Our Working Beliefs
- what we believe -

Camp Coolamatong has a Vision

'To provide...'

The vision 'to provide' is what motivates and drives the management, staff and volunteers serving at Camp Coolamatong.

We hope that Camp Coolamatong will:

Be recognized as a vibrant and welcoming community demonstrating care and reflecting God's love to all who visit;

Provide an environment where campers may experience restoration, peace and, where needed, healing;

Stimulate campers to return home with a desire to build upon a positive experience, a new skill or a resolution made on camp. More-over, Camp Coolamatong will endeavour to provide practical links to local community groups that campers may access for extending and developing skills and interests;

Train young adults to be confident, mature and skilled leaders through the twelve month internship program;

Manage the land and environment responsibly to ensure the rich diversity of native flora and fauna will be protected and passed on to future generations;

Camp Coolamatong values camping

'An exciting, nurturing and safe camping experience'

Camping provides the unique opportunity for people of all ages to be challenged and inspired as they 'get away from it all' and work, rest and play with friends and colleagues in a temporary community. At Camp Coolamatong we believe the benefits of camping are enormous, which makes our job extremely rewarding.

Here are just some of the reasons why we are committed to camping:

Finding personal identity

It's great to see campers settle into camp life. It doesn't take long before the distractions of busy lives fade and campers relax and are free to be themselves. Being away from home, school, work creates an environment where campers can explore new territory, try new activities and develop new and deeper friendships.

Developing Respect

We believe that camps increase campers' awareness of social structures that develops respect for:

- Themselves as unique and special individuals;
- Others whom they interact with;
- Personal space;
- Rules;
- Boundaries;
- Authority;

At Camp Coolamatong we believe that demonstrating and fostering an attitude of respect creates a freedom that empowers people to enjoy living in safety and peace.

Harnessing Collective Energy

There is enormous collective energy when a group of campers are gathered in one place. This creates an open environment to discuss issues, harness positive thinking, develop teamwork and have enormous fun in games, structured activities and in free time. It is within this environment that we hope to instill in all campers a strong sense of belonging to a group. A group in which their contribution and personality is respected and desired by others.

Establishing Goals

We believe that within their time on camp, all campers should and will be physically, mentally and emotionally challenged. At Camp Coolamatong our leaders take great care to get to know campers, so that challenges are pitched appropriately to individuals. It is in this context in which we see campers take positive steps in:

- Conquering a fear;
- Developing a new skill;
- Building self esteem;
- Demonstrating a quality such as leadership, respect or forgiveness;

At Camp Coolamatong our desire is to see many campers draw from their positive experience on camp and return home with a new or greater desire to continue building upon a personal camp breakthrough.

Getting back to basics

Camping is a great way to re-enforce the simple things in life, as campers:

- Enjoy simple activities, free time and play, without the need of complex equipment;
- Help out with basic chores;
- Appreciate nature and the environment;

We believe that camping is a great leveller. Camp settings allow values such as friendship, cooperation and honesty to be promoted and shine, reinforcing the idea that it's who you are, rather than what you are, that's most important.

Camp Coolamatong values safety

Safety is paramount in all that happens on camp and includes the physical and emotional safety of all campers:

Physical safety

All precautions are taken to ensure campers safety is the first and foremost consideration in all activities. This includes but is not limited to: pitching activities to the physical and cognitive abilities of the campers; correctly fitting and utilizing safety equipment in activities; conducting and adapting activities to meet environmental influences; delivering activities according to relevant government and industry standards and protocol; maintaining thorough and diligent adult supervision at all times.

All Coolamatong staff receive formal training, undergo police checks and hold relevant qualifications for the activities they lead.

Emotional Safety

All campers have the right to participate and be themselves without fear of humiliation or rejection. At Coolamatong staff work closely with supervising teachers and school leaders to promote an environment where all campers are encouraged, accepted and invited to contribute and participate in all aspects of the program.

