Fun in the sun at Summer Adventure Weekend

Fun in the sun at Summer Adventure Weekend

Grace Bower went along to the Summer Adventure Weekend at Vaughan Park. It changed her life.

As a friend of the Vaughan Park Retreat Centre from the first year of its operation, I take every opportunity to enjoy the great hospitality offered, the world-class views and the corporate standard
of food.

When the first advertisement appeared for a Summer Adventure Weekend, I immediately felt that this was a weekend where an older non-grandmother on her own, could enjoy a family-based event, organized by Vaughan Park and the Diocese of Auckland, at a reasonable price.

There was a whole range of ages from 18 months to 87 years there - from parents with teenagers to parents with younger children, to a grandmother and granddaughter, to women with and without their children and people like me, on my own and not knowing other participants. I had registered early, but due to personal family circumstances, I was hesitant about moving out of my comfort zone. My confidence, though, in the magic of Vaughan Park was abundantly filled.

One of the leaders told me that she had done many camps, but our one didn’t feel like work at all. It ran so smoothly and offered many choices and activities for every participant.

On Friday the early arrivals enjoyed an afternoon at the beach before the first meal gave everyone a taste of what was to come and how special it is to forget shopping and cooking and dishes for the weekend.

That first evening was a real old- fashioned family night with activities such as board games and jigsaws and the first delightful connections between new friends. People were free to wander and chat and interact with each other. A contingent from up North connected with cousins from the South – what a great idea.

The evening culminated in a gathering in the beautiful Ruatara Chapel for family evening prayers that included a maritime adventure story from the Bible – not Jonah – but Paul’s shipwreck. Josh Jones, the musician on the team, gave us spiritual food through morning and evening prayer times and at Sunday morning Eucharist.

Saturday was maritime education day at the Sir Peter Blake Marne Education and Recreation Centre (MERC) next door, with a world-class group of professionals offering fun education to our new family. There were two sessions – morning tea – two sessions – a packed picnic lunch and two-afternoon sessions.

Some of the planned decisions changed as there was exciting news that it was perfect weather for sailing - much to the delight of the participants. I loved seeing how some families did everything together, and others took the opportunities to mix and match their children. There was great camaraderie as everyone cheered each other on during the activities, whether at the beach, building rafts and kayaks or abseiling and learning about marine biology at MERC and exploring marine life at the beach.

After another delicious dinner, we all gathered for a concert. Two of the younger girls MC’d the evening brilliantly. I loved hearing a mother answer her two daughters who asked her, “Why didn’t you tell us about
the concert?”. She replied, “that was information that I chose to withhold.”

I remember church camps when my girls were little and I loved that this mother made sure that this weekend break was for her as well. The variety of concert items was concluded with beautiful waiata and a Haka by the group from Northland, who reluctantly had to return home to fulfill commitments in their congregation.

After supper, a group of us sat around as Josh sang and played a wide range of our favourite songs.

Sunday was a later start and we had a leisurely breakfast. Bishop Ross Bay celebrated the Eucharist outside at the amphitheatre in the gardens of Vaughan Park. Some of the children had gathered decorations for the altar and families went up the shell-lined path together to receive communion. The Bishop gave us an inspiring challenge to take what we had learned back to our places of living, working and worshipping.

Everyone left with a desire to return the following year. It will be interesting to see how friendships have developed over this year and what reconnections may happen at Summer Adventure Camp 2019.

I am often reminded of the families I met and their family circumstances, especially as some of the children were beginning a new term in their educational journeys. Even if I don’t see them again, meeting and sharing with them on that summer weekend continues to be a very happy memory for me. I will be encouraging others to take the opportunity to be there next year.

A huge thank you to Jacolize Becker, Children and Family Ministry Facilitator for the Anglican Diocese of Auckland and Marion Nickerson, Operations Manager at Vaughan Park, who carried the vision through and provided us with a holiday to remember – in body, mind, and spirit.