Important Notices

Growing Good Men

A weekend experience for fathers and their teenage sons

GROWING GOOD MEN is an experientially-based program which encourages and enables fathers and sons to strengthen their relationship and to explore important issues of growing into manhood. It is designed for fathers or significant male role model and teenage boys in high school between Years 7-10 (12-17 yrs old).

The weekend experience explores:

The importance of the father and son bond for both generations
The journey of adolescence
Becoming a man
Dealing with anger
Friendship with girls and women
The quest for identity
Rite of Passage

How do we raise good men? How do we produce men that are alive, real and courageous; who know their purpose and meaning, who are not afraid of the adventure, who long for the quest, who will fight for truth.

Set over a weekend, the program involves: short keynote sessions, small group and father/son sharing, a wide range of challenging and engaging activities (which includes adventure activities such as high ropes course, flying fox etc), reflection and prayer. The centrepiece of the program is a Rite of Passage on Saturday night. The weekend concludes with a Father’s Blessing and commissioning.

What is the question that haunts every man?

Every man needs to receive a “blessing,” as Gary Smalley writes, from his father. He needs to hear with his ears, see with his eyes and believe in his heart, that the person who he is, is good enough in his father’s eyes. Every boy wants his father to give him a sense of male acceptance, affirmation and affection. Boys who do not receive this from their fathers can spend decades trying to prove to themselves and to others that their actions, accomplishments and characters are worthy of their father’s approval.

How does a boy learn to be a man?

Every boy dreams of being a hero and making a difference in his world. But what happens to these dreams? How does he come to understand his masculinity? Who will form him, who will lead him, who will inspire him, who will release him into the world of men? His father. This is a big challenge and a very difficult job; one that cannot be done alone.

Location: CYC Forest Edge, 405 McKenzie Road, Neerim East, VIC

Sign Out Time: 2:00pm Sunday, 14 September 2025

Our awesome catering team will provide campers with healthy and balanced meals as well as morning tea, and afternoon tea. Our site is allergy aware and can cater to a number of dietary requirements, just let us know on your camper’s application form. We look forward to starting our weekend together over dinner. Dinner will be provided on Friday night, shortly after arrival.

**Please note: If your teenage boy is unable to attend with their father, they may choose to come with another significant male person over the age of 18. In this situation, we would need to sign the waiver and send an email of consent from a parent/guardian.**

**Growing Good Men is designed for building stronger bonds and deeper understanding of one another. If you have more than one teenage son, we recommend you bring the older son, as Dad will need to spend one on one time in several sessions including the rite of passage. We will be running this camp again in the future and Dad can then bring his other son. **

If you have any questions specific to Family Camps please contact our team at familycamps@cycministries.org.au or you can call the CYC Ministries office on (03) 9996 7273. To find out more about our Holiday Camps, as well as Family Camps, Day Camps and Leadership Development head to holidaycamps.org.au

Liza Powell

Parish Secretary

Parishes of Reservoir – Reservoir North – Preston West