Activities
The Y aims to provide opportunities to explore your full potential and develop your group's teamwork through the facilitation of unique outdoor adventure experiences. Our Adventure Program will add an exhilarating level of challenge to your stay with us resulting in a powerful experience with lasting impact.
Our fully qualified and caring Y instructors will lead you through the following program options:
Surfing
Boogie boarding
Snorkelling
Cycling
Archery
Surf life saving games
rock pool
initiative / group dynamics
beach hike
campout adventure
- Introduction to Surfing and Boogie Boarding
- This program introduces students to the beach environment. Topics covered include:
- Reading the beach eg. Recognising hazards, how to spot a rip and self rescue techniques;
- Sun smart;
- Introduction to water sports eg. boogie boards and surfboards.
- Marine Discovery Program
- Discover the diversity of marine organisms found in the intertidal zone at the extensive rock platforms of Smiths Beach. Students will enjoy touching and identifying marine life and learning about their role within the marine ecosystem.
- Snorkel Swimming
- Participants explore marine life in the rock pools surrounding YCW Beach. Snorkelling skills are taught and all participants are equipped with wetsuits, masks, snorkels, fins and kick boards.
- Initiative Games/Team Building Activities
- Various activities and challenges focusing on exploring group dynamics, problem solving, communications, trust, leadership, planning and teamwork.
- Bike Touring
- This tour takes groups along the island's bike trails, journeying through farm and bush environments. Each group is given an introductory safety talk and practice ride session before riding from the campsite.
- Bike Education
- The Bike Education program is an adaptation of the Vic Roads Bike Education Program. It teaches participants bike handling skills through a series of activities and includes basic bike care and maintenance.
- Landcare
- Working with Phillip Islands Landcare officers, groups learn about the unique environment that Phillip Island has to offer and the environmental challenges it faces. Depending on the time of year, groups will then be involved in tree planting, weed eradication, native seed collecting or erosion control.
- Bush Skills
- Students learn about techniques for living and surviving in the wilderness. These include safe campfire techniques, making billy tea, and shelter building.
Other Activity Options
We also provide a number of activities that can be lead by your own group, which include:
- Archery
- Archery targets, along with bows, arrows and balloons are available for use. Assistance in safety and instruction is provided. Teaching notes to assist in leading the activity are supplied.
- Surf Life Saving Games
- A series of fun beach activities conducted on the sand including flag races, tug of war, broom stick spin and punctured drum encourages participants to enjoy the beach environment as surf "iron men" and "iron women".
- Rock Pool Ramble
- A chance to explore the rock pools and find various starfish, crabs etc, identifying marine life with posters and booklets provided.
- Swimming/Wading
- Teachers/leaders with current Bronze Medallion in Surf Life Saving certification may supervise swimmers in a designated area of flat water defined with a series of ropes and buoys.
- Sand Sculpture
- An art session on the beach using buckets and spades provided. Participants create sculptures from the sand and can decorate with shells, seaweed and other natural objects.
- Initiative/Group Dynamics
- Choose from a list of activities and challenges focusing on group dynamics, problem solving, communications, trust, leadership, planning and teamwork.
- Orienteering
- Choose from a range of orienteering courses set up around the campsite. Learn basic map and compass skills to navigate your way to find the markers.
- Kite Making
- Construct a kite using patterns and materials provided and then learn various aspects of kite flying. Kites can be kept and taken home (including hand lines).
- Beach Games
- A series of fun beach games including: beach volleyball, beach cricket, frisbee, football, american football and catch.
- Campfire Cooking
- Cook up some damper and bush food treats on the campfire.
- Recycled Arts and Craft
- Use recycled material to make a personal or group memento of your stay here.
- Juggling Balls
- Make your own juggling balls and learn the ancient art of juggling, individually or as a group initiative.
- Water-wise Activities
- Take the choice to follow a range of water-saving activities and initiatives throughout your stay here.
Activities for Large Groups
- Beach Hike
- The coastal walk from Smiths Beach to Surf Beach is a 5km round trip or a 2.5km walk out from the camp on the last day, where a cut lunch can be delivered and bus pick up point arranged.
- Beach Carnival
- Participants compete in small teams in this round robin involving Surf Life Saving team-oriented events on the sand e.g. beach volleyball, flag races, punctured drums, tug-of-war, and obstacle course. An active, fun-filled end to any camp program. Water-based team events aimed to consolidate skills learnt during "Introduction to water sports" activity can be included during warmer months.
- Team Scavenger Hunt
- In groups, participants navigate their way around the camp, forest and beach completing various tasks to earn points for their team.
Night Time Activities
- Campout Adventure
- Our secluded campout area is situated in the tea, only 100 meters from the main camp. Students learn how to set up tents, best environmental practises for camping, and campfire safety.
- Possum Prowl
- Campers are given an opportunity to discover the Ringtail Possums and other nocturnal animals that reside in the Tea-Tree scrub surrounding the camp. The 30-minute walk is marked with numbered reflectors on certain trees and teachers/leaders are provided with a correlating information sheet and shown the track in daylight hours.
- Night Vision Activity
- Students learn about the function of their eyes at night. Each student is given colour sample cards. Students must try and work out the colour of their cards. This is a great activity to follow on from the Possum Prowl, or perhaps as a lead up to an astronomy session.
- Trivia Night/Quiz
- This trivia night is set up to run for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. It consists of eight rounds, each containing eight questions. In between rounds teams compete in fun interactive games to earn more points for their team.
- Campfire
- A campfire may be lit in the designated campfire area. Campfire activities include: sing-a-longs, toasting marshmallows, telling stories, and stargasing.
- Concert
- The Recreation Hall can be set up for the very popular camp concert on the last night.
- Disco/Dancing
- The Recreation Hall is an ideal venue for a camp disco/dance.
- Phillip Island Nature Parks
- At an additional cost, students can visit the Phillip Island Penguin Parade, Koala Conservation Park or Churchill Island. Ranger guided tours and talks are available upon request.
