uca presbytery of tasmania · kuca campout is a 24 hour camping experience for children in school...
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UCA Presbytery of Tasmania
KUCA Campout October 2018 Information Booklet
Everything
you need
to know!
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KUCA Campout 2018
Valley Campus, Fingal Valley
20 – 21 October 2018
This KUCA Campout information booklet helps explain all the important
aspects of KUCA campout. It will help you to understand, promote and
prepare for this exciting event.
The KUCA Campout Organising Team has the responsibility for KUCA
Campout, and is grateful for the support of numerous volunteers and people
who assist and promote KUCA Campout in Tasmania.
THEME: Reflect the light – the light that gives life
We will explore how we can discover God’s transforming power through loving
and following Jesus. In John 8:12 Jesus says: “I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of
life.” How can we reflect Jesus’s light in the world? Jesus changes
everything: the way we love one another, the way we care for His creation,
the way we spend our time, and the way we share compassion.
THE BASICS KUCA Campout is a 24 hour camping experience for children
in school grades 3-6. It is a memorable time of friendship
and fun, and provides a wonderful opportunity for children
to discover more about God and living in community. They
have opportunities to sing, play numerous games, create,
explore, chat and enjoy camp life. We use the camp site
and facilities of the Scotch Oakburn Valley campus in the
Fingal Valley.
Campout provides an opportunity for adults/youth leaders to receive training,
to share ideas and network with other adults/leaders from around Tasmania.
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We also hope that churches/schools can celebrate and hear about the
children’s experience after the event.
THE SMALL GROUP The small group is the centre of learning and sharing at KCO. One Small
Group Leader works with a group of up to 6 children to best facilitate
sharing together and participating in the wider program. Freedom to share
and discuss life, faith and friendships happens best in a small group setting.
At times during the program, children will choose to join groups that will be
supervised by other adults/leaders.
The adult leader of each group is particularly responsible for the health and
wellbeing of the children in their group. This involves caring for their
physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing. The adult/leader
should also keep track of the time and program details as the camp
progresses. Additional resources (information and ideas) will be sent to small
group leaders to help with their preparation for KUCA.
ORGANISATIONAL GROUPS The small groups of six are part of a larger organisational
group, usually a Uniting Church Congregation/School with a
coordinator. The coordinator brings leaders together to
organise tents, people to put them up and down, and
distribute information. They also collect all the registration
forms and money to hand into the Uniting Church Tasmanian
Office. If smaller groups or individuals want to link in with
an organisational group please contact Anthea/Sue at the
UCA Tasmanian Office to find out the closest local group.
COSTS KUCA Campout is $40. This includes bus transport, food, KUCA bags (if
required) plus stationery, and all equipment for the activities. Financial help
is available through a Campers Assistance Fund. The group
coordinator/minister may make a written request for assistance from this
fund by sending it to the Treasurer at the UCA Tasmanian Office. The fund
is there so that no child should miss out due to lack of funds. The family may
be asked to pay a smaller amount towards the payment.
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REGISTRATION INFORMATION Distribution of registration forms: Before distributing forms and
advertising material please add the name and contact details of your group’s
Coordinator. The closing date for the return of registration forms to
Coordinators is negotiable but the Coordinators will have to get these forms
in to the UCA Tasmanian Office by Monday 8 October 2018.
Registrations cannot be accepted after this date. We realise it can be
difficult for coordinators to collect registration forms, however they provide
essential information for the caterers, organisers and office staff to do
their job.
Children: KUCA campout is ONLY for children in grades 3 to 6.
Small Group Leader: There must be at least 1 adult to every 6 campers
registered with your group. Adults must travel with their group to and from
KCO. All adults (18+) will need to submit Working with Children registration
to the UCA Tasmanian Office if they have not done so already and complete
the KUCA Volunteer Application Form.
Youth Leaders: Those in grades 7+ may attend as Youth Leaders and will
need to participate in a Leader’s program at camp on Friday evening and
Saturday morning of the camp. Youth Leaders are not included in the
required ratio of 1 leader to 6 campers and do not need a Working with
Children Check unless they are 16 years of age or older.
Underage Children coming with parents are the responsibility of their
parents or carers and need to be monitored effectively throughout the
campout. The Organising Team is not responsible for the care or safety of
underage children. All underage children need to complete a registration
form. An information sheet outlining expectation/responsibilities needs to be
read and signed by parents and carers before KCO.
Visitors and other adults: All adult helpers, including cooks, helpers, tech
crew, musicians and admin staff need to complete a registration form.
They will receive badges and name tags to identify them as part of KUCA
Campout. All Day Visitors will need to sign in and out.
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WHAT ABOUT INVITING OTHERS? Inviting a neighboring church to join with your group may help foster
relationships between different denominations and provide a wider network
for your ongoing local ministry. Some congregations advertise in their local
school. Ask your children to invite their friends. Grandparents can invite
their grandchildren. The website address will give everyone the information
they need. https://ucatas.org.au
CATERING
All the food at camp is provided and includes: Saturday night’s dinner, and
Sunday breakfast and lunch and snack times.
