A big thanks to all the campers who made this year THE BEST CAMP YET.

We miss you all already!

Here we go! That amazing time of year is creeping closer and we are getting more and more excited about camp. Who else misses sitting around a campfire under the stars cooking damper with a whole bunch of new friends?

Senior Camp (15-17 yrs old) will run from Tuesday 3rd – Thursday 12th of January.
Junior Camp (12-14 yrs old) will run from Sunday 15th – Tuesday 24th of January.

Download the application form (in pdf format) by clicking here. Then give it to all your mates, cousins, siblings, your garbage man, the canteen lady at your school, your exchange student, ANYONE AND EVERYONE who you think would be able to spread the word about camp. We rely so much upon you guys, the campers, telling people about how much fun you have on camp. Don’t forget to think about the other camp; if you’re on Senior, think about some younger kids you know that would love Junior. Or the other way around.

We really appreciate your support – plus – everyone has an awesome time at camp so your mate will be happy too!

If you’re new to camp, have a read in the “About Icthus Summer Camps” section to see what we’re about!

If you have any questions about Camp 2012 you can email us at camps@campicthus.org.au, or call Walter Harwood, our super friendly Summer Camps Coordinator on 0403 965 551.

See you there!

It’s almost time for camp again!

Who else is excited?

Stay tuned to hear more from the leadership teams for Icthus 2012.

Hooray!

16 fantastic campers, 11 dedicated leaders, two brave chaperones, one beautiful site and no bushfire threats = one awesome Camp Icthus experience. The only way I think I can express the exact feeling of Junior 2011 is that it was a true ‘Icthus’ experience.

With such a fantastic group of campers and wonderful leadership team, we managed to conquer the rapids of the Mitchell, find our way on the Pink Ribbon trail, meander down the Tambo and relax in the beauty of Blue Pools. Unfortunately, with the majority of our sail fleet out of action after an eventful skills session, sailing became a non-event.

Spirits remained high throughout camp, with every overnighter group returning with stories of lost shark pyjama pants, Bear Grills adventures (particularly in the navigational field) or hiking the Pink Ribbon trail with a ladder… The day in became a battle for supremacy between The Crunchy Scorpion Burgers and DMBC, with results still being reviewed due to claims of point rigging and inappropriate replenishment of the blue water cup.

Thanks to the whole leadership team made up of Sean, Davo, Kieran, Merryn, Jacqui, Eike, Chris, Paul, Jono, and Jill F for their wonderful support and enthusiasm. Special congratulations to first time leaders Paul, Jono and Eike for showing us what they’re made of! Also a big thanks to Lucy and Zea for chaperoning, especially dealing with the whims of Vline.

Can’t wait for next year. Love Skip Cara.

Get your application forms in before it’s too late!

We would like to announce that Cara Foot will be skippering Junior camp in 2011 and Jus Hagen and Bill Forshaw will be Co-skippering Senior.

Leadership teams are in the process of having planning meetings and everyone is getting excited…Now all we need are the kids!

Spring is such a great time to be down at camp. It’s warming up, everything is green and lush, and the peninsula is quiet and peaceful.

A bunch of lucky Icthusians are heading down on Cup Weekend to do a bit of maintenance on the site as well at a lot of deck-sun-basking. If you are interested in a fun weekend down on the lakes (you WILL have to put in a few hours hard yakka) get in touch with a CoM member for more details. You will need to let them know well in advance what meals you will be there for so that they can work out how much food they’ll need to buy.

See you there!

Dear Campers,

ICTHUS 2011 is going to be amazing. We want to make it the best set of camps we’ve ever had – so get your application in and pass one on to a friend too. We rely on word-of-mouth to keep Icthus thriving, so if you know any relatives or friends that might be interested in either a Junior or Senior camp, let them know how much fun camp is and forward them on to this website.

Looking forward to a game of zilch under the tarp after a good hike and a swim in the Mitchell,

See you there,

Your 2011 leaders.

Camp Icthus is a not for profit organisation which conducts camps for young people over the summer holiday period in Victoria, Australia.

Operated by volunteers for over 40 years, Camp Icthus creates opportunities for young people to meet new friends and participate in a diverse range of outdoor activities.

Camp Icthus provides young people with an opportunity for personal, social and physical development in a caring and supported social environment.

Based at a ten acre bush site with beach frontage on Lake Victoria, our ten day Summer Camp programs revolve around the activities of canoeing, sailing and bushwalking. Small groups, with a minimum of 1 leader for each 4 campers, go out on overnight trips spending two or three days sailing the Gippsland Lakes, canoeing down one of the nearby rivers, or bushwalking in the scenic Mitchell River National Park. At night these small groups camp out, fully self-sufficient, under the stars. These trips provide an excellent opportunity to improve physical skills, foster a cooperative community spirit and develop environmental awareness.

Camp Icthus actively seeks participants from a wide range of cultural, religious and economic backgrounds. We encourage participants to develop friendships beyond the usual boundaries of their social groups.

Our volunteer leaders (all with national Police checks) tend to be as diverse a group as the campers. Many leaders have developed their skills and knowledge through participation as campers in previous camp programs. Some leaders have additional skills and qualifications in teaching, outdoor education and social welfare. All our leaders give their time to provide memorable camp experiences, acting as role models and helping to enhance the self-esteem of participants.

During the year, Camp Icthus Inc. holds numerous fundraisers, to keep our program going. Some of the money raised is also available for sponsorship of participants from disadvantaged backgrounds. As we are strictly a not-for-profit organisation, with no paid employees, we pride ourselves in being able to provide quality programs at reasonable rates. Our Summer Camps Coordinator would welcome your contact for further information. Email camps@campicthus.org.au or call Walter Harwood on 0403 965551.