Honda Foundation Adventure Group

Honda Foundation – Adventure Group

1st November 2011

The Honda Foundation’s generous funding for the purchase of camping equipment early in 2011 enabled young adults on Balance’s Adventure Program to experience the outdoors on camping trips and day activities throughout the year.

The program allows people to experience a range of activities and work with different people. Interchange take a positive approach when it comes to team work and motivating the group to try all elements of an activity. For many it is the highlight of their week because they go off the beaten track to explore the weird and wonderful!

In 2011 the Interchange Outer East Adventure Group packed all their new equipment – stoves, tents, packs, camping chairs, sleeping bags and first aid kits and set out on two overnight camping adventures.

The first adventure was an all girls trip to Upper Yarra Reservoir where 7 excited young adults spent two nights in tents and enjoyed roasting marshmallows over the campfire. The girls gained skills in cooking on portable stoves, preparing a campfire and hygiene in the bush along with increasing their confidence outdoors.

The second trip was in June where 8 people ventured to Gippsland Buchan Caves. Staying in a caravan park, participants were in charge of shopping and cooking their own food, organising the day’s activities and making sure the camping area was in order.  

As well as overnight camping opportunities the group also goes on day trips. Here is a list of things they have experienced this year.
Day Activities
- Jet boating on the St.Kilda Spinner (20 people)
- Cruising on the Yarra River (18 people)
- Visited the snow at Mt Donna Buang (20 people)
- Trees adventure course in Belgrave(30 people)
- Archery at Moorabbin (18 people)
- Mud obstacle course at Clifford Park (30 people)
- Obstacle course at Gillwill Park (30 people)
- Caulfield caravan and camping show (4 people)
- Exploring Rock pools at Cape Shank (12 people)
- Rock climbing at Anaconda (20 people)
- Swimming at Casey Arc wave pool (12 people)
- Weekly hikes to Olinda falls, Kinglake National Park, Bunyip National Park and Yarra Ranges National Park.

Plans for the future…
Camping at Phillip Island, along the Great Ocean Road and El Grando Farm in Country Victoria.

Bigger plans for the future…
A 10 night overseas trips to Singapore and a 12 day trip to Thailand to volunteer at the Chiang Mai Elephant Conservation. Here we will look after 30 neglected elephants who used to work but have been rescued, We plan to help with feeding, cleaning and building basic structures.

by Rebecca Gallaher