Why Choose Youthworks?
Life-Changing Experiences Youthworks Christian Outdoor Education (COE) is the industry leader when it comes to integrating the Christian worldview with professional outdoor education. We believe in the value of getting kids out of the classroom and into the great Australian outdoors, at one of our scenic conference centres, or on a quality journey-based program. At Youthworks we combine
adventure education with authentic biblical teaching to create life-changing experiences. Youthworks has been running Christian Outdoor Education programs for over 30 years. During those years we have created a legacy of delivering excellent programs that challenge students physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
Experienced Christian Staff
Wilderness First Aid
Our exclusively Christian leaders are each highly trained, qualified, and experienced not just in outdoor skills but also in transforming those teachable moments into life-shaping, faith-developing experiences. Christian instructors mean a biblical Christian worldview is a fully integrated part of the program, supporting the beliefs and values of your school community. We employ a team of 50 full time staff members which means we do not regularly rely on casual staff. The strong camaraderie in our team community flows into our programs as our staff seek to develop positive relationships with the students in their groups.
Youthworks COE upholds an exceptional safety record. One of the ways that we do this is by requiring all of our team members to be trained in and maintain a Wilderness First Responder qualification. This qualification is above and beyond industry standards, assuring the quality care of our participants.
Pre-Program School Visits When designing any program with Youthworks COE, a program design specialist will come and meet with you personally to help you design a program that meets your desired outcomes. Using their experience and expertise our team can work with you to create a memorable experience for your students.
Registered Training Organisation Youthworks is a registered training organisation and trains its staff through an 18 month, government audited, Cert III in Outdoor Leadership. Staff are also trained in Cert IV Outdoor Leadership through external providers which enables our team members to gain exposure to a large variety of trainers, instructors and environments. This comprehensive regime ensures all our instructors are highly trained and deeply experienced.
What Our Customers Say
“The staff are young, trained well, and enthusiastic. They go out of their way to ensure the campers have a great time.”
“Youthworks go above and beyond with everything. We trust them wholeheartedly with our students because they authentically show the love of Christ in their connection of Outdoor Education and the Christian message of hope in Jesus.”
“A great camp that challenges kids to explore their limits and still offers the chance to reflect on them and their lives through a Christian world view.”
“If you want an exceptional camp for your school, look no further than Youthworks. They are absolute professionals who keep Christ at the centre of all of their activities. They make for a very stress free camp experience.”
Horizon camps are fully programmed and run by trained Youthworks staff, with teachers taking on a supporting role, meaning less stress for you and your team. What makes Horizon unique though is that it’s an inherently Christian program, developed to support the mission of Christian and Independent schools. The Horizon program features learning across three different spheres; the outdoors, education and community all delivered within the context of biblical Christianity. As students encounter God’s creation in the outdoors, they will conquer challenges, acquire skills and build awareness of themselves and others within a community.
The Program Programs are designed to be sequential across school years, building on what students have learnt previously, but can also function as a stand-alone event. All programs are designed in consultation with you to complement the unique nature of each school, while delivering value to all stakeholders, including teachers, parents and students. Days are fully programmed between 8am and 5pm with outdoor activities and an integrated Christian Discovery (CD) session, with Youthworks staff also catering all meals. Evenings are your own, with the exception of one night of your program, where Youthworks guides will run a night program, chosen by you from a variety of options before camp. Students will be split into activity groups of about 15 students, and we endeavour to assign the same guide to each group for all activities across the camp.
Christian Discovery Our guides will present the Christian Discovery sessions during your camp, usually one at the beginning of each day. This is a chance for your students to study the claims of the Bible, and have the opportunity to respond in an open discussion with their activity groups. These presentations from our trained guides keep students engaged while encouraging them to think critically.
