Week 1: Parish Training

The first week of training occurs in 3 parishes, with larger travelling teams. The Parish Training Week Team Leader is an experienced team leader who knows the program very well. The parishes are experienced with many Parish Team Members who have participated in the Day Camp program before. All Travelling Team Members are given a manual and a planning guide to read and help them prepare for each day's songs, plays, devotions and games.

In many ways this first week is a sort of trial by fire. Travelling Team are thrown in at the deep end. Some have participated in Day Camps before as campers, but many, especially those from abroad, haven't even seen the program until they get there. Immediately they are expected to jump in and learn it. The Parish Training Team Leader and others provide ample support to make it through this week. People volunteer for bits as things go along, with the encouragement of the Team Leader to ensure that everybody gets to participate in every part of the program.

Week 2: Residential Training

Having experienced Day Camps in the first week, the second week is spent reviewing the program and learning theory behind it. Training in aspects of working with a team, child discipline and being billeted is also included. The week is spent at a retreat centre, the Isaiah 40 Foundation. Workshops are led by experienced Team Members, Coordinators, Clergy, Directors and many others. Often those who write the chapters of the manual being discussed are present to explain the theory behind it.

Entrance to the Isaiah 40 Foundation

Residential is also filled with opportunities for individual spiritual growth. Each day, Team Members meet in small groups to discuss a passage from the Bible. There is also a scheduled quiet time every morning to encourage individuals to study and pray on their own. There is also informal Worship each evening, organised by small groups. This is an opportunity for Prayer, songs of Praise and sharing passages from Scripture together. During Worship each evening there is a speaker who focuses on the daily theme of the program.

"I've been able to recharge, refuel, be buoyed up by communal prayer. I've been able to form a bond with my team. I've learned new techniques, have had things explained that I had questions about." "It was good to be able to visualize what was being said in the workshops having done Parish Training Week."

"The workshops were informative, therefore questions that may come up have been answered." "Being with fellow Christians tends to boost my spirits."

"This week has really changed my perception of things. Thanks to this week, I was able to talk about my faith with other adolescents who see and believe in the same things I do (with regards to God). I have renewed my faith in Him through these wonderful people."

"My life was and is always in God's hands. I found that this week really helped me connect with my sister through pryer, and through the will of God. It was the worship that I enjoyed the most because the constant prayer after was helpful." "This past week has been quite challenging for me. Not having a team leader was really difficult. Sometimes it felt as if I was doing all the work. I understand the difficulities through and appreciated that there were always people to 'stand in.'"

"This week strengthed my faith and challenged my pride, both good things. I'm glad for the oppurtunity, before going out, to think about how Jesus challenges me, to follow Him with faith, not having to ask Him for so much for myself because he knows what I need and will provide it, but to ask for great things for the work He is doing."

"This week really challenged me. I am not usually a very open person about many thing, but this past week I felt God calling me to be more open with the people around me. I also struggled because I have a hard time admitting I'm afraid, even to myself. Again, God made me realize how important it is to tell Him everything, pray about everything. I often forget to do this when my life gets busy."

"This week has encouraged me and given me greater confidence in my future through the Lord. The speakers were good at giving good, positive messages, being realistic to the fact that it will be hard at times. This week has been more tense than enjoyable but that has made me more eager to get our and do the Camps and to try and to them really well."