Elevate Family Camp exists to serve entire families: parents, children, siblings, and even grandparents. 

Elevate’s Auckland Family Camp serves families with a child with a disability.

No. As the name suggests, our Family Camps are designed to be just that: a camp where families attend together.

Elevate Family Camps are a time for reconnecting with your family, making memories and meeting new friends who face similar challenges. We offer a safe and accepting environment, where we strive to ensure that each family member feels like they belong.  

The weekend includes combined family worship time followed by age-appropriate programmes in the mornings with a variety of activities planned with the attending campers in mind, including crafts, Bible lessons, and onsite camp activities. 

Parents will have the opportunity to hear from a guest speaker and enjoy a time of sharing. 

Afternoons are relaxed with optional activities for the whole family. Saturday evening will see everyone gathered around the campfire (weather permitting) and then relaxing, snuggled up in blankets for a family movie.  

And the best news? No cooking! The amazing team at our host campsite (Willow Park Christian Camp) will be serving us yummy food throughout the weekend, from Friday supper (please organise your own dinner that night) through to Sunday lunch – and they’ll be doing all the dishes! 

With our busy lives, having the whole family sitting around the table at mealtimes can be rare, so at Family Camp we encourage families to make the most of the opportunity to sit with each other at mealtimes.  

To ensure that parents and caregivers can relax and enjoy themselves too, families are assigned a volunteer helper/s – a new friend to serve as a helper, encourager and supporter throughout the weekend. They will assist at mealtimes, and activities, and be with the children during their programmes. Although families are still responsible for their loved one’s personal care.*  

*If you need to bring a carer with you make sure to include them on your registration form. Most of the accommodation is fully accessible but you will need to bring any special equipment or medical supplies with you. 

The cost of Elevate Family Camp includes all accommodation, meals and activities for the whole weekend. Please refer to the registration page to see the current camp fees. 

For our camps, we seek partnerships and funding grants in order to keep the costs down as low as possible for both our families and volunteers. If, however, the cost is still a barrier to your family attending, please contact us. 

Absolutely! Although we would encourage families to enjoy their time together, if an older member of your family wants to serve as a volunteer at camp, please indicate this on your family’s registration form. See the volunteer information section to learn more about volunteering at Elevate Family Camp. 

Each family is assigned one (sometimes more, depending on availability and the size of your family) volunteer - a new friend to serve as a helper, encourager and supporter throughout the weekend. Depending on your family’s needs, they will attend the programmes and activities with your children, sit with your family during mealtimes and be an extra pair of eyes and hands during the evening activities to allow all family members, even yourselves, to participate in and enjoy camp.  

Each of our volunteers will be provided training and be police vetted prior to camp. 

Don’t worry, you won’t be sleeping in tents! 

Our Auckland Family Camp is being held at Willow Park Christian Camp a seaside camp within 30 minutes of Auckland. Families will be assigned their own cabin (heated) with an ensuite. Each cabin is made up of two single beds and one set of bunks. For larger families there are cabins with shared bathrooms available upstairs, but you will need to bring your own linen.

If your family requires a wheelchair-accessible room, please contact us before registering to discuss options.

The camp staff serve us delicious food and are able to cater for most diet requirements and food allergies. Please note this on your registration form.  

Yes. Each family is assigned a volunteer helper who will support your family to participate in the various activities and programmes at camp, but they are not responsible for any medical, toileting, bathing, or transfer needs of the campers. Parents, spouses and family members of campers are responsible for these.   

If you require special equipment or medical supplies to support your loved one over the weekend, you will need to bring these with you.  

There will be a first aid officer on camp, but they are responsible for only minor injuries and illnesses. If a camper requires urgent medical attention, emergency services will be contacted. 

Each camp might require you to bring different items and you will be notified of this closer to camp, but here are some of the basics: 

• Bedding – pillows, sleeping bag/linen and duvet 
• Medication –bring enough for 3 full days 