Conference Venues
Willow Park Christian Camp n
and Conven tio Camping comes in all shapes, forms and styles; from braving it under the stars, to staying dry and warm in a cosy cabin. Camping became very popular starting in the early 20th century when people realised it was a great but inexpensive way to spend quality time with their family. Lasting memories were built just by sitting around the camp fire singing songs, sharing stories and eating cheap, tinned food. There were no rules or game plans, just boundless opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. So, tell me who wouldn’t want to drop everything and go ‘wild’ for a night or two? Well, sadly, many families these days are too busy with the clutter of life to stop and smell the campfire. Leisure and recreation has always been a part of our Kiwi culture. So what has changed? It’s in our blood to enjoy life, to
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explore, to discover! Many might argue that technology has turned us into ‘house potatoes,’ with all the comforts of home and a social life under one roof. Who needs to discuss the brilliant colours of the Coromandel, or the white sandy beaches along the East Coast, when we can get numerous comments on our Facebook page after listing what we discovered in our fridge at 2am? A hike through the bush is only as good as the eyes looking at the abundant creation. But eyes and thumbs working together on a text message will never see the wonders that will last longer than a good cell phone plan.
year round camp sites, motor home camps, and even a good neighbour’s backyard for the taking!
Camping can basically be described as leaving the everyday comforts of home, the mundane day in and day out, and braving it. Many camp organisations have running water, toilets, and even a hot shower. And, if you’re lucky enough to stumble upon a camp ground that sets up family or kids’ camps, consider yourself a lucky duck. New Zealand soil is practically begging its inhabitants to get out of the house.
We need to ditch the GPS and get out an old fashioned paper map and see where the little lines will take us!
Technology can either hinder us from getting out, or it can be our tour guide. Never before in history has so much information been at our fingertips. So are we gonna keep the information we find for our over typed fingers? Or, are we going to use it to better our lives, better our families, and better New Zealand?
Now, no one said that camping was just defined as staking our claim in the middle of nowhere with just a tent, a fire and a can of baked beans. There are numerous
Let’s say “YES,” call the boss man, and take off this next weekend! Call the kids’ soccer coaches and notify them that your kids won’t be at practice this week.
If we can brave the moaning and groaning from our teenagers as we put aside their cells phones for the weekend, we can surly brave the unexpected of the great outdoors. How much would you pay for a memory? What would you sacrifice to make an ordinary weekend, an adventure? Life is too short to be a house potato blogging about the possum problem in the backyard. Get out and camp, New Zealand. And, better still, choose Willow Park for conferences. Groups will love the innovative flotex floor in the multipurpose recreation which is ideal for large conferences. Teachers will also love the highly trained and helpful staff that will help make the stay a memorable one.
Willow Park 1 Hostel Access Road Eastern Beach T (09) 534 9640 E office@willowpk.org.nz www.willowpk.org.nz
1 Hostel Access Road Eastern Beach, Auckland PO Box 54098, The Marina
Phone: 09 543 9640 Fax:09 537 0930
Email: office@willowpk.org.nz Web: www.willowpk.org.nz
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