Camp Coolamatong is committed

'Tailored to meet the needs of individual groups'

Camp Coolamatong provides a variety of camping programs and experiences to groups ranging from fully catered and programmed school camps throughout the week, to self catered weekend camps. As such Camp Coolamatong has a commitment to:

Educational Integrity

Camp Coolamatong specialises in delivering outdoor adventure activities to school children. All activities are led by qualified camp staff and we place emphasis on;

- Pitching activities and challenges to the physical and cognitive level of the campers. We recognize children display different levels of 'readiness' to learn and participate depending on a variety of factors including experience, physical attributes, and how they are feeling on the day.
- Keeping group sizes small on adventure based activities.
- Delivering clear and simple instructions in conjunction with correct demonstration.
- Providing constructive feedback.
- Ensuring programs involve and fully engage all participants.
- Creating opportunities for children to practice, seek guidance and trial new skills in an atmosphere of fun.
- Stimulating children in mind, body and soul. Our aim is to challenge campers thinking, and foster their own self belief and self worth, whilst actively engaging them in new physical pursuits.
- Linking learning outcomes to curriculum.

Best Practice

Camp Coolamatong is committed to best practice and this will be evident by;

All activities being run according current industry standards and Department of Education and Training (DET) guidelines. Camp Leaders trained to appropriate levels as stipulated by industry and government requirements. The campsite continuing to fulfil the Australian Campsite Accreditation Program. Continually monitoring, reviewing and where necessary updating procedures relating to Risk Management, Fire Management and Occupational Health and Safety. An ongoing monitoring of client satisfaction and evaluation of program delivery and staff training.

Camp Coolamatong recognizes it cannot do it all

'And through this experience'

We hope a camp at Coolamatong will provide many highlights that will burn brightly in the lives of campers for years to come. We endeavour to do everything possible to ensure that a positive experience, a new skill, a spiritual awakening, or a new found interest is developed and built upon, when a camper returns home. Therefore we would seek to provide meaningful connections that campers can access if they would like to pursue a positive camping experience further. We aim to do this by;

Providing meaningful links between attending schools and local church communities, youth groups and kids programs. Connecting campers with other local organizations committed to Christian youth work. Providing pathways for campers to access special interest activities and recreational pursuits within local and community based groups and organizations.

Camp Coolamatong has only but a few days to invest in the lives of campers. We recognize that this therefore limits how much we can do in a young life. We do believe that as Christians the staff and volunteers belong to a community of believers that extends beyond our fence lines to Gippsland, Victoria and indeed the world wide church. Our prayer is that a work begun in the life of a camper will be nurtured, watered and developed by others who would seek to see lives shaped for eternity. We recognize that this may be a process taking weeks, months and years. We believe and are thankful however that even though we forget names and lose touch with campers God does not, and what He starts will find fulfilment.

Camp Coolamatong has a Faith

'To demonstrate the hope'

Coola Ministries Inc. is a non denominational Christian organization. As Christians we believe that the world in which we live was created by God. We believe that God has a plan for each one of us and that we find ultimate fulfilment when we align our lives with Gods intention for how we should live.

'Of the Christian Faith'

We believe:

- There is one true and living God.
- In the trinity of the God Head; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
- That there is only one way for man to receive eternal life and that is through Jesus.
- Jesus was born of Mary (Christmas). That Jesus was crucified on a cross on Good Friday and that he rose again on Easter Sunday.
- That the Bible is the inspired word of God.
- Whoever acknowledges and receives Jesus, determining in their heart to follow Him, receives the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Our Core values:

- Demonstrate God's love and care;
- Respect peoples' worth and individuality;
- Care for the land on which we live, recognizing we are caretakers not owners;
- Educational integrity within all our programs;
- Fun;
- Accountability and transparency in all aspects of leadership and management; - Exercise self control, show tolerance, provide forgiveness, work hard, be honest and put the needs of others above ourselves.
- We recognize that many campers who come to Coolamatong will hold other religious beliefs or be resistant to Christianity.
- We respect other people's opinions and welcome all campers as guests regardless of their religious, political or ethnic persuasion.