Edmund Rice Camps 2023 – First Training Day

On Friday 24th March 2023, the Edmund Rice Office delivered the first training day for the summer’s Edmund Rice Camps at Woodeaves. We were joined by fifteen leaders from St Ambrose College and thirteen from Loreto Grammar School, who together, will be running the new Edmund Rice Camp Manchester. Beginning with a reflection, leaders shared some reasons why they signed up for camp and also one of their worries and apprehensions.

Ranging from excitement about gaining new skills, giving back to the community, and making new friends, others were also worried about lacking in confidence. We spent the morning delivering sessions on roles and responsibilities, “how to plan a camp day” before moving on to working through Child Protection training. Leaders were engaged, enthusiastic and thoughtful through all the sessions, putting them in great stead for their camp in July. The afternoon saw us pushing leaders out of their comfort zones in learning some games, songs, and activities for camp. We were even joined by some children from St Andrews Prep in a camp favourite game of “Funky Seaweed”. Both the Prep children and new leaders thoroughly enjoyed the game and this gave our new leaders the chance to see how much fun camp activities can be. Having come to the training day with little to no knowledge of an Edmund Rice Camp and very little experience working or volunteering with young children, our new leaders were fantastic, bringing so much energy, enthusiasm and joy to every activity and session we ran. We know that they are going to be great leaders and give children in the local area the week of a lifetime.