H2O Kids Holiday Camp - 'Best camp ever!'

by H2O Sports Academy Australia on 12 Apr 2015 28 kids aged between seven and thirteen years took part in the second H2O Kids Holiday Camp at the H2O Sports Academy Australia from seven - nine April. The kids rated the camp as the best they'd ever been on. When you read through the list of activities they participated in over the three-day residential camp, you'll understand why.

H2O is based within the NSW Sport and Recreation Centre at Point Wolstoncroft and H2O took advantage of this by incorporating five high adrenaline activities lead by Matt, one of Point Wolstoncroft's fantastic team of instructors. Matt took the kids up onto the high ropes to kick start the camp followed by Archery which timed well, sheltering the kids from the very wet front that hit. After lunch the sun came out and the kids went rock climbing, abseiling, sailing and finished up with a swim and warm showers.

The sailing was split into three groups with a learn to sail group of six sailors lead by Karyn Gojnich, learn to race group of 11 sailors lead by Laura Baldwin and a race training group of 10 sailors lead by Lanee Beashel. All three of these H2O Instructors are Olympians. The kids favorite instructor was likely, 'Big-Joel' Newman, a local Lake Macquarie sailor who finished his HSCs last year and is now pursuing a career in teaching special education and outdoor sport and recreation.

The learn to race group sailed Optimist and had a freestyle competition whilst the beginners found their balance and learned to steer in a sail-less Optimist on the water and used the Optimist sailing simulator on land. The learn to race group went out for a blast on three Hobie Bravos.

After an action packed day the kids sat quietly and watched a popular latest release movie before going to bed. The H2O Instructors stay in the lodge with the kids overnight, entertaining them right up to bedtime.

The weather forecast looked mean for all three days with Seabreeze showing a solid 25-30knots each day! Thankfully with the lay of the land and being situated on a point with water access both on the east and west shores, the water sports were able to run as planned. The offshore breezes were tricky as expected with gusts and shifts but at least the winds were not too strong for the beginners and the advanced sailors were allowed to sail a little further away from the shore.

Day two was equally action packed kicking off with the giant swing and biking. After lunch everyone was on the water. The learn to sail group got to experience sailing on the Hobies teamed up with the race training group whilst the learn to race group were given an introduction to windsurfing with four-times USA Olympic Windsurfer, Lanee Beashel. All sailors got to experience windsurfing, Hobie sailing, Optimist sailing and stand-up-paddle boarding plus the race sailors had a demo sail on the new Byte CI. After another delicious and nutritious dinner the kids got to toast marshmallows on a camp fire.

The final day started with a mix of tennis, basketball, cricket and playing in the playground. Then it was time to rig up the Optimists. After lunch the Hobies came out to play, first off was a Hobie paddle relay race with an off the beach start, around a buoys and back. Great team spirits were displayed with huge chants of encouragement. To finish off it was back onto the windsurfers and stand-up-paddleboards.

Between activities the kids did arts and crafts, model boat making, playing with modeling clay and sketch cards plus ping pong in the residential lodge. Everyone put their hands up when asked if they made lots of new friends at camp.

The next camp kicks off on Monday 13-15 April. H2O Kids Race Training Camps will run in the Autumn school holidays 21-23 and 28-30 September and will act as a great lead in to the NSW Youth Sailing Championship three - five October.