School Holiday Camps

“The break for the family was very important. There are 5 children in the family and they have never been able to have a holiday together or separately. Tim’s attendance at camp enabled the rest of the family to have some quality time together at home. Tim’s attendance at the Camp has been a turning point in his life.“
from a family counselor about her client who has challenging behaviour

The Portsea Camp has been running school holiday charity camps for over 60 years. Whilst the overall program and management are undertaken by Portsea Camp staff, over 300 volunteers each year attend camps and ensure that over 1,200 9-12 year old children have the ‘holiday of a lifetime’.

The recreation program ensures that children can experience a wide range of recreational options, almost all of their own choice. From activities that challenge like the Giant Swing or encourage team building like the ‘Spider’s Web’, to those that are simply about fun. All activities are run to strictly enforced standards to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all concerned.

Children are supported to fit into a homely and nurturing environment with pastoral care that ensures they feel both safe and appreciated.

Children come from all parts of Victoria. Bookings for children from country towns are organised by the camp’s local committees and contacts, whilst children from metropolitan Melbourne are generally directly booked by the camp itself.

The cost of camps is kept as low as possible, with local committees and contacts and the camp itself raising funds to subsidise the real cost.