Dietary needs will be addressed by a specific leader who will point out the
children’s food to them. If parents have concerns then we can provide the
contact number of the dietary leader.
KUCA campout is NUT FREE so please do not bring nuts to camp.
BUSES
Leaving Times: Hobart (Scots Memorial Uniting, 29 Bathurst Street) 10.00am
Launceston (Scotch Oakburn College, 85 Penquite Road) 10.30am
Buses will leave Fingal after lunch on Sunday at 12.30pm for the return trip.
Each small group will need to have a leader travelling on the bus with them.
WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECKS All adults (18+) and Youth Leaders (16+) attending KUCA Campout need a
current Working with Children Check (which needs to be renewed every three
years) and have attended Safe Church Training.
This process can take a few weeks!! Please follow this up earlier rather
than later.
Application forms need to be completed online at the Department of
Justice website: http://www.justice.tas.gov.au/working_with_children
On completion the Application Receipt which is generated needs to be
taken to a Service Tasmania shop with your proof of identity and
payment of $18.60 for a volunteer. Once your application is successful,
you are posted the Working with Children Registration card.
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Copies of your registration card need to be sent to the UCA Tasmanian
Office where they are confidentially filed and included on the
Presbytery and Synod databases.
NOTES FOR COORDINATORS: Forms and monies are due into the UCA Tasmanian Office by Monday 8
October 2018. Registrations cannot be accepted after this date. If
Coordinators wish to put in their group’s registration forms earlier with
penciled in entries for those who have not handed in their forms or money,
then the Office can work with you on this. We encourage strongly that you
send in payment with the forms. Do not forget to include a Group
Registration Form which is a summary of all your registration forms for our
office. These are available from the office or on the website.
www.victas.uca.org.au/kuca
Coordinators will be responsible for the overall planning of their
“organisational group”. Responsibilities (which they can delegate) will include:
Putting up posters and giving parents a contact for return of
registrations
Making sure all attending adults & youth leaders have this booklet.
Making sure all adults and youth 16+ have had a Working with Children
check.
Distribution of forms (registration forms, What to bring list)
Checking the provision of tents and volunteers to erect them at the
campsite
Making sure all parents have the information they need. E.g.: dietary,
first aid and special needs – contact numbers, website information or
the “What is KUCA Campout?” brochure for parents who know little
about Campout and bus times which are on the “What to Bring List”.
Collecting all the registration forms and money, filling out the group
registration form and returning these to the UCA Tasmanian Office.
Making sure all are assembled for the bus, that you have adults to
travel on the bus and that parents are aware of the bus times and
where they leave from.
FIRST AID: KUCA Campout has at least two trained First Aid Officers on
site. If a parent wants to individually talk to the designated First Aid
Officer, please contact the UCA Tasmanian Office. (Ph. 6331 9784).
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OFFERING: The offering this year will go to a Uniting World project – –
supporting school education in a small school in a remote mountain village.
All campers and adults are invited to contribute a gold coin to the KCO
offering to be collected during worship on Sunday morning. It is suggested
that children place their offering in an envelope and that leaders remind kids
to bring it to the registration desk on arrival.
A REGISTRATION TABLE will be set up near the catering area to
handle registrations, general information, elective registration and monies.
TENTS: Each group is expected to provide their own tents or work in with
larger organisational groups to provide and set up tents.
There will be a handful of people volunteering to help you in
the setting up of tents. We always need more volunteers for
this job if you know anyone who may be willing to do this on
either Saturday or Sunday.
Note: We encourage leaders to ask the kids to help with packing up tents.
Extra hammers and & dustpans may help here. It is also helpful if the
children have their gear packed up and in their particular bus zones before
or just after breakfast on Sunday.
KUCA TENT POLICY: The KUCA team believes it is important to have
adults in the same tent as the children given the age of the campers (8 - 11)
and the security it gives to have an adult in close proximity. All tents need to
be gender specific. To have two leaders in a tent gives accountability to the
leaders as well as extra support to the campers. It is Presbytery Policy
that: all tents be gender specific; two leaders be allocated to be in each tent,
preferably in a separate compartment; the two leaders be of the same sex as
the campers in the tent OR that these two leaders be a couple AND in a
separate compartment; leaders would not be in the tent while campers are
getting changed; and that leaders should always find an appropriate space
other than the tent for getting changed.
ROLE of SMALL GROUP LEADER: This is one of the most rewarding
roles at KUCA Camp Out. You get to spend 24 or so hours investing into the
lives of a group of kids. This will demand the best of you, as you give your
energy and smiles in care for your campers. You will always need to be
thinking of what the children needs are and how to keep them happy. These
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are important skills and we rely on you to be creative and help the children
mix and feel comfortable. Other things that would be helpful are extra
games to play around the tents, extra tables and chairs, sunscreen.