Flexibility Youthworks can run Horizon camps at multiple locations within NSW, with a variety of accommodation and activity options, all priced competitively. Whether you’re looking for a physically demanding camp – full of paddling, hiking and sleeping in tents – or a camp designed to build interpersonal relationships through teamwork activities like rock climbing and initiatives, Youthworks can design a package to meet your needs.
Additions to Horizon program Big Day out A Big Day Out will take your students away from their accommodation for the day and experience the bush in a way that is challenging, exciting and fun. On a Big Day Out students will still engage in outdoor activities but will need to get to these bush based activities through the use of navigation and by completing challenges. A Big Day Out is a great way to introduce students to the experience of being immersed in the wilderness and can be an excellent sequential stepping stone for groups that will be going on expeditions in future years.
Expedition Push your students further and harder by adding an expedition into your Horizon program. Students will learn bush craft and camping skills such as hiking, navigation, cooking, tenting and prioritisation while being challenged in terrain and carrying everything they need.
2023 Prices* 2 days from $241 3 days from $345 4 days from $448 5 days from $552 *Prices are the minimum per student.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is an excellent program that equips young people for life and work. At Youthworks we have been facilitating Christian outdoor education programs for over 30 years, including the Adventurous Journey section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. It is just one of the great ways our programs help young adventurers grow in their understanding of God, themselves, and the world around us.
Partner with our adventure experts For many schools, successfully planning and delivering an Adventurous Journey is simply too great a challenge in the midst of a busy teaching schedule. By partnering with Youthworks, you can have access to all our outdoors experiences, including qualified instructors, supervisors and quality outdoor equipment to hire for the trip. We ensure that your journey is delivered in a suitable location for the needs and outcomes of your students.
The Program Your journey will be facilitated by fully qualified and professional Christian outdoor educators who are passionate about using adventures in creation to provide life-changing experiences for young people. Each journey is planned and delivered in accordance with current industry standards and reviewed by industry-leading risk management processes. You will be supported by the best resources, equipment and logistics including real-time satellite monitoring and communications systems operated by our expert expedition coordinators.
Safety Youthworks will undertake all risk management for the trip. This will include: • Risk Management Plans of the route • Fully qualified instructor • Satellite communications and tracking • Expedition Coordinators • Wilderness First Aid kit • Water purification (if needed)
Inclusions • • • • • •
A pre-trip training session at the school Hire of One Planet tents and Trangia stoves Fully qualified guides to accompany the group All logistical support Transport if needed at meeting point 1 accompanying teacher per group free of charge
Pre-training will take 3-4 hours (depending on the group) and will cover:
• • • • •
How to use all the equipment: tents, stoves, compasses, maps satellite phone, SPOT tracker Packing list, clothing considerations Food and water (what and how much to bring) Assessing the route and the navigation skills needed Emergency and first aid on the expedition
Reflection and Debrief Youthworks is exceptional at delivering outdoor education. During our high-quality professional programs, every single Youthworks COE guide strives to deliver an expedition where learning outcomes are seized upon and debriefed. On a Duke of Ed program, our guides are there to ensure the safety of the group and will let the students lead the trip, only stepping in if they are going to do something dangerous. At night or in the morning we debrief the day so that students are better prepared to reflect on their expedition and complete their Duke of Ed requirements to the best of their ability.
Locations With adequate lead time, we can run an Adventurous Journey almost anywhere, in areas such as:
• • • • • • •
Kangaroo Valley Shoalhaven Royal National Park Heathcote National Park Blue Mountains National Park Hawkesbury Great North Walk
2023 Prices* Bronze – from $227 Silver – from $435 Gold – from $569 *Prices are the minimum per student.
Hire Equipment We are able to hire packs and sleeping mats to students who don’t have/can’t borrow appropriate ones. This will also help keep costs down as buying all this gear can be costly. The school/students will let the Duke of Ed Coordinator know what they need and we will invoice the school who will collect the money from the students. The hire rates are: + Hiking Pack + Sleeping Mat Bronze $25 $10 Silver $30 $12 Gold $35 $15
“Great organisation with friendly, caring staff who care about our students and have Christ at the centre of everything that they do.”
