Summer camp full of memories

MICHELLE HERBISON
HIGH ropes courses, flying foxes, canoeing, mini golf, basketball and swimming are just some of the activities 60 lucky Geelong children are trying this week at Licola Wildnerness camp.
These life-long memories will be thanks to the Lions Club of Geelong Corio Bay which has sponsored the primary school-age children to attend the five-day camp.
The diverse range of children includes new migrants, children on child protection orders, parentally bereaved children and Wathaurong Aboriginal community members.
Lions Club of Geelong Corio Bay president Denis Barritt said the camp helped less privileged children “enjoy themselves” in the holiday season instead of “worrying”.
“They have a wow of a week with lots of supervision and lots of exercise. We load them up with good food and give them enough activities to make them sleep well at night,” he said.
Diversitat’s Suzanne Cooper said 19 children from Geelong’s new communities would attend, mainly Karenni people from Burma and Congolese.
“It’s incredibly exciting because for all of them its the first time they’ve been able to go away from parents and have a holiday.
“They will have opportunities to mix with a range of kids, build understanding and learn how to work in teams.”
Ms Cooper said the camp was also an education opportunity for new migrant parents.
Glastonbury’s Sandra Cameron said her organisation had arranged 10 children on child protection orders for the camp.
“Currently these kids can’t live at home, so this camp gives them new experiences and challenges their boundaries.”
She said this was the second year Glastonbury participated and last year was “fantastic”.