Small Group Leader
Responsibility
What to do
Get to know your group
and help them get to
know each other
Use their names
Play get-acquainted games
Talk with them and encourage conversation
about their favourite things, their school,
family and future hopes
Keep your group safe Follow instructions
Wear name tags
Stay within boundaries
Know where your campers are at all times.
Engage your group in
each aspect of the
KUCA Camp Out
program
Have fun
Keep on time
Attend all components of the camp program
and join in where you can with your campers
Make sure your campers are prepared for
each activity e.g. have their hats or Bibles
or warm clothes with them.
Read/prepare for small group sessions
(resources sent 2 weeks before camp)
Encourage discipleship Model and encourage Christian faith
through your words, attitudes and actions
As opportunity presents, pray aloud; open
and use your Bible, share stories about
what God has done in your life.
Remember that each camper will be at a
different point in their journey with God.
Some may just be starting
Remind campers to respect each other
Offer campers an option: “You could say
this aloud or inside your heart.’ OR ‘You
may not want to pray, but we’re doing this
as a group so please remain quiet for those
that do. Thanks.’
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FACEBOOK: It is appropriate to keep boundaries in a relationship between
leader/youth leader/adult and a child. Permission from the parent should be
sort before communicating with children via Facebook, noting that children
under 13 should not be on Facebook.
We ask that you not respond, or if necessary show appropriate care and
awareness, if you are asked by a child to be their friend on Facebook. All
Facebook conversations should be shared with a child’s parents and open to
any scrutiny. It not only keeps a safe place for children but also for adults.
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Notes On Arrival… 1. Safe arrival: Once off the bus, follow the signs to the oval.
2. Setting up camp: Settle your children into their tents and get them to
set up their bedding and to get out anything they will need during the
afternoon. (see below)
3. Getting organised and oriented: There will be a few things happening
when you arrive at the campsite.
Registration desk – hand in any outstanding forms or monies and for
general enquiries. Hand in offering.
Electives: Children will select which elective they want to participate
in during the initial “Welcome Time”. Each elective will be based on
exploring the Light of God through one of our senses: sight, hearing,
touch, smell, and taste.
KUCA Campout bags: One leader from each congregation to collect
bags for the group from registration desk. These can then be filled
with water bottles, hat & sunscreen.
Lunch: Lunch can be eaten at this time if they haven’t already eaten.
4. Welcome Time & Worship: Gather together for singing, welcome and
orientation
5. Bible Study Electives: break into Elective groups
6. Afternoon Activities: CREATE & PLAY During the afternoon activities
you may need to direct your kids to find an activity to start with, and once
they are more confident to move around as they wish. You can move
around as a group or not, depending on what makes the kids happy. Please
feel free to help out anywhere like with ball games or craft activities or
people still setting up tents.
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During the camp…
KUCA BAGS: Children need to carry their KUCA bags with them and
wear their name tags/lanyards. The lanyards have the program on the
back. The bags should also contain:
o diaries,
o water bottle, sunscreen
o pen,
o hat &
o jumper for the evening.
Other duties are to generally care for the children: How they are
traveling? Do they have enough water? Look out for times that they
may need to sit more quietly or, to run around more. Reiterate their
care of others, pointing out that whilst living in a big community you
sometimes have to look out more for others than yourself.
Have a game or two up your sleeve.
Kids Helping: Please encourage children to help with packing up, as this
is all part of the camping experience. Their bags are to be placed
beside their regional bus before the Sunday morning activity.
Our website has more information. Please do not hesitate to call us over
anything you are concerned about.
Best wishes with all your preparations.
Anthea Maynard
KUCA campout Coordinator
0434337023
Website: https://ucatas.org.au
UCA Tasmanian Office
PO Box 1076 (36 Paterson Street)
LAUNCESTON TAS 7250
Ph: 6331 9784
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Kuca’s What to Bring List https://ucatas.org.au
All items need to be clearly labeled.
KUCA Campout bags from last year. One is supplied if you do not have
one (to carry your drink bottle, hat & sunscreen etc)
Prepared lunch for arrival on Saturday
DRINK BOTTLE (Very important)
Hat & sunscreen
Pyjamas/trackys (warm)
Jumper X2
Warm coat is essential
Change of warm clothes
Two pairs of shoes (gumboots/boots/sneakers)
Soap, shampoo, towel, hair brush, toothbrush, toothpaste
Medication if needed. (named)
Sleeping Bag – as warm as possible (*note it can be very cold at night).
Pillow
Sleeping mat/blow up mattress
Torch
Bible
Envelope with offering money for UnitingWorld to support an overseas
community project
DO NOT BRING: mobile phones, aerosol
deodorants/perfumes, electronic games, MP3s,
nuts, spending money.
If you need to contact your child URGENTLY please ring
KUCA campout Coordinator Anthea 0434337023
BUS DEPARTURE TIMES: SATURDAY -
Hobart (Scots Memorial Uniting, 29 Bathurst Street) 10.00am.
Launceston (Scotch Oakburn College, 85 Penquite Road) 10.30am
SUNDAY: Buses will depart from Fingal at 12.30pm