Last Year's Camps

Here's what we got upto in 2004....

• Junior Camp
• Senior Camp
• Venture Camp
• 18+ Camp
• Breakfree 1 and Breakfree 2 Camps
• Freedom Camp

Junior Camp

Junior Camp had a fabulous week at the Wingate Centre. The main theme of this Camp was the Olympic Games, with the group divided into ‘countries’ for their week of challenges and events.

One of the favourite activities was sailing at Astbury Water Park. Before the novice crews boarded their vessels the instructor asked them to pray to the God of Wind, WHATANAR and the God of sun, SIAM. So 24 excited children stood on the shores of the lake chanting WHATANAR SIAM, WHATANAR SIAM!!

Integration during the week was exceptional with everyone mixing really well together. The ‘girls versus boys’ football match was a real hit with the boys until, thanks to Natasha’s excellent goal keeping skills, the girls won. Other activities during the week included cycling with a range of hand controlled bicycles, a visit to a theme park, Chester Zoo, a manic water fight in a rain storm, swimming, a treasure hunt and a midnight walk. At the last night fancy dress party almost everyone, including those using wheelchairs, had a go on stilts, which was a popular and highly amusing end to the week.

Senior Camp

Senior Camp also went to the Wingate Centre. Their first day was spent at the farm. It isn’t an ordinary farm though; everyone has the opportunity to do something they have never done before, from feeding lambs or milking the cows to quad biking in the fields! Most of the children went on the quad bikes, including one girl who was suffering from terrible homesickness. She hadn’t smiled since they left home but after two circuits on the quad bike her beaming smile lasted for the rest of the week.

Not surprisingly, photo taking featured quite strongly during the Camp. One of our children was a great animal lover who spent the whole week trying to take the best photo of the animals. She won the ‘young photographer’ award at the end of the week.

On the last night we held a party, hosted by a children’s entertainer called Mr Tinsel. The theme for the party was 'bad taste’ where everybody, including the volunteers, had to wear at least one item of ridiculous clothing. Everyone joined in the fun and had some rather spectacularly awful outfits!

Venture Camp

For many, this year’s Venture Camp saw a welcome return to Low Mill. After two years away many felt like they had never left and for first timers it took no time at all to feel right at home. During the week participants had the chance to experience abseiling off an old railway bridge, a zip wire slide and rafting in a local quarry. The orienteering seemed to bring out the worst in some, with some very dubious tactics being used – one poor team were sent off on a wild goose chase while another were caught carrying a couple of markers around with them.

That evening a number of activities were on offer, including making necklaces and bracelets, which many of the lads took to quickly. The beauty, hair and nail sessions were also surprisingly popular with the lads.

During the trip to Richmond groups tried out the photo challenge and amongst other things, blagged their way to the top of the castle, did the YMCA outside the YMCA with members of the public and hijacked 2 soldiers and a traffic warden!

The last night party caused some confusion as nobody could quite decide if it was a 60’s or 70’s theme! A range of hired, handmade and improvised brightly coloured costumes were worn along with a number of Afro wigs and medallions. Finally, whatever they were wearing, everyone had a good old boogie to finish off the week.

18+ Camp

It has been a number of years since 18+ Camp last went abroad and this year, for the first time, we chose Amsterdam. It was a very successful week. Several helpers put it among their best Camp, although some will say that every year! I think the fact is that each PHAB holiday feels like the best and perhaps this is because each year the atmosphere, spirit and friendship in the group remain similar and develop during the week. Probably some year’s activities are better whilst others it is the accommodation which stands out - either way the mood towards the end of the week is always infectious and memorable.

In Amsterdam the accommodation and activities combined well. We stayed at a youth hostel in an excellent location in the centre of town. The food was lovely; the staff wonderful and there was a bar, which stayed open until 1am! The dormitory accommodation made for a very sociable time.

Most days we managed one activity and a trip out in the evening. We saw cheese making and clog making, toured the canals by boat, went swimming to Center Parcs, to the cinema, to the football stadium and to heaps of cafes, bars and shops.

Of course no visit to Amsterdam would be complete without a trip to see the red light district, which was enjoyed by all. Amsterdam proved to be a very accessible as well as a friendly city and the whole Camp had an amazing time.

Breakfree 1 and Breakfree 2 Camps

Both Breakfree Camps again stayed at the Wingate Centre this year and both had a fantastic time. The weeks were packed with silliness, which began with a day shopping for outrageous outfits in Nantwich’s many charity shops. This culminated in wearing the outfits for a whole day at the theme park! Tanya went in a wedding dress and Sylvie was mother of the bride while Debz wore tight red hotpants and went as Wonderwoman. Aidan went dressed, thanks to the Wingate Centre’s bright orange bed linen, in a Hare Krishna outfit, complete with drums and tambourine which he insisted on beating all day long, much to his embarrassment and to the baffled amusement of various onlookers! Shanila and Paul in particular found the day hilarious and the fancy dress really gave a fantastic, if very silly, twist to the theme park.

The surprise hit of the week was a chill-out day at the centre, which proved fun and relaxing for everyone. During the day the children made fabulous photo frames to take home to their families, everyone joined in a huge game of ‘pass the parcel’ and ran around on a mad scavenger hunt. One group even invented a ‘Big Brother’ theme for their scavenger hunt, which went down a treat!

The last night party just had to continue with the silly themes of the week and so all dressed in bad taste. They found themselves surrounded by loud colours and spiked, dyed hair and the entertainer, Norman Tinsel, didn’t know quite what to say when he turned up! He was great fun though, and got everyone joining in excitedly, bopping along to his disco tunes and thoroughly enjoying his magic show. Everyone won prizes on the night, mostly in the form of animals made from balloons. The party was a fantastic end to both fantastic weeks. Roll on next summer!

Freedom Camp

On the first day everyone piled into the minibuses and headed off for Birkenhead Summer Festival. This was a free community event held in the town park. It also provided a very noisy yet enjoyable venue for the picnic lunch. There were a few fairground rides, a paintball shooting range, which the boys made full use of and a samba drum workshop that everyone thoroughly enjoyed.

At Blakemere Craft Centre we saw a falconry display, which was really brilliant. Matthew did jump on a number of occasions as the birds flew close to his head but everyone loved the experience. Claire found it particularly hilarious that one of the volunteers kept jumping out of her skin, but she did prove that her fear of flying birds is finally under control! The craft centre was also the source of an impromptu craft session with everyone having a go at the potter’s wheel and painting a ceramic model to take home.

The session in the gym at the Wingate Centre was as fantastic as ever. The instructors are well trained at working with people who have disabilities and got everyone on the trampoline and other adapted equipment. The meal at Frankie and Benny’s was amazing. Staff were exceptionally helpful in searching the menu to find something that was free of most vital ingredients in order that Toni could enjoy a meal.

The last night party was a version of the OSCARS ceremony, called the PHABsters. Everyone donned their very best evening dress and headed down the red carpet for the drinks reception in the cocktail bar. It was an amazing party that topped off an amazing week.