This exciting program is available to all
campers attending
LionsCamp Kookaburra.
It allows young people to extend their time in Australia, with no
accommodation costs. Best of all it gives the chance to have fun and
maintain the friendships established at Camp while experiencing the
satisfaction of making a useful contribution to your host community.
At the Camp there will be young people
from about 20 different countries, and long term friendships can be
expected to result.
At the end of the Camp, the Voluntary Community
Service Program starts. Campers are allocated to a group of 2 to 6
people who spend each week day for 2 weeks doing something interesting
and useful together. Camp friendships are maintained and strengthened
by working together and social activities arranged by host families.
Accommodation is provided by Lions Clubs
in the area, at no charge to the campers.
The jobs are allocated based on the
preference of the young person concerned.
|
In 2007 and 2008 the campers did things such as
working at an Australian animal and bird sanctuary, feeding them,
cleaning their enclosures, and repairing and building homes for an
endangered species of duck.
Other groups worked with Landcare to plant
trees and remove weeds from parks and reserves.
Two girls went to a Primary school for
deaf children, to read and play with them and help the teachers. The
girls found it a very fulfilling experience.
There were others who liked to entertain
with music and there was a champion dancer who was a big hit at schools
she visited. |
2007 Campers
experiencing LIONS VCS
DAVAADORJ (Mongolia)
and CHRIS (Austria) building a hutch for endangered Freckled Ducks
at Shortland Wetlands.
Breaking News: The hutches
have resulted in the first ducklings hatching at the centre. |
The work hours vary with the activity, but
are about 20 hours per week.
There is a questionnaire which you should
use to tell us about the things you would like to do.
While a bed and meals are provided during
the Voluntary Community Service Program, campers will need enough money to pay
their own way for entertainment and meals out.
Examples of 2009 Voluntary Community Service
Projects
AGED
CARE Older folk in a retirement village or in their own home,
love to meet somebody new for a
chat, or some entertainment. There are
opportunities to help these people with simple jobs such as delivery of
meals, and assisting a charity looking after them.
ANIMAL CARE is an opportunity to work
with Australian animals in a variety of settings. Within our Lions
District there are a number of animal sanctuaries that welcome voluntary
support.
CHILD
CARE Child care
opportunities in 2009 may be limited as our program coincides with local
school holidays. Early childhood (0-5years) child care centres will be
operating and some places may be available for LionsCamp Kookaburra
community service volunteers.
LANDCARE is an Australian wide network of
community groups who care for the environment by undertaking voluntary
project work to assist repairing and managing natural resources.
These people undertake soil salinity and
erosion work, rehabilitate and conserve rivers and waterways, care for
beach dunes and marine creatures, plant trees, shrubs and grasses, restore
and maintain wildlife habitats, including the homes of endangered and
threatened animals, birds and flora.
Australia is one of the world’s leading
countries in this field, and while
Landcare has achieved much, there is
still plenty to be done.
As Lions care about the environment, and
preservation of natural resources, arrangements have been made for a
limited number of Campers to experience the thrill of this work
with
Landcare .
For
more detail about
Landcare projects go to their webpage:
The work opportunities are varied and
flexible. It is important that the skills and interests of the
volunteers be taken into account. Please tell us what you would like to
do.
LIONSCamp
Kookaburra, NSW Australia