“All activities are well organised and safety is a major focus. Our students loved the experience.”
“We love this camp! The leaders give the students a great experience. This is why we keep coming back.”
“A great experience for our senior students to grow as team members and future leaders.”
“Youthworks staff are passionate, caring and responsible Christians who love God and are experts at building relationships quickly to share the gospel with students of different backgrounds.”
Tailor Made Adventures take you wherever you want to go. If you have a vision for your group, our highly experienced staff can make it happen. Whether it be in the snow or desert, in Australia or overseas, our team will get you there. Tailor Made Adventures are exactly that: tailor-made. Our highly qualified staff will work closely with you to coordinate and run the ideal adventure experience for your group. Tailor Made Adventures are the perfect solution for groups with big ideas and the need for a fully customisable adventure experience. We will go above and beyond to help you achieve the vision for your adventure. Get in contact with us today to start building your Tailor Made Adventure.
Basecamp Leave cabins and centres behind as you set up your camp and enjoy activities from a wilderness location. A basecamp program will teach students the necessities of bushcraft and camping while including many fun and exciting activities that are available in the areas around camp. Mountain biking, abseiling, hiking, canoeing, caving, canyoning and much more are just some of the options available to experience when we take students to our basecamp locations.
Kosciuszko For a next level challenge take your students into alpine territory and explore the wilderness above the treeline at the top of our country. Kosciuszko National Park is an excellent location to push students in summer or winter.
Deep Pass Some locations are just stunningly beautiful and serene. Explore all that Deep Pass has to offer amongst its beautifully sculpted gorges and valleys. Give students the space and time to unplug and reflect in this remote location away for the busyness of life. Explore a canyon, travel underground to see the glow worms, or climb the plateau to see the sunrise.
Fiji Service Program Many people visit the beautiful country of Fiji, its resorts and islands on holidays. Take your students to experience the real Fiji and see how students live a different life to their own. Spend time visiting schools or villages to learn from the Fijian people and their way of living.
Contact us for pricing details.
Expeditions Outdoor education programs do not need to be stationary. Take your students on an adventure that will create an experience and memories that last a life time. There are so many amazing expedition trips that our country has to offer, not to mention some of our neighbouring countries like New Zealand. Choose the mode of transport – pack, paddle, peddle or a combination of these – and set off on an adventure that will challenges students, encourage growth and take them to amazing locations. Hike the famous Coast Track, explore the wilderness of the Blue Mountains, conquer the Overland Track, or be blown away by the majesty of Milford Sound. We can take you anywhere.
See Sydney city like never before. Youthworks City Mission takes you to a place like no other. Incorporating both education and adventure, this eye-opening experience is perfect for groups looking to understand the lives of some of Sydney’s most disadvantaged.
The Program Issues of social justice are very real for many people in our society, and while education of these issues in the classroom is important, spending time face-to-face with these issues can be a life changing experience for students and the way that they view the world. On a City Mission program students will experience the harder side of life like never before as they:
• • •
Walk the streets of Sydney with a tour guide who is currently experiencing homelessness. Spend a night sleeping rough in a safe and controlled environment. Learn how to identify if a friend is experiencing homelessness.
2023 Prices* From $601 *Prices are minimum per student.
The City Mission program is highly customisable and Youthworks partners with a number of charities and organisations that work with Sydney’s less fortunate. We also understand that the gravity of the issues explored can weigh quite heavily on students, so our program also includes activities and challenges to help students have fun and process what is being learned. In addition, students will be confronted with real-life skill challenges. This program is highly self-led, encouraging students to be responsible for their own decisions. Over the course of the program students are actively in charge of activities such as budgeting food money for their group of peers, navigating the city and making sure they arrive at appointments on time and cooking for one another. “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” - Isaiah 1:17
Activities with a social justice focus A three-day program can include up to four of the following activities, depending on what is selected.
