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International Camping Director's Course (Pilot 2009)

ICDC Registration International Camping Fellowship

Introduction

It is with great pleasure that we are able to provide the first Camp Director's Course in Australia. The Camp Director's course has been running in Northern America for some years and has provided formal training for campsite managers to assist and support professional development and awareness of current standards and procedures.

Feedback from the ICDC Course - 28th - 30th September 2009

   Here’s what two of the insructors had to say:

From John Woods- Edmund Park Adventure Education (QLD)/ACA President
Congratulations to all 21 attendees at the inaugural ICDC in Australia, held last week at Anglesea YMCA. The 5 course facilitators, Brendan Smith (YMCA Victoria), Paul Colagiuri (Somerset Outdoor Learning Centre NSW), Matt Bowker (Kangaroobie VIC), Andrew McGuckian (Uniting Church Camping VIC), and myself (Edmund Park QLD), greatly appreciated the enthusiastic input, discussion, and willingness to learn from all participants. Feedback so far has been more than positive, with comments such as "The best Professional Development I have ever undertaken", and "I know I now have certain areas of my business where I need to pay a lot more attention". ACA is very proud to have hosted this program, and we will certainly be offering more courses, hopefully in the near future. Thanks to all for making this a huge success.

From Brendan Smith - YMCA Victoria
The first ICDC (International Camp Directors Course) has been delivered at the YMCA Anglesea Recreation Camp and based on the early feedback it has been a great success. There were in total, 21 participants from Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and NSW. The program curriculum was received from the “American Camping Directors Course” which has been in operation for over 20 years. This curriculum was handed to 5 Australians who ventured to Canada in 2008 to participate in the training program to deliver back in Australia. The content has been modified for the Australian context and the general outcome following the course was that it was appropriate for anyone managing a camp or aspiring to manage one in the future. The five facilitators on the program who donated their time included Matt Bowker -Kangaroobie VIC, Andrew McGukian -Uniting Churches VIC, Paul Colagiuri -Somerset NSW, John Woods- Edmund Park QLD, Brendan Smith- YMCA VIC. All five were very happy with the program and were very pleased how well the training was received and the responses from all who participated. They also feel the course can improve with the knowledge gained from running this first program which was a pilot, partly sponsored by Sport and Recreation Victoria, the five facilitators and the YMCA Camp Anglesea. There was overwhelming support by those who attended the course that it would be worth pursuing as a professional development program into the future for the industry so keep your eye on the ACA news for future dates.

Here’s what some of the participants had to say;
“Unbelieveable value for money. The best PD I have attended in years”
“I will book in key staff next time”
“A fantastic breadth of knowledge was shared across the 3 days”
“Thanks for putting this on, extremely valuable”

The program

In 2008 five Australians volunteered to be trained in the delivery of this program, using the northern American curriculum. The curriculum has been reviewed and revised over the years for American delivery and has now been modified to be relevant and suited to Australian situations and standards.

It was decided in early 2009 that a pilot program would be run to identify the curriculum value as a professional development tool and to determine the ongoing value / support for the program.

The program is being sponsored by Sport and Recreation Victoria, YMCA Victoria, Uniting Church Camping (Victoria), Somerset Outdoor Learning Centre (NSW), Kangaroobie (Victoria) and Edmund Park Adventure Education (Queensland).

Course goals

Goal 1 - To present the basics of camp management in the core areas of the organized body of knowledge

Goal 2 - To expand their network of peers and develop a community of professionals in a "camp like" atmosphere

Goal 3 - To provide an introduction to self-directed learning and the participants' role in their own professional development process

The team

The five people who attended the International Camping Director's Instructor course in Canada 2008 will be the course team. They are

Course details

  • Start: 9.00 am Monday, September 28 (accommodation available at site for Sep 27)
  • Finish: 4.00 pm Wednesday, September 30
  • Venue: YMCA Anglesea Recreation Camp, Victoria
  • Course size may vary between 20 to 25 participants

Course contents

(subject to change without notice)

  • Vision and camp business sustainability
  • Accommodation - fire systems and essential services
  • Grounds management- arborists and grounds risk assessments
  • Catering commercial kitchens standards - food handling and kitchen regulations
  • Activities - Activity Standards (aquatic, ropes, cycle, ratios, qualifications, equipment, logging, reporting, checking, maintaining, briefing, debriefing, risk assessments, etc.)
  • Work place agreements and HR requirements
  • Buildings and asset standards
  • Manage the ins and outs
  • Look after the client
  • Participant outcomes
  • Plus more

Cost

ACA Members: $330 per participant (inc GST)   Non-members: $550 per participant (inc GST)

Registration includes a fee to the International Camping Fellowship (ICF) for the curriculum plus a 12 month membership to the ICF for each course member.

Cancellation policy: We expect that places on this course will fill quickly and that there will be a waiting list to attend. Therefore we would appreciate early notice if you are unable to attend so that we can offer your place to someone else. If we have enough notice to backfill your place on the course should you be unable to attend, then we may be able to provide you with a refund less $50 for administration

What is provided?

  • Textbook “Basic Camp Management” Seventh Edition, Author Armand Ball.
  • Stationery items and all course materials.
  • Accommodation will be in shared accommodation at the campsite
  • Meals starting with morning tea on 28th through to lunch on the 30th September.

Need to bring

  • Personal Bedding including doona / sleeping bag and pillow. Camp can provide bedding if required.
  • Note pad and pen
  • Toiletries and towel
  • Any texts that may have been mailed out at registration
  • Advertising material for a peer review section on marketing, information about how you employ your staff and sample emergency plans

Registration

Register online here

Complete the online form and a tax invoice will be sent to you. Payment must be received one week prior to the event.

More information

Contact Brendan Smith

Ph: 03 5772 1477   Mob: 0407 790 032   Email: brendan.smith@ymca.org.au

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