclement weather, the Camp Director will alter the program to be appropriate for wet weather, to ensure that all campers remain dry and comfortable. Please send campers with a raincoat, even on days that start off sunny; Melbourne!!

Who are the Staff and Volunteers on camp?

Alongside our incredible staff team (link), all of our events are predominantly staffed by an incredibly passionate and dedicated group of volunteers, who are excited about spending a week of camp with your young person.

Our volunteers all come from local churches, with many of them also having previously been campers on our camps, and are passionate about giving young people and families an experience to remember on camp!

Our Volunteer leadership teams typically operate at a one to three ratio with campers, which means that not only are our campers supervised effectively, but they also have the opportunity to build relationships with some amazing role models.

All of our Volunteers engage in relevant training including child safety and role specific training, and are supervised by one of our staff team who will be on site at all times.

What supervision is provided during camp?

In a general sense, our City Day Camps operate on approximately a one Leader to three camper ratio.. In general, Team Leaders will have between 4 - 6 campers directly in their care, and they are supported throughout camp by a number of volunteers filling other roles, as well as a First Aid person present on all camp.

It is our expectation that our leaders have direct supervision over all campers throughout the whole of camp.

What happens if I need to change/cancel my booking?

If you need to change/cancel your booking speak to the Camp Director. If you are unsure who the Camp Director is you can contact us at info@holidaycamps.org.au

City Day Camps Refund and Cancellation Policy

In the event that you need to cancel any applications you have made for camp, the following policy applies.

Up until 8 weeks from the start of camp - Transfer payment to another camp or full refund of any fees paid.

Up until 2 weeks from the start of camp - Transfer payment to another camp or full refund of any fees paid, minus the 20% deposit paid on application

Less than 2 weeks from the start of camp - No refund of any fees paid

In the event that a camper is sent home from camp due to illness, a partial refund may be available, in discussion with the Camp Director.

In the event that a camper is sent home from camp for behavioural reasons, no refund of any fees paid will be available. Any concerns or questions about refunds or cancellations should be directed to the appropriate Camp Director.

What if my child is sick and can't attend?

If your child is sick prior to the start of camp, please contact the Camp Director as soon as possible so that they can be aware.

If your child is sick prior to the start of camp, and will not be attending at all, you will receive back the total amount of camp fees already paid, minus the 20% deposit. Unfortunately we do not offer partial refunds for campers who are only able to attend part-time due to illness.

Please note: Campers and any siblings in the same household must be symptom-free of gastro for at least 48 hours before attending camp