• • • • • • • •
Salvation Army Workshop – A session to think through youth homelessness Oz Harvest Challenge – A challenge to support the work that Oz Harvest do and to think through food waste. The Big Issue Session – A session learning about The Big Issue magazine and how it impacts the lives of people in the program. The Big Issue Challenge – A challenge to meet people selling The Big Issue magazine and engage in conversation about what life is like for them. Hamper Challenge – Research an organisation and design and purchase a hamper that will help people in need. Rough Edges Urban Walk – Meet someone who has experienced homelessness and go for a walk around Kings Cross with this person hearing about life from their perspective. Our Big Kitchen – Head to OBK and get involved in cooking meals for the homeless. Students will sit under the direction of the chefs and get a very hands on experience of helping people in need. Sleeping Rough experience – Conducted in partnership with St John’s Darlinghurst who also run the Rough Edges Urban Walk, students spend 24 hours experiencing what it is like to be homeless, sleeping overnight on cardboard in the gated grounds of St John’s Darlinghurst and doing the Rough Edges Urban Walk.
Activities for Recreation There are a lot of issues the students are confronted by within the program. We recognise it is important to provide some activities where the students have a break from the serious side of the program and have some fun. This can help them as they process the things they are seeing and hearing. We often head to the Wild Ropes course at Taronga Zoo and do bike riding around the Domain. We would suggest a three day program only has time for one of these activities. Evening Activity Options
• • • •
The Sleeping Rough experience at Darlinghurst Tall Ship dinner cruise MasterChef dinner challenge and outdoor cinema / games night Chinatown dinner challenge and games in the park at Darling Harbour
Accommodation Camping at Cockatoo Island
City Mission Options Social justice experiences • • • • • • • • • •
Street walk with people experiencing homelessness Sleeping Rough experience Food preparation and delivery with Our Big Kitchen Workshops with The Salvation Army Hamper making Anglicare The Big Issue Hope Street Wayside Chapel Oz Harvest
Fun experiences • • • • • • •
Wild ropes at Taronga Ferry to Manly Beach Bike ride the Domain / Manly – North Head Vivid Light Festival Harbour Bridge walk Laser tag Escape rooms
Life skills • • • •
Budgeting MasterChef dinner challenges Urban rogaining (navigating the city) Self-direction
Capital Adventures is the program that you need to combine Outdoor Education with curriculum outcomes. Our program will enable your students to experience Canberra in an intentional, immersive manner, while also enjoying the benefits that come from a communal outdoor ed camp.
The Program On our Capital Adventures program, students will not just file on and off buses from one venue to the next. With 1 guide for every 15 students we offer a program that invests in the lives of the students. We understand that any camp is a wonderful opportunity to grow community, to develop team and leadership skills, and to build resilience and independence in individuals. A visit to our Nation’s capital should be no different. Students will be involved in a number of different outdoor ed activities between visits to different locations around Canberra. The locations visited can be customised for the outcomes you wish to achieve for your students. These may include Parliament House, The War Memorial, Questacon, Australian Institute of Sport or many others.
Bookings Many students travel each year to Canberra, so early bookings are essential to ensure that we can visit the locations that you would like. We suggest booking a Capital Adventures program two years ahead so that we can secure availability for Canberra’s most popular locations and tours. It is possible for us to work inside this timeframe however availability at certain locations may be limited. Speak with one of our friendly Customer Care Team members today to find out more and let us make your Canberra experience a pleasure.
Location When in Canberra we stay with our partner site Greenhills Conference Centre. This centre is perfectly placed to allow both access to locations that a group wishes to visit and a beautiful setting for enjoying the benefits of Christian Outdoor Education.
2023 Prices* 3 Days from $568 *Prices are minimum per student.
Expedition Destinations Difficulty level
Blue Mountains National Park Glenbrook Creek Capacity: 30 Accommodation: Tents Toilets: None Glenbrook Creek follows creeks and streams through Blue Mountians bushland then climbs up to well tracked ridgelines with some great lookouts before decending again into the gorge.
