HUB News

Success at Camp: Building Confidence and Independence

Going on school camp is about so much more than spending time away from home. While it can be a big step for some students, it is a wonderful opportunity to discover what they can achieve, build confidence, develop independence, strengthen relationships and create special memories. For many students, camp is an important milestone, offering new experiences in a safe, caring and supportive environment.

Preparing for Success

For our students, a successful camp experience began well before they left for the Mornington Peninsula. For students requiring additional support, the journey started back in Prep with a Prep breakfast, followed by a Year 1 stay-late, a Grade 2 sleepover and, finally, camp. Each experience provided an opportunity to build familiarity, confidence and independence in preparation for the next step.

Care team meetings were held ahead of these events, bringing together students, staff, leaders and families to develop individualised support plans. From cabin arrangements and seating on the bus to daily routines and bedtime support, every detail was carefully considered to help each student feel safe, comfortable and ready to participate.

Our ES team also used social stories, PowerPoint presentations, pictures, PECS visuals and videos to introduce the camp environment, activities and expected routines. By using familiar staff, clear visual supports and predictable routines, we helped make this new experience feel more manageable, reassuring and exciting.

Feeling Safe and Supported

Every student is unique, with their own needs, strengths and ways of feeling comfortable. Our dedicated staff worked tirelessly to ensure each student felt safe, understood, valued and included throughout their camp experience.

Students received support with everyday routines such as showering, dressing, packing clothes and making their beds. Staff used familiar routines, gentle verbal prompts and quiet reassurance to build trust and encourage students to try new things at their own pace.

Little comforts also made a big difference. Favourite toys, drawing, playdough, fidget items and other familiar belongings helped students feel settled in their new surroundings. Communication with parents also provided comfort and reassurance for students experiencing their first time away from home.

Through patience, understanding and thoughtful adjustments, our team helped ensure that every student could participate, feel a sense of belonging and experience the excitement of camp.

Growing Independence

One of the most rewarding parts of camp was seeing students practise everyday skills in a meaningful, real-life setting. With support whenever it was needed, students were encouraged to get their own food, scrape their plates, help with chores and participate in shared routines.

Students were also supported to recognise their own needs and use helpful strategies, such as wearing headphones or spending time in quiet spaces, to feel comfortable and regulated.

These experiences provided opportunities to make choices, try things for themselves and discover their capabilities. While some achievements may seem small, they represent important steps towards greater independence, confidence and resilience.

Celebrating Success

The success of our camp on the Mornington Peninsula was made possible through careful preparation, individualised support and the positive, trusting relationships developed by our dedicated teachers and ES team.

Most importantly, our students were able to spend time away from their families in a safe, nurturing and supportive environment, where they could explore new experiences, strengthen friendships and grow at their own pace.

Camp was a beautiful reminder that inclusion means creating the conditions for every student to participate, experience success and feel that they belong. Success looks different for every student. It might mean trying something new, completing a familiar task independently, feeling comfortable in an unfamiliar environment or having the confidence to spend a night away from home. Every one of these achievements deserves to be celebrated.

We are incredibly proud of our students and the confidence, independence and resilience they demonstrated throughout this experience. We are equally grateful to Miss Manisha, Miss Judith Godinet, Mrs Amanda Maurici, Mr Dylan Golz, Mr Steven Bennett, Ms Karen Jackson, KC and Charlize, whose patience, compassion and dedication helped make camp such a positive and memorable experience for everyone involved.

What a wonderful achievement for our students, and what a privilege it is to watch them grow, discover their strengths and shine in their own unique ways!