Club R&R is our inclusive, accessible, whānau-friendly summer camp. Every year we get together to try new things, have fun, play, make friends, enjoy good kai, and build the shared memories, experiences and relationships that strengthen our amazing community. Here are a few of our highlights.
Rock climbing
We’re all about celebrating possibilities here at Conductive Education Taranaki, so we kicked off Club R&R 2023 with a challenging and exciting activity – rock climbing. Everyone had a go! It’s a great example of what kids can achieve when they have the confidence to try things out of their comfort zone. All we need to do is support them and give them opportunities to give things a go.
Captain Zak
Our Camp Leader, the Magical Michelle, managed to pick the calmest, sunniest day of 2023 for our boat ride with Chaddy’s Charters. Impressed with her weather predicting prowess, the skipper then tried to persuade her to join their crew. Zak quickly responded by appointing himself the new Captain – a good fit given his matching calibre of wit and added enthusiasm.
Learning leadership
2023 saw our some of our earlier campers graduating to Helper status. These young helpers (13-14 years old) are learning how to support kids with disabilities, without taking over or doing things for them. Our teen volunteers are excellent up-and-coming advocates for tangata whaikaha – and kids always love hanging out with the Big Kids (fortunately, we have an abundance of them!).
New and old mates
Club R&R creates a sense of community, so the kids get to hang out with each other, and their brothers and sisters too. Our Conductive Education sessions are structured and purposeful; social interaction is carefully woven into each session, and it was wonderful to see the kids having the time and confidence to play freely with each other and become even better friends.
Making memories
We have some very crafty teachers and helpers on our team, so the kids made lots of wonderful keepsakes to take home. They built trains and planes, made concrete stepping stones for the garden, painted with coloured ice and even made their own little parachutes. Every year we subject ourselves to some Steve Bedford banter to make a handprint collage (pictured above); a wonderful memento of our time together at camp. It’s worth it.
Pool time
We had some scorching hot days in mid-January, so we were delighted to be able to cool off in the Westown School pool. It was the perfect way to splash around (go, Jed!), perfect our barrel rolls (congratulations on your new record, Elizabeth), stack kids on our shoulders (that’s two to Noah) and show off our backstroke skills (Quinn). And one of us ended up fully-clothed in the pool after their premature entry to the traditional camp-end water fight (really, Pip, have you learned nothing?).
We feasted
The incredible team at Smok’n Comrades shouted all of us a phenomenal feast. There were even sumptuous vegan/vegetarian options for the less carnivorous among us, so make sure you book them for your next function – they make a great feast. We also had a visit from the ice cream fairies. Or several visits, if you wiped your face and quietly lined up again. Hats off to our amazing (and entertaining) hangi crew – what an effort! Thank you for getting us all together.
Time out
An important part of camp is giving parents and caregivers a chance to chill, and do something for themselves. This year, the Dads got spruced up with a Brew and a Trim, courtesy of Chris Wood from Jet Charm Barbershop. They were also invited to make some beautiful bread, thanks to Bumblebee Bakery.
Whānau fun
There was a fair bit of good-natured mayhem on our last day of camp, thanks to Athetlics Taranaki, ParaFed Taranaki, and Blind Low Vision NZ and Stephen’s famous Pool Noodle Golf, which we hope won’t make it to a town near you. After a week where we also did yoga, had a disco, experienced Sound Journeys, archery, tactile books and more, there were a very tired bunch of campers on the last day!
What people said…
Each year, we debrief and collect constructive feedback from kids, whānau, volunteers and helpers. We also ask them what they like about camp. Here’s what they said:
“The community and family involved, all the fun and love.”
“Hangi was delicious! And great for whanau involvement.”
“I appreciated all the support I got when things got really tough for me, thank you!!”
“The opportunity to try new things, staff were amazing, the feeling of camaraderie was also lovely.”
“I didn’t get hungry.”
“The kids having awesome new experiences and activities together, the people all coming together to make it an awesome week for the families.”
“Smok’n comrades was delicious.”
“We loved everything about the camp.”
“I feel so lucky to be involved in this camp and get to meet such awesome kids!
Thank you to everyone who helped make Club R&R 2023 such an epic experience. We are so grateful to the Shoemark Family, Leah and Karin in the kitchen, our awesome volunteers, and the businesses who donated.
Whether you were there helping, or there providing support in the background, you’re a part of these cherished childhood memories. Thank you.