Euroka Capacity: 100+ Accommodation: Tents Toilets: Pit Euroka is a large campsite at the base of the Blue Mountains capable of accommodating over 100 students. Surrounded by cliffs, tracks and close to the Nepean River this location is ideal for Basecamp style programs.
Six Foot Track Capacity: 30 Accommodation: Tents Toilets: None The Six Foot Track is a classic and historic route through the Katoomba and Jenolan regions of the Blue Mountains National Park. This walk is challenging but rewards those who travel with its stunning features.
Grose Valley Capacity: 30 Accommodation: Tents Toilets: None Steep terrain leads in and out of this amazing valley which offers great adventures.
Wollemi National Park Deep Pass Capacity: 20 Accommodation: Tents Toilets: Pit Deep Pass is a fantastic wilderness location in the Wollemi Wilderness Area. Set up your tents in a beautiful valley surrounded by naturally occuring features like caves, slots and canyons, waiting to be explored.
Morton National Park Budawangs Capacity: 50 Accommodation: Tents Toilets: None Remote and rugged the Budawangs region of Morton National Park is a great option for groups that wish to push their students to the next level. Steep terrain and challenging hikes are rewarded by travelling to the top of features such as The Castle.
Kanangra Boyd National Park Kanangra Boyd Capacity: 60 Accommodation: Tents Toilets: None Kanagra Boyd National Park is home to some of the best that the Blue Mountains has to offer. This remote landscape is the perfect place to challenge the skills that your students have been building upon and an excellent setting for reflection. Climb Mount Cloudmaker, visit Hatchers Hollow and be in awe of the stunning vistas.
Fiji Fiji Capacity: NA Accommodation: Cabins Toilets: Flushing In Fiji we spend time introducing students to the cultural world of the Fijian people and provide opportunities to serve communities and schools. Our goal is for participants to experience ‘real Fiji’. There is also time to take in some of the beauty of this island nation’s tropical wonders both above and under the water.
Kosciuszko National Park Kosciuszko Capacity: 90 Accommodation: Tents Toilets: Pit Kosciuszko National Park is an alpine play ground all year round. In the warmer months you can paddle down the rivers and lakes, jump on a mountain bike, abseil from the highest commercial abseil in the country or hike the Main Range and summit the country. In winter ski down the slopes or go snow shoeing through the back country.
Kangaroo Valley Kangaroo Valley Capacity: 100 Accommodation: Tents Toilets: Pit Kangaroo Valley has an atmosphere that must be experienced. Thick early morning fogs often give this place an other-worldy feel. Hiking and biking trails meet the boatfree Kangaroo River where natural wonders like the sunken forest await keen explorers.
Royal National Park
Kingfisher Pool
Coast Track Capacity: 60 Accommodation: Tents Toilets: Pit One of NSW top 10 hikes, The Coast Track is a stunning walk over two days from Otford to Bundeena. This walk goes from the high scenic rock shelves that look over the Pacific down to the pristine beaches that line the coast.
Capacity: 15 Accommodation: Tents Toilets: Pit Tucked away in the Heathcote National Park is a lovely place called Kingfisher Pool. The simple but luscious track is great for hikers who are learning skills for the first time.
Bonnievale Capacity: 100+ Accommodation: Tents Toilets: Flushing Nestled against the water of the Hacking River, Bonnievale is an excellent destination for a basecamp program. This expansive campsite is capable of accommodating large groups and has running water and flushing toilets.
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Great North Walk Capacity: 50 Accommodation: Tents Toilets: Some Pit The Great North Walk is a classic walk along the eastern coastal areas north of Sydney. With some challenging sections and beautiful vistas, this walk is great for Duke of Ed adventures and expeditions, with options to transfer to paddling along the way.
