Camps Queensland

Reflections on humility

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Recently we’ve been writing up our user manual for the R1202 concept being rolled out at all of the QCCC sites.  In the development of the R1202 one of the fingers some of us were unsure about was the index “be humble” finger because we thought it might be a difficult sell, particularly trying to explain humility to the kids at a Primary School level.

However as we developed things and took input from a lot of people and educators, the “humble” finger quickly became a non-negotiable part of the package, because it is hard to explain and this highlighted the need for greater understanding and awareness.

As it stands at the moment, the humble index finger currently has the most ideas and content of all the different R1202 concepts in the user manual!  Probably because the difficulty to explain it has sharpened our focus and made us come up with good and innovative ideas.  We’re also seeing that it has the most impact on kids, and they remember it easily. 

Something we’ve discussed as we worked on ‘humility’ is that Australia probably has claims to humility as a national trait more than most nations, particularly so if you were to compare the stereotype of the Aussie and the American. 

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Who we are

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2011 is shaping up as an exciting one for Queensland Conference and Camping.  The year is off to a flying start with record guest numbers through February.  Some of the new initiatives we’ve been working on for several years are being launched and are quickly growing. 

 And we’ve started this year serving our new vision and mission statements.

 

Vision statement: 

 As a ministry of Queensland Baptists, QCCC exists to create life-changing experiences through excellence in hospitality, service and teaching.   

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What makes it worthwhile ….

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School camp, canoe lake, Queensland, Sunshine Coast
Particularly impressed with the dedication and professionalism of your activity leaders .....

One of the most rewarding parts of our job is the feedback we get from guests about their enjoyment of our programs, and how it builds into the lives of those we host and teach.  Here’s a small sample – a letter we received from a school this week:

Dear Neil,
 
I would just like to thank you and your staff for the fantastic camp that our school experienced this week.
 
As discussed with you I was particularly impressed with the dedication and professionalism of your activity leaders.  It is clear that they love and are passionate about their work. It is great to see them passing on their individual skills to the students they assist by being friendly, caring, disciplined and polite. Continue reading →

QCCC’s R1202 pilot

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QCCC is piloting now a new concept we hope will become the backbone theme of our programs from 2012 onwards, across our three camp sites at Mapleton, Tamborine and Brookfield (Brisbane). The working title for the concept is “R1202“, a reference to the biblical Romans 12:02:

“Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within.”

Also known as “The Hand” we believe the R1202 theme will enable us to partner with visiting groups to reflect on the key attributes and values required for a successful life.

As it is developed we will make it a flexible tool that can fit the objectives and outcomes of each group who visits us. We will also develop resources so that the lessons learned from R1202 on camp can last long after it concludes.

R1202 will become the major tool used by QCCC in our teaching and service to clients.  Our staff have identified approximately 70 object lessons that can be drawn from R1202 using colours, fingers and other concepts.

Adventerous Fathering

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The first Fathering Adventure in South East Queensland

This last weekend (21-23 January 2011) QCCC Tamborine was the venue for a pilot program of the first Fathering Adventures weekend in South East Queensland.

‘Fathering Adventures’, founded by Darren Lewis in July 2008, is an adventure-based initiative devoted to turning the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers.

The Fathering Adventure Weekend is for boys aged between 7 and 13 years, and their Dad, or significant male other.  The first South East Queensland Fathering Adventure event was fully booked, attended by twelve fathers and their sons drawn from the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Dalby and Sydney.

Throughout the weekend, Dads were given coaching on what it means to be an “intentional” Dad, finishing the weekend armed with a quiver of tools designed to ensure their son would know that he is a “beloved son”. Encouraged to “have fun” throughout the program, the adventure weekend was specifically geared around crating a memorable experience for fathers and sons, empowering them to spend time with each other, one on one, to put into practice the things being taught.

