Registration for Camp SAY: AU 2025 is OPEN!
Welcome, Parents!
Overview
At Camp SAY: AU, we understand the importance of entrusting your child to our care. Your child’s safety, and social and emotional well-being are at the center of each decision that we make.
Our entire camp team is fully committed to creating an unparalleled environment of acceptance, positivity, and encouragement to help make your child’s time at Camp SAY: AU a rich and rewarding life experience.
Each day at camp provides an important balance between structured activities and choice, so that children can discover their unique talents and enjoy the freedom of pursuing their personal interests and dreams.
Campers spend time with children in their own age group and are also paired with camp buddies – so that older and younger campers can enjoy a truly rewarding mentoring experience.
Our goal is for each and every camper to leave camp with so many important benefits such as increased confidence, new friendships, greater independence, mastery of new activities, broadened experiences, and feeling better prepared to begin the new school year in a very positive way.
For more information, download our Camp SAY: AU 2025 brochure, or feel free to reach out to SAY: AU's President & Camp Director, Rich Stephens, at rich@sayaustralia.org.au or 0401 723 461
Every Voice Matters!
Camp SAY: AU is a transformative period of connection, growth, laughter, creativity, and fun designed to teach our campers that the way they speak right now is beautiful, and that stuttering should NEVER hold them back from anything they dream of accomplishing.
Camp Life
Camp SAY: AU celebrates what’s unique about each child.
From the moment they wake up until it’s time for sleep, your child will be engaged in a virtually unlimited range of activities.
Even before arrival, campers choose an awesome team (or two) to join. During one activity period each day, teams collaborate in a confidence-building journey toward a particular goal that is shared with the entire camp.
Campers enjoy delicious meals together along with special daily programs and evening events.
For at least one activity periods each day, your child can choose from a wide range of exciting activities in the areas of creative arts, land sports, outdoor adventure and nature, water sports, and more.
Meals
Log Cabin Camp provides a wonderfully balanced meal plan with great options that kids will enjoy. In addition to the delicious main meals, we provide tasty snacks at key times during the day.
We accommodate a broad range of dietary restrictions to ensure that your child’s experience at Camp SAY: AU is truly memorable. The cheerful dining room is a perfect space to share delicious and nutritious meals with friends.
Programs & Activities
CAMP SAY: AU OFFERS AN ASTOUNDING RANGE OF ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING:
Arts & Crafts – including painting & drawing
Outdoor Activities – Archery, ropes course, zip-line, bush walks, campfires (for s’mores & stories), bungee trampoline, flying fox & more
Waterfront Activities – Canoeing, raft-building & more.
Performing Arts – Playwriting, creative writing, singing, improv, poetry, rap, & more.
Sports − Basketball, frisbee golf, ping pong & more.
Typical Day at Camp
Each day is unique—packed with fun & exciting activities—so a typical day may look like this:
8:00am - Wake-Up with cabin friends and awesome counsellors
8:45am - Breakfast with the Entire Camp & amazing food
9:45am - Morning Choice Activty: Camper's are given a choice of activities to do
11:15am - Morning Tea
11:30am - Mentor Time - Younger campers get paired with older campers to forge great friendships that last a lifetime
12:45pm - Lunch
1:45pm - Rest period in bunks: a time to relax
2:45pm - Afternoon Choice Activity: Camper's are given a choice of activities to do
4:00pm - Afternoon Tea
4:15pm - Confident Voices: in small and age related groups, campers collabrate on a unique/creative arts piece that they can share with the entire camp and the last full day.
6:15pm - Dinner
7:25pm - Evening Activity: Camp Disco; Campfirs with S'mores; Camp Quiz & more
9:00pm - Bunk Time for young campers
10:00pm - Bunk Time for older campers
Travel
We will work closely with families to make each child’s trip to Camp SAY safe and as enjoyable as possible.
Campers living in the Melbourne/VIC Area will meet at a central Melbourne location and board a private, chartered Coach for the fun trip to Camp SAY: AU (about 140 kms). After camp, campers will return to the same central Melbourne location by the same means.
For campers living outside of the Melbourne CBD and more regional East Victoria, you may drop your child off/pick-up directly at Camp SAY: AU.
For all campers flying from interstate, a team of camp counsellors and a private, chartered Coach will meet your child. The camp staff member will be at the arrival gate to welcome your child and will escort them to the departure gate for their flight home, offering full assistance with baggage claim (and check-in for return flights).
Your child will be accompanied and taken care of from the moment they step off the plane until the moment their return flight departs.