Berowra Waters Capacity: 30 Accommodation: Tents Toilets: Some Pit The waters and rivers of Berowra are filled with small inlets to explore in this calm and serene river system. Groups can enjoy a multi-day paddle with several scenic places to set up camp.
New Zealand Milford Track Capacity: 30 Accommodation: Huts Toilets: Flushing New Zealand’s most famous walk, the Milford Track is 53km of stunning alpine and fiord scenery.
Kepler Track Capacity: 30 Accommodation: Huts Toilets: Flushing The Kepler Track has been built purely with the purpose of allowing people to enjoy the natural landscape that it so delicately carves through.
Routeburn Track Capacity: 15 Accommodation: Huts Toilets: Flushing Enjoy the amazing high country lakes of Mount Aspiring National Park as you journey through the mountains.
YOUTHWORKS CENTRES DESTINATIONS Port Hacking Deer Park
Chaldercot
Capacity: 124 (+ 24 Trundles)
Capacity: 48 (+ 4 Trundles)
A venue with many fond memories attached, Deer Park has been at the forefront of our Christian camping ministry for over 50 years. An excellent option for large groups.
Our first-ever venue, this converted homestead offers a centralised dining room, wood fire and a great community vibe for medium-sized groups.
Rathane
Telford
Capacity: 104 (+ 16 Trundles)
Capacity: 67 (+ 1 Trundle)
This heritage building, with a beautiful renovated sandstone dining hall, looks straight down the Hacking River, all the way to the ocean.
Have your group enjoy the rustic charm of Telford, the historic former summer residence of the NSW Governor.
Shoalhaven Waterslea
Koloona
Capacity: 141 (+ 26 Trundles)
Capacity: 67 (+ 10 Trundles)
Our newest and largest venue, Waterslea has exceptional accommodation and conference facilities for up to 167 people, with inspiring views for miles up and down the Shoalhaven River.
If your group is looking for great value and community atmosphere in a secluded setting, Koloona will offer you just that, surrounded by towering gum trees.
Blue Mountains Blue Gum Lodge Capacity: 100 Fresh mountain air with an easily accessible location, for groups looking to leave the city behind.
Accommodation Partners Canberra – Greenhills Centre Why not get the most out of your trip to Canberra? Located west of Mount Stromolo, this campsite is the perfect base for your Canberra trip and will enable you to get in some solid Christian outdoor education whilst seeing the sights, history and fun that is contained in our nation’s capital. You’ll visit places like the War Memorial, Parliament House and Questacon.
Central Coast – Camp Toukley Minutes from the beach, our partners on the Central Coast provide a spacious location that is perfect for your next coastal Christian outdoor education program. With access to surfing, snorkeling, stand up paddle boarding and much more this well set out campsite can suit the needs of your group.
Southern Highlands – Attunga This 120 hectare campsite provides participants with the opportunity to disconnect in a remote, calm and pristine environment in the NSW Southern Highlands. Hike out to ‘The Ridge’ for a campfire overlooking the valley or hop on a horse and experience a trail ride.
Activity Key
Difficulty level
Abseiling
Dragon Boat
Sailing
Archery
Environmental Ed
High Ropes
Big Day Out
Hiking
Stand Up Paddle Board
Biking
Fishing
Surfing
Billycarts
Service Activities
Swimming
Bush Cooking
Initiatives
Waterslide
Basecamp
Orienteering
Expedition
Canoeing
Raft Building
Snorkeling
Canyoning
Climbing
List of Accreditations
Fiji
Port Stephens
Wollemi National Park Blue Mountains National Park Blue Mountains Kanangra-Boyd National Park Southern Highlands
Central Coast Ku-Ring-gai Chase National Park Port Hacking Royal National Park Kangaroo Valley
Morton National Park
Shoalhaven
Canberra
Kosciuszko National Park
New Zealand
youthworkscoe.net coe@youthworks.net (02) 8268 3366