How To Plan a Great SchoolCamp

Taking on the responsibility to plan a school camp is big!

We want to help you make this camp your best yet, so we asked a couple of our coaches and admin team for advice. The Summit has been running school camps for over 15 years and has seen more than 160,000 campers pass through our gates.

The Summit Adventure Camp

Situated just outside the beautiful town of Trafalgar, Victoria, The Summit sits on stunning bushland on the slopes of the Strzelecki ranges. With more than 40 activities and workshops available, we are Victoria's premier school camp destination.

School Camp Admin

• **Don't be afraid to ask.** Your camp office team has been doing this for years, so don't be afraid to ask them for help as you plan your school camp. Nothing will surprise them!
• **Final numbers due date.** Make sure you know the due date for final numbers and mark it on your calendar so you are not caught short with late arrivals. Camps need to allocate cabins and rooms, and they need notice before you arrive.
• **Online admin portals kick butt.** Ask if your camp has an online portal to help you with all of the student paperwork and save yourself a ton of work. Schools booking at The Summit get free access to our online portal that manages consent, dietary info, anaphylaxis plans and media permission.
• **Dietary information.** Don't forget to confirm dietary requirements for your students!

Things to Pack

• **Packing list.** Chat to your camp office about a draft packing list. You might need to tweak the items, but it's a great way to get a head start, and ours is in the resource library.
• **First aid backpack and bum bag.** Always better to be over-prepared in this area for moments camp staff are not in reach.
• **A roll of plastic bags.** Particularly helpful for adventure camps like The Summit. Your students will definitely get wet and dirty, and it's much easier to transport dirty clothes home safely packaged up.
• **One special item per student.** Suggest your students bring one item to help them feel grounded, such as a photo or a soft toy. School camps can feel overwhelming for some students, and a keepsake will help them settle.

At the Camp

• **Debrief.** Activities build confidence. Reflections build meaning. Build in time for students and teachers to pause, process and personalise what they've just done. That's how short-term action becomes long-term growth.
• **Keep parents close (even from afar).** Trust is built with clear, timely info. Share not just the logistics, but the vision. Let parents know how this camp will grow their kids. Bonus points for sharing photos, letters or a group message while camp is running.
• **Create one memory that hits the heart.** Whether it's a powerful final circle, a surprise celebration, a teacher challenge or a sunset gratitude ritual. At The Summit, we aim to leave every guest feeling stronger, braver, more connected, and with a positive experience they'll never forget.

School camps are a wonderful way to grow your students. Well done for putting up your hand to organise this event, we wish you the best of luck. If you're still on the hunt for a school camp site in Victoria, give our team a call on 03 5633 3236 or make an enquiry and we'll help you pull off your best camp yet.