Testimonials
September 2008, VET REC Training program (Secondary & primary), 44 Participants.
I would just like to thank Kinglake Rangers Wilderness Camp for providing my year 10 Vet Sport and Recreation students with a once in a lifetime opportunity. Your innovative VET REC training program enabled the students to learn how to plan and sequence outdoor recreation activities, develop facilitations techniques, learn the importance of communication, develop their leadership skills and discover the challenges when working with younger students. The staff at Kinglake Rangers Wilderness Camp were amazing to work with. The supportive and encouraging atmosphere set up by them enabled the students to challenge themselves and try new things without fear of failing. The students left after the two days feeling a great sense of achievement, self belief and with a bucket load of new skills. I definitely look forward to offering the program to next year VET Sport and Recreation students.
Katie Cook, Vet Sport and Recreation Teacher, Warrandyte High School
March 2008, Adventure / Survivor Camp, 288 Year 9 students.
I want to thank the staff at Kinglake Ranges Wilderness Camp for the amazing and enjoyable experience they provided our students from Penola Catholic College. A special thanks, to the camp leaders and kitchen staff for their professional attention to detail and willingness to assist in providing an enriching experience.
A small group of our students participated in the Survivor Camp. They were pumped, enthusiastic and described their experience as awesome. They roughed it for three days doing lots of hiking and learning a lot about the bush environment they were in. It was fantastic to see the teamwork and camaraderie amongst the group.
The rest of our student’s participated in the Adventure Camp. They experienced many enjoyable activities and had lots of fun, especially at night, when they participated in the indigenous and drumming program. Our students stayed in dorms one night and slept out in tents on another night. For many of our students this was their first time in a tent and it was an amazing and worthwhile experience for them. The food was great and there was lots of it. Our students enjoyed their experience at KRWC immensely and they walked away learning many things about teamwork and communication. Thank you.
Paul Piperno, Year 9 Co-ordinator, Penola Catholic College
April 2008, Reach Foundation Camp, 45 Participants.
We use this campsite regularly and it's always said "We eat like royalty here!".
Campsite=Amazing, Cabins=Comfy, Service=Top Notch.
The look on the kids faces when they experience the food here = Priceless.
Cheers KRWC family, much love.
Kayne Tremills, Reach Foundation
March 2008, Youth Program, 40 Participants.
As a youth program coordinator from rural/coastal Mallacoota with special dietary needs, I take young people on numerous lifeskills type camps throughout Victoria. I have found the Kinglake Ranges Wilderness Camp staff to be extremely friendly and accommodating. The food prepared for people with special dietary needs is the best. A great variety, quality and taste. Simply it is restaurant standard.
Phil Counsel, Youth Program Coordinator, Mallacoota Area Health Services
March 2007, Mountain Adventure Camp, 80 Year 7 students.
Our staff reported that this was one of the best run camps they had ever been on. The activities were heaps of fun for students and teachers alike. I was particularly impressed with the emphasis on teamwork and communication skills. After every activity, the camp staff encouraged students to reflect on how they had gone as a group and what had been achieved. It was an enjoyable and enriching experience for all.
Miranda McCallum, Year 7 Co-ordinator, Brunswick Secondary College
November 2006, Survivor Camp, 4 tribes
I would just like to extend my thanks for the amazing camp experience you provided the Year 9 students of Kooweerup Secondary College.
What we wanted was a camp that allowed our students to extend themselves in different situations. We wanted to see leaders step up, the quiet students get out of their comfort zones and most of all we wanted them to have a great time.
By all accounts from students and parents we achieved our objectives from your Survivor camp. I believe it was the KRWC staff and the structure of the program that had a massive contribution towards the enjoyment and success our students had on camp. And the food, well we could rave for hours on how good the food was there!
So to Michelle and Col and all staff thank you very much for the effort and time you put into our camp program and we are hoping to continue camping at KRWC next year and into the future.
Marc Fleming, Kooweerup Secondary College
October 2006, Mountain Adventure Camp, 40 mature age international students.
I want to say again thank you for having us, you all were fantastic and were very flexible and patient with me/us before and during our stay. I really appreciate this as it has shown the college how valuable an experience like this can be for their students. It has also given the students a huge learning experience, a break from their busy lives they make as soon as they get here to support themselves as well as a fantastic aussie experience - so thank you again!!!
