TWENTY-eight excited Victorian teenagers joined 37 others in Beaufort on Monday for SuperCamp Australia.
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The seven-day event is the second of its kind to be held in Australia and is modelled on a successful overseas variant, which has been running for 32 years in the United States.
Director of SuperCamp Australia Heather Yelland said when it came to gaining new life skills, the camp was leading child learning and the results were there to prove it.
“The camp has been in America for 32 years but we’ve adapted it to suit the cultural differences here,” she said.
“It’s about increasing personal development, leadership skills, confidence and self-esteem.”
At the week-long camp, students will learn that success in all aspects of their life depends on them.
“They create the direction and outcome of their own life, through the choices they make,” Ms Yelland said.
“The tools provided at SuperCamp Australia support them to make great choices.”
She said it had been found that children improved, on average, 38 per cent in the areas of communication and relationship skills, 55 per cent in academic skills and 30 per cent in the area of personal skills, through the camps.
“The results are outstanding. The current school system operates predominantly in an auditory manner while the majority of students are kinaesthetic or visual learners, and that means the needs of many children are not being well met,” she said.
“The dream is to have it enter schools and complement schools’ curriculum so they’re more creative in providing education.”
Bendigo student Gimhana Bangagam-Arachchige said he was really excited in the lead-up to the camp.
“I really wanted to come and conquer my fear of heights and I’m looking forward to doing that on adventure day,” the 14-year-old said.
“I’m looking forward to making new friends and graduating.
“I’m here for the fun and I feel very privileged because not many people have the chance to go to SuperCamp.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”