Christchurch Children's Holiday Camps Trust (CCHCT) is a registered charity that has been providing for children in need since 1976.  We ask Principals, DP's, SENCO leaders, Guidance Counsellors and Public Health Nurses to nominate children they consider will benefit from a camp to:

- help them towards overcoming family trauma

- provide them and their family with a much-needed break

- develop social skills

- have an experience apart from a highly dependent sibling

- have an experience after a serious illness or death of a family member

- assist in overcoming a stressful situation

- gain coping and resilience skills

- have some positive life experiences to move forward with

We are a children's camp where every effort is made to give the children an enjoyable holiday.  All types of games and outdoor activities are provided and carefully supervised.  Informal activities and many other enjoyable things are organised to give the children a great week.

We value kindness, love and getting along with others and seek to encourage these values in the campers.  We incorporate an organised session each day with discussions, music, stories and videos.

CCHCT regularly nominate about 80 young people for Camp Good News (CGN) (for Year 5&6 students) every school holiday.  Each camp is a 5-day 4-night camp experience that involves activities such as orienteering, archery, initiatives and team building exercises, mini golf, climbing wall, waterslide, go-karting, aero jumping, wide games and much more.  These camps find volunteers to journey with young people throughout camp.  Volunteers are police vetted and have referees who vouch for their good character and positive role-modelling skills.

There has been much anecdotal evidence that children who have been to camp gain immeasurably in self-esteem, resulting in improved behaviour at school and home and thus inevitably leading them to have fewer problems later in life.

Each student can only attend one camp per year unless you believe there is a very strong need.

If your child meets the criteria and you would like to nominate your Year 5/6 child to attend, please come and see Amy Collins or email her at amy@whitau.school.nz before the 6th of June 2023.