Travel costs are not covered by Camp SAY: AU. If extra financial support via grants, donations, etc., is provided, we will strive to direct extra funds towards supporting families with travel costs.
Camp SAY: AU Blog
We know how important it is to see how your child is doing when they are away from home and knowing that they are safe.
We will have our own private and secure Camp SAY: AU Blog (for parents only) with daily uploads of photographs and videos capturing your child enjoying the day's activities.
FAQs
WHAT RESULTS CAN I EXPECT WITH CAMP SAY?
Our goal is for camper to leave Camp SAY: AU with so many important benefits such as increased confidence, new friendships, greater independence and feeling better prepared to begin the new school year in a very positive way.
WHAT ACTIVITIES WILL BE OFFERED AT CAMP?
Camp SAY offers a broad range of sports activities (basketball, soccer, table-tennis and more), arts activities (arts & crafts, singing, dance, acting/improv, creative writing, and more), outdoor/adventure activities (bush walks, ropes courses, canoeing), and many more!
WHAT IS THE TUITION FOR CAMP?
Tuition for Camp SAY: AU is $600.
Tuition includes all meals and activities for your child during their stay. Transportation to Camp SAY is not included in the cost of tuition, however, we do provide private, chartered Coach transportation between Melbourne CBD and Melbourne Tullamarine airport and Camp SAY: AU.
CAN I SPEAK TO MY CHILD OVER THE PHONE WHILE THEY ARE AT CAMP?
Of course! Parents and guardians are welcome to call the Camp SAY: AU phone if they have any questions or concerns while their child is at camp, and if a parent wants to speak with their child, that can certainly be arranged. Campers are not permitted to use their own cell phones during their stay at camp.
CAN I SEND EMAILS TO MY CHILD DURING THEIR STAY AT CAMP?
Yes. Enrolled families will receive information about how to send emails to their campers at a specialized email address so campers can receive emails in printed form – since campers do not have access to computers or personal email accounts while at camp.
CAN I EMAIL THE CAMP SAY LEADERSHIP TEAM DURING MY CHILD’S STAY AT CAMP?
Yes, parents can communicate directly with our Camp Director by sending an email to rich@sayaustralia.org.au.
DOES MY CHILD NEED ANY SPECIAL ITEMS OR EQUIPMENT AT CAMP?
Camp SAY: AU provides a packing list for you to refer to when preparing your child for camp. Remember, your child will be doing a lot of walking around at camp, so supportive sneakers, or hiking boots are highly recommended.
WHAT ABOUT SENDING ELECTRONICS AND OTHER VALUABLES WITH MY CHILD TO CAMP?
Camp SAY: AU cannot be responsible for electronics or valuables that are sent to camp. We allow iPods and other MP3 or CD players to be used inside the cabin, but we recommend against sending video games or other similar devices to camp. All cell phones will be kept in the Camp SAY: AU Leadership Office and will not be available to your child during their camp stay (and will be returned on departure day).
CAN YOU ACCOMMODATE MY CHILD’S SPECIAL DIET NEEDS?
Yes, Camp SAY: AU can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-intolerant diets. If your child requires other menu considerations, please just let us know, so we can make accommodations.
ARE BACKGROUND CHECKS REQUIRED FOR CAMP COUNSELORS?
Yes! All camp counselors are subject to a rigorous interview process and are required to pass a comprehensive background check prior to working at Camp SAY: AU. Before opening day, all staff members also participate in an intensive orientation process that further reinforces Camp SAY: AU’s values and code of conduct.
Your child's safety and well-being is always at the forefront at Camp SAY: AU.
WHAT IF A CHILD HAS TO BE SENT HOME DURING CAMP?
If a child violates our behavior and expectations policy, they will unfortunately be sent home and we ensure that this happens in a safe and timely manner.
IF MY CHILD IS ON MEDICATION, HOW IS THIS ADMINISTERED DURING CAMP?
One of our Leadership Camp Staff is trained to administer medications at camp. All camper and staff medications will be kept in our Camp SAY: AU health centre and be kept locked away. All medciations will be administered as prescribed and with 2 camp staff in attendence. Medications will be returned to campers on departure from camp.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD BECOMES ILL DURING CAMP?
Camp SAY: AU is hosted at Log Cabin Camp which is located 18.5km (25 minute drive) from Ballarat Hospital. In the unlikely event of an incident, Camp SAY: AU maintains clear and continuous communication with the family.
Camp SAY: AU
About Camp SAY: AU
For Kids & Teens
Mailing List
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: SAY: Australia. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
A Melbourne-based National not-for-profit and ACNC registered health promotion charity
© 2019 SAY: Australia ABN 84631362359
FOLLOW US