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QCCC and the Queensland floods

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The QCCC Mapleton swinging bridge - high above the floods of 11 January 2011

With South East Queensland devastated by heavy rainfall and flooding in recent days we stand in solidarity with the rest of our State and echo the sentiments of our Premier, Anna Bligh, that we will join with our fellow Queenslanders to overcome this adversity. 

We are relieved to say that this extreme weather event has had a minimal impact on our three sites.  In Brisbane QCCC Brookfield is located significantly higher than the flood line.  For a few hours in the heaviest of rain on Tuesday 11th the main road into QCCC Brookfield, Gold Creek Road, was cut by a creek in spate but it quickly subsided.  QCCC Brookfield is accessible even now as flooding rages down the Brisbane River and has suffered no adverse effects.

Some of the heaviest rain fell over the Sunshine Coast Hinterland where QCCC Mapleton is situated.  However Mapleton is high on the Blackall Range and apart from a few hours where water rose above the front gate, the rain water quickly sloughed away down the many creeks that run off the high ground.  At all times the Centre was fully accessible from the Mapleton Town Centre and apart from a few quickly dealt with landslips the roads to and along the Blackall Range remained open.  The waterfall at QCCC Mapleton was a wonderful sight when in full and powerful flow.

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Things that matter to us: Hospitality

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A series on the guiding principles of QCCC’s camping philosophy.

Fully catered camping in Queensland
Excellence in food is an important part of the QCCC service

Food is the basic staple of human survival but it’s so much more than that.  According to history, medieval priests “ministered” to travelers by providing shelter from the cold and nourishment in the form of hot soup.  Eventually this soup became known as ‘Minestrone’, from the Latin word for service, because this kindness was offered in Christ’s name as a service or ministry to needy travelers. 

“Ministry” has traditionally been (a) any service to people (b) done in Christ’s name (c) at a sacrifice – the soup was free to travelers. (J. Gibson – Ministry and Worship).

QCCC exists to serve – to “minister” to individuals & groups – through hospitality & service.  When used in the Bible this implies responsibilities well beyond the provision of food and lodging; i.e. courtesy, care and attention to other needs.

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2010: A good year!

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As the curtain closes on 2010 it’s a good time to reflect on a record year of camping and conferencing for QCCC.

QCCC Expeditions are hotting up, driven by our provision of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Here’s a little of what our great team has managed to achieve this year:

  • Hosted over 500 individual groups across our three sites, that’s an average of 10 groups each week using our facilities.
  • Provided a quality accommodation experience to more than 35,000 people, an average of 700 people each week staying with us.
  • Served more than 200,000 meals. We’re convinced quality hospitality is a vital part of any successful camping and conferencing program.
  • Facilitated more than ten outdoor education instructors as they provided programs for more than 200 schools through the year.
  • Made great strides in building partnerships with like-minded organisations, the fruits of which will start to be seen in 2011 as we roll out new services and programs.
  • Developed a pilot theme for all of our Centres that will add significant value to the programs and outcomes of groups using our facilities (watch this space).
  • Further developed our Expeditions program and taken several groups through their Duke of Edinburgh Award.
  • Kicked off our training program for future staff – providing a Certificate III in Outdoor Education.
  • Had an awful lot of fun in the process!

Cruising the Obi

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The toughest part of the trip - shooting a farm causeway.

It’s been a huge year across QCCC.  Mapleton alone has hosted nearly 300 different groups of guests through the course of the year.  Brookfield has had its busiest year ever and Tamborine has also hosted hundreds of groups and played a part in some major events on Tamborine Mountain.

As the schools head into their Summer holidays the whole of QCCC gets just a few weeks of hiatus.  Australia’s camping industry is the opposite to the American model, where the prime-time for their camping programs is over the northern hemisphere summer.  In Australia the summer period leading into Christmas is the quietest time of year.  On Boxing Day Mapleton kicks off its Summer Holiday Family Program and shortly after QCCC Tamborine’s accommodation gets used for the Tamborine Summer Convention.  Brookfield has several church, youth group and craft camps in January. 

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