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What can you expect to find at camp?

By Don MacDowall

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There's a marvellous variety of venues out there and we're sure your group can find the spot that's just right. Here's information about what you might find.

Sleeping accommodation

This may vary from a twin room (i.e. two single beds) to a bunkroom for eight or more people. Most commonly there will be four or six bunks in a room taking eight to twelve people. The rooms may be cabins or lodges or in one main building under one roof. Pillows and blankets (or sometimes doonas) are usually provided. While some venues can provide a full linen service, groups normally provide their own sleeping bag or bed linen and towels. Some venues will have heating in the sleeping accommodation; others will have it only in the communal areas. Many venues will be able to meet the special needs of people with disabilities.

Indoor recreation

Most venues will have at least one and often several indoor recreation areas for conferences, games, activities and meetings. The area may be carpeted, heated and equipped with audio visual gear or games equipment. Alternatively it may be simple with hardwearing surfaces suitable for vigorous use.

Venues You can see details of all our venues online. They're also listed in our Guide to Camps which you can purchase or download (no charge). Alternatively you can use our free booking service.

Outdoor recreation

Venues will often have open grassy areas and may be adjacent to bush, beaches, lakes or national parks. Some venues offer a wide range of programs and activities canoeing, bushwalking, environmental trails, farm activities, initiative activities, horse riding, ropes courses and more. Assistance may be available to develop and even run programs for your group. Specialist firms are available to conduct programs at a venue of your choice with their skilled staff and equipment.

Accessibility

Many venues have good access for people with wheelchairs, walking frames and prams. Venues are providing improved access to toilets and showers as well as recreation areas and activities. Venues should be able to provide clear information about their accessibility.

Dining facilities

A dining room will normally be adjacent to the kitchen and may also provide additional recreation space or be the only recreation room. Some dining areas may be at the end of a large recreation area.

Catering

Fully catered venues can provide all meals and snacks to suit the needs of your group. Self catered venues provide facilities for the group to prepare and serve their own meals and usually provide all catering equipment and crockery and cutlery. Venues may offer full and self catered options and you can choose either or even a combination for the duration of the program.

Minimum numbers

Most venues are set up for groups and have a minimum number for their hire. Twenty to twenty five would be a common minimum, however the minimum number may be considerably larger and occasionally smaller. Some venues will accommodate a hundred or more people while one or two facilities will take several hundred.

What about groups less than twenty? Many sites have no minimum number or can offer accommodation in two separate buildings for two different groups.

Some sites will have two completely separate areas that mean two smaller groups can be on the one site but rarely need to mix.

Toilets and showers

Toilet and shower facilities may vary from en suite facilities to separate amenities blocks for females and males, often within the same building as the sleeping accommodation, or sometimes in a separate building. Sites are steadily improving the toilets and showers to provide good access for older people and people with physical disabilities. Wide doorways, manoeuvring room, handrails and flexible shower hoses are some of the improvements you can expect.

Services and programs

If you wish, managers can help you to design a program that makes best use of the venue and its surroundings. They'll also be happy to tell you what other groups have done on the site, what possibilities exist on site and nearby and how to turn your good ideas into reality.

Special needs

Some groups have special needs. It might be about catering (religious, dietary, meals for a special occasion) or access (very young children, people with disabilities, older adults), privacy or quiet (retreats, seminars), conferences (white boards, linen service) or ... well just about anything. It's important that you mention your needs at the enquiry stage so that the venue manager can explain how your needs can be met.