I really liked the staff's way of working with the students and the ropes course's were facilitated very very well,
the Catering was fantastic as well as the staff (except that it will take me weeks to wear some of the food off!!!).
I look forward to working with you all again and I hope to make a time and visit to talk about next year very soon.
Ms Christine Harrison, Melbourne International College
October 2006, Mountain Adventure Camp, 40 mature age international students.
"It was perfect. It is very difficult to improve perfection. It was awesome." (true, they really did say this!)
"I would like to say that the camp was really very fantastic. I enjoyed very much. You give us a opportunity to learn many things for future"
Students, Melbourne International College
August 2006, Survivor Camp, 2 tribes
There was so much feedback from staff and students on this camp that we had to allocate a separate page, please click here to see it, some excerpts are included here.
"This camp was awesome", "I love this camp", "Absolutely sensational food", "I didn't really want to go to this camp but I LOVED IT!".
Staff & participants, Geelong Baptist College
February 2006, Survivor Camp, 150 Year 9 students.
What an amazing experience for the students! It was so much fun to see the students enjoy themselves with the many challenges that they faced. The food was amazing with Michelle being very accommodating with the different dietary needs of our staff and students. The KRWC Staff were very professional, approachable, helpful and easy to work with. They took a great interest in the Nazareth Staff and Students from the beginning of the program to the presentation of the Ultimate Survivor Team back at school. We can’t wait to go back next year!
Michelle Piccolo, Year 9 Coordinator, Nazareth College
April 2006, Navigation Camp, 37 Year 10 & 11 Outdoor Rec students.
Working with Kinglake Ranges Wilderness Camp – sometimes you get good leaders and an average program, sometimes you get a great program and average leaders. KRWC are lucky enough to have both.
Students left the camp with a vast array of knowledge on navigation. Throughout the camp they utilized a number of different navigational tools including compass, GPS, navigation using the natural features of the environment and other non traditional methods such as the cartesian plain.
The whole package was exactly what we wanted and as a result the kids had a fantastic time.
Dan Norton, VET Outdoor Recreation, Kew High School
Feb 2006, Adventure Activities Day, 98 Year 7 students.
Just a quick note to say thanks for a great day for our Year 7s recently.
We appreciated your friendliness and skill; the superb facilities, which offered just the right level of challenge for our Year 7s on the day; and the care taken by the staff to make us feel welcome, and to encourage the students to take risks and extend themselves beyond their comfort zones, without judging them if they were reluctant to 'have a go'.
A special thank you to the catering staff for their friendly hospitality.
Lesley Morath, Bundoora Secondary College
May 2005, Multi-Day Hosting and Adventure Activities, 33 staff
"On behalf of all the team here at Spotlight Marketing I would like to thank you for a fantastic couple of days at your beautiful place in Kinglake West. Our team of 33 is a newly formed team and the activities, games and general atmosphere that you create was so perfect to help us with our team building.
I have had so many comments of thanks from the guys here who all said that it was one of the best things they have ever done – it sure beats a boardroom power point presentation too! Thanks also to your great team – great leadership, direction, food and most importantly a heap of fun for all.
Again, we really appreciate everything that you have done for us in giving us a unique and memorable experience!"
Jono Gelfand, Marketing Manager, Spotlight Fabrics
September 2005, 3 Day Camp, 50 Students
“Delicious meals were served to us morning, noon and night (not to mention the yummy snacks in between) you even managed to ‘fill’ some of our biggest boys. Many students wanted to stay on forever. Our students have returned to school full of enthusiasm to tackle any challenge they face, as well, they have learned to make new friends and work more cooperatively. We can not possibly give KRWC enough praise. Thank you.”
Emma Crumpton, Camp Coordinator Wonthaggi Secondary
Others
“Hi guys thanks for the awesome day, I really enjoyed myself and came out of it feeling I could do anything.”
Jarred from The Assumption College VCAL class 2004
"Students are still marvelling at what they achieved! Your good organization and gentle encouragement to get us out of our ‘comfort zone’, made it possible for all of us to come away with very positive feelings about our capabilities."
Kay Clarke, Thomastown Secondary College
“Our final evaluation reflected that your courses give people the opportunity to complete challenges they did not think they were capable of, subsequently gaining a great sense of achievement.”
Sarah Povey & John Stratford SKY Mental Health Services for Kids & Youth