Edmund Rice Camps Victoria
Country: Australia
Who We Are
Edmund Rice Camps Inc. Victoria
Edmund Rice Camps Vic "ERC" was started in 1981 by a small group of Christian Brothers and young men from Parade College, Bundoora. It was established in recognition of the work of Edmund Ignatius Rice. He was also the founder of the Christian Brothers.
In 1981 ERC hosted two holiday camps on the Parade College grounds for Vietnamese refugees and other boys in need. Throughout the rest of the 1980s, the camps began to attract increasing numbers of young men and women every summer who were in need of friendship and attention
Today, ERC is a full-time non-profit organisation, which provides camp experiences throughout Victoria for disadvantaged children, families and more recently, for refugees and indigenous children. A booked called "Living the Spirit" captures the history of Edmund Rice Camps Vic. To purchase a copy of this wonderful book please download the order form.
Over 250 volunteers assist ERC in providing the camps. These volunteers are aged between 17 to 30 years of age and are allocated to each camp to provide a 1:1 ratio of care for each camp participant. The most experienced volunteers on each camp assume roles of greater responsibility in order to facilitate the logistical coordination of the program and to offer support for the remaining volunteers who provide direct care to the camp participants.
ERC is committed to its volunteer policies and to providing regular training for all volunteers. All prospective volunteers must apply directly to ERC’s Executive Officer, provide character references, successfully complete a Working With Children Check and attend an ERC New Leader Training Day.
What We Do
Edmund Rice Camps Victoria run a variety camp experiences throughout Victoria for disadvantaged children, families and more recently, for refugees and indigenous children.
Family Camps
This five-day camp is held during the January and July school holidays and over the Queens Birthday Long Weekend. A retreat centre that looks over the Yarra River is home for the week. Families can consist of married, couples or single parents/guardians with children aged from babies to 17 years old. Any size family is also welcome. Each family has their own bedroom, some with ensuites, double beds, cots, and another shower/toilet block to be shared with the non-ensuite rooms. 25 participants (approx 6 families) are placed on each camp with 30 volunteers. The volunteers are also accommodated on site. Families are encouraged to spend the week together with opportunities of individual time out. Traveling in 12 and 22 seat buses, the camp enjoys activities such as visiting Funfields Toboggan Park, Ten Pin Bowling, roller blading, local adventure playgrounds, local farms, the local beach in warmer months, fantastic magic show, great art and craft activities and free time utilising the onsite pool, basketball and tennis courts and recreation room. All meals are provided on camp with all special needs catered for.
A Refugee Family Camp is also provided in the September school holidays.
8 – 11 Year Old Boys and Girls Camps
This four-day kids camp is held during the January and Winter school holidays. The camp has up to 20 children and 28 volunteers placed on each camp. A campsite at Shoreham on the Mornington Peninsula is home for the week. The campsite provides cabin accommodation, onsite cooked meals and large recreational space. Traveling in 12 and 22 seat buses, the camp enjoys an excursion based program with activities such as visiting a local farm, swimming pool, Arthur’s Seat Maze, swimming at the beach in warmer months, exploring the rock pools of Cape Schanck, an over night camp-out, archery, great art and craft activities and organised free time.
An Indigenous Kids Camp and a Refugee Kids Camp is also run additionally to the other kids camps.
12 – 15 Year Old Boys Camp
This five-day camp, held in January each year, is based at a beautiful campsite on the Great Ocean Rd near Lorne. The camp accommodates up to 16 young boys and 25 volunteers. The program places a high focus on adventure activities with plenty of support from a 1:1 ratio of volunteer to participants. The main activities are surfing, mountain bike riding, canoeing, swimming at a local surf beach, enjoying local bush walks in the Otway Ranges and plenty of free time. This camp provides fantastic role-modeling for young men, where social skills, self-confidence and enjoyment are upmost, creating a real sense of belonging to a short-term community.
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are a crucial part of Edmund Rice Camps. The majority of our volunteers are between 17 and 30 years of age. Volunteers are sourced from Edmund Rice Schools, other Catholic and government schools, Universities and word of mouth from current volunteers.
Volunteers are able to help in the following areas:
A 1:1 ratio of volunteers to participants is provided on each camp. Edmund Rice Camps relies on young volunteers who bring energy and vitality to the programs. The biggest asset our leaders possess is their ability to be positive role models for the participants in their care.
To volunteer on a camp you are required to:
Further training opportunities are provided to improve skills in leadership, communication, behaviour management and handling critical situations. Accredited courses in Level 2 First Aid, Surf Life Saving and Bus licenses are subsidised by Edmund Rice Camps.
Some great social activities are held throughout the year for volunteers to catch up such as an Open Mic night, Lawn Bowls, BBQ’s and Retreat weekends away. Volunteers are also kept connected through our quarterly newsletter called Rice Grains.
Contact Us
Mark Monahan
Executive Officer
Edmund Rice Camps Inc.
7 Amberley Way
Lower Plenty 3093
Mobile 0416 105 345
Email ercvic@edmundrice.org
Ph 03 9439 6142
Fax 03 9439 6969
Website : www.ercvic.com
