Monty's Youth Camp Experience

One of the goals in taking these young people, many of whom are from low income families who rarely leave their immediate surroundings, camping is to enable them to experience and explore nature. Ferny Crofts is a brilliant site for this - the young people spent hours exploring the woods, climbing trees and finiding the perfect spot to view the sunset, they even spotted a couple fallow deer on the edge of the campsite one morning.

Another key part of the camping trip, and the wider aims for the youth work at Monty's, is the opportunity for adventure and "out of comfort zone" activities, such as go-karting and archery which were sponsored by the HV Rotary. Both activities are perfect for building confidence, pushing young people to have a go at something new amidst much laughter and friendly competition.

There's also opportunities for conversations with the young people, time and space for people to ask questions, share their worries, talk about what's happening in their lives and get to know eachother better. Time around the bonfire, making hot chocolate, foraging for firewood and playing games at the campsite are all such good opportunities to build relationships with young people.