Held on the picturesque mid-north coast of New South Wales, Souths Cares hosted another successful Boys Leadership and Cultural Camp from October 9th to 11th.
The camp brought together 14 male participants from three of Souths Cares programs - Deadly Youth Mentoring Program, Nanga Mai Marri (Dream Big) and the Liverpool Opportunity Hub. Under the guidance of five mentors, the camp focused on the central theme of "Resilience" and was held at the Old Bar Ingenia Holiday Park.
The camp is designed to reward mentees for their dedication and leadership shown in their respective programs. It also provided participants with the unique opportunity to learn from Uncle Matt Mitchell, Latrell and Shaquai Mitchell’s father, who offered insights into his humble beginnings and inviting the group to his family’s farm.
Yileen Gordon, Deadly Youth MentorThis was the best Souths Cares leadership camp to date. I really believe that the mentees truly lived and breathed the camp’s theme, which was ‘Resilience,’ especially when we were met with rain upon arrival, forcing us to demonstrate resilience while setting up our camp.
The mentees embraced the challenges right from day one, which began with setting up camp in rainy conditions before heading to the nearby Manning River for a fishing workshop. The resilience theme resonated strongly as they worked through the rain, only to be rewarded later with successful fishing, with a few participants catching bream.
Day two saw clearer skies, and the mentees started the day with a BBQ breakfast before heading to Crowdy Head to hear the Dreamtime story of the Three Brothers from Uncle Matt Mitchell. The day also included farm chores, where the boys learnt about cattle farming and agriculture.
Noah Duncan, Deadly Youth MenteeThe best part was going to Latrell Mitchell’s farm and learning from Uncle Matt. I also learnt a lot about resilience. We had to deal with some tough stuff, like setting up camp in the rain, but it taught me how to keep going and not give up.
Later, the group visited Saltwater Beach, learning about its cultural significance, before rounding off the day with more fishing at Mud Bishops Flats, where the boys successfully caught whiting.
On the final day, the participants took ownership by cooking breakfast for the group and sharing reflections on the camp’s impact. Working in small teams, they dismantled the campsite, showcasing the leadership and teamwork they had developed over the three days.
The Leadership and Cultural Camp, made possible through the support of Ingenia Holiday Parks, provided these young participants with lasting memories and valuable life lessons, through reinforcing the importance of resilience, teamwork, leadership and culture.
