News
Camps - More than Canoeing or Ropes Courses

People Outdoors is a program of the Australian Camps Association (ACA) that was set up some thirty years ago to provide outdoor focused but comfortable camp experiences for people with disabilities. Over that time we have delivered hundreds of fantastic camp programs for thousands of people across Victoria.

Nowadays we all know that being outside is good for us, as is being active – so the benefits of combining both in a well-resourced and supported camp setting are doubly valuable. Camps are also excellent at helping people to challenge themselves and to try things that they wouldn’t normally do – and at encouraging campers to bring these new found skills and confidence back to everyday life.

All People Outdoors camps take place at ACA member venues, the staff of which are experts in running activities such as canoeing ropes courses, bush exploration, cycling, etc. This allows the People Outdoors team to focus entirely on providing whatever support and encouragement each individual camper may need so that they can participate in these activities to the best of their abilities.

But camps are about more than canoeing or ropes courses. People Outdoors camps are carefully planned to foster friendships and social connection, not just with others who may have a disability but with the broader community at camp. As one parent says:

“My daughter loves the volunteers at People Outdoors, she finds peer interaction difficult but having the volunteers of all ages gives her the opportunity to feel part of a friendship group. We love turning up at drop off and hearing lots of different people calling her name and making her feel so welcome. Thank you People Outdoors.”

People Outdoors programs are age specific (children, teens and adults) and include overnight, weekend and school holiday camps, including our Adventure for All program open to everyone, whether they have a disability or not.

At the end of the day, camp is about having fun with friends old and new, having a go and enjoying the great outdoors. People Outdoors is a registered NDIS service provider but if you don’t have an NDIS Plan don’t worry – you are still very welcome to join in with People Outdoors camps.