FAMILY CAMP IS …

IOE’s annual March long weekend family camp held at Coonawarra Farm resort was once again a resounding success. This year approximately 180 people (families, volunteers and staff)  enjoyed the fun, fantastic activities and beautiful surrounds that make Coonawarra our favourite destination.  Each year we receive such positive feedback that, we decided to let the families’ comments tell the story of what family camp 2020 meant to them.

Family camp is:

‘A brilliant opportunity to meet, mingle and socialise with people in similar situations in an environment that is positive. It allows us to see and share our daughter’s camp experiences. Family camp is fun, supportive, empowering, enriching and emotionally fulfilling. Thanks so much for enabling and supporting this great event.’

‘Best time ever. I love being with my family on camp. I love family camp’

‘Incredibly well organised, very friendly and welcoming and amazing fun! Thank you so much’

‘I  love family camp. I like  the horses, the giant swing and the horses. I liked singing Drops of Jupiter in the talent show’

‘Seeing old friends and watching kids have fun. New friendships made and seeing our children being themselves. Watching the children’s faces as they interact with staff and volunteers. Staff and volunteers make the camp run so smoothly’

‘Includes everyone. It is where families on all different journeys get together in a relaxed and friendly environment, doing activities that they normally wouldn’t do and where you make new friends. …where you find you are not alone. Fun and awesome!’

‘Awesome, great, fun lots of fun, lovely, fantastic!!’

‘An inclusive, fun, bonding experience amongst and with like minded families. A place to relax, belong and not feel judged. A place to make new friends and laugh. A place where I saw my little girl’s anxieties slip away and saw her beautiful self shine through.’

Interchange Outer East continues to provide a range of programs which support every family member – a practical testimony to our belief that supported families become stronger, more resilient, less stressed  and better able to continue in their caring role.

Family camps are just one of these support programs. They have become such a calendar highlight for so many families, that IOE’s Family Camp Program has been extended and now consists of four camps each  year.