Quick info
How long is camp?
Summer Camps are one week. Winter Camps are a weekend
Age limits
Companions must be 18 years or older
Matching
Every Camper gets matched with a Companion who will be their very own camp buddy
What's it all about?
Our programmes provide a stress-free and caring environment for children and young people
Health, Safety & Wellbeing
Our staff, Companions, medical team and our safety procedures are all in place to provide a safe and supportive environment
What happens at Camp?
Our fun and activity-based programmes take into account the age and ability of our Campers
Applying to be a Companion
- Companions have be aged over 18 years (20 years in Auckland)
- Companions must be available for training
- Companions must enjoy working with children & young people
- Companions must be available over the summer for the entire week of camp
- Companions must be caring, positive, empathetic
- prospective Companions need to complete an online application form - https://campquality.org.nz/sign-up
- this is reviewed by the regional Registrar
- applicants are notified and successful applicants start the police vetting and reference checking process
- every Camp Quality volunteer, including Companions, are required to complete the Police Vetting process
- Police Vetting happens every 12 months
- Police Vetting forms are sent out either ahead of training or are handed out at training
- Companions are required to complete the forms and return them to the Registrar along with ID
- forms are processes at national office and take a minimum of 20 working days
- only those with a cleared Police Vet are confirmed as Companions or volunteers
- Companions are required to provide a personal reference with their application
Training
We provide a structured training for Companions. Whilst the structure of training varies to some degree by region, each Companion is provided with the skills they need to be a camp buddy for a child or young person with cancer.
Training is usually for a weekend and often at the same location as the camp.
Matching
The matching process uses information gathered during registrations and training to identify which Companion is best suited to be the camp buddy for which Camper. This might include shared or common interests, gender identity, location, ethnicity and cultural identity and a range of other factors.
Once matched, we share a profile of the Companion with the Camper's family ahead of camp.