Rush on winter camps
Rabbi Kahn: 'We’ve had an amazing response to the camps. We’ve had 300 kids in three hours, that’s the extent of the demand, over multiple camps'.
A RUSH on winter camps from parents eager to see young people out of the house has spurred Chabad Youth into overdrive.
When Premier Daniel Andrews announced that school camps would be permitted to restart from June 22, the group rapidly organised a winter camp program set to begin later this month.
However, with two overnight camps and its day camps fully subscribed within hours of being publicised, the organisation has announced two new overnight camps.
Spaces are still available for two C-Teen overnight camps for Years 7-11 – from June 28-July 2 for boys and July 2-6 for girls – to take place at Chabad Youth’s Feathertop Chalet centre at Harrietville.
Participants will enjoy a wide array of activities, including rafting, tobogganing, fishing, mountain biking, hiking and high-ropes, in addition to team building – and a comprehensive itinerary of Jewish learning.
Chabad Youth director Rabbi Moshe Kahn said the program will be subject to strict COVID precautions in line with guidelines from the state Departments of Health and Education.
Campsites will be regularly cleaned, participants will be temperature tested, hand sanitiser will be available throughout the campsite, signage will be posted in key locations, and staff will observe social distancing, he said.
Two other scheduled overnight camps – a boys’ and a girls’ camp – were booked to capacity within three hours of being announced, as were the day camps.
“We’ve had an amazing response to the camps. We’ve had 300 kids in three hours, that’s the extent of the demand, over multiple camps,” Rabbi Kahn told The AJN.
“Perhaps it’s because children have been cooped up at home and parents just wanted them to get out, and people are not travelling elsewhere. With school holidays going on, parents don’t want kids just cooped up at home watching TV for another two weeks.”
Additionally Chabad Youth has rapidly filled up its Winter Holiday Blast series of primary-school level day camps offered from its childcare accredited centre, which operates under the state government’s Vacation Care program.
Rabbi Kahn said Chabad Youth had been awaiting clarification from the government on whether it could invite interstate children to take part but has meanwhile sold out all available spaces in the initial overnight camps and in the day camps to applicants within Victoria.
Camp Gan welfare subsidies are available for the camp program, he said.
To register for the Chabad Youth C-Teen camps, visit www.cteen.com.au.
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