“These are high-equity-index schools and, in many cases, financial pressures mean a lot of kids don’t get to play weekend sport either, so we wanted to come up with a local solution to give them experiences that many other Kiwi kids take for granted.”
The week-long camp at Camp Adair in Hunua gives Year 7 and 8 students the chance to experience more than 20 sports and games, including a mixture of traditional and new sports they may not have had a chance to try such as flag football, the traditional Māori ball sport ki o rahi, lacrosse and mountain biking.
“Our mission has always been to give every young person the same shot at finding a sport they love and living an active, healthy life,” Lockwood says.
“Camp benefits go beyond the sports themselves as students gain independence away from home and make new friends. They also build social connections between schools, which carries on after the camp, helping to reduce inter-school tensions and rivalry in the community,” Lockwood says.
Funding and corporate sponsorship are a big part of making the camps possible and YMCA North is one of 12 organisations receiving a $10,000 grant from Auckland Airport towards the camps as part of its Twelve Days of Christmas community giving programme for its neighbouring South Auckland communities.
The money comes from donations made to the globe moneyboxes dotted around the airport for travellers to deposit spare foreign currency when they are passing through the airport.
“We are hugely grateful to the airport for the funding grant. Money is harder to get through traditional funding channels over recent years and the money will help us add an extra camp and enable 35 South Auckland schools to participate in a sports camp next year,” Lockwood says.
“I come from a background of sport and working in South Auckland and the region is dear to my heart and seeing the impact and joy on these kids’ faces at camp is special to me.
“After camp, a lot of kids continue on to pursue sports and fitness activities, so we know we have lit the flame for the love of sports”.
Auckland Airport chief corporate services officer Melanie Dooney says the airport is delighted to support YMCA North to improve opportunities for participation in sports and fitness.
“Students overwhelmingly love their week at sports camp, with many saying it’s the highlight of the school year,” Dooney says.
“Sport is so important to vibrant, engaged communities and the camps create wonderful opportunities for camaraderie and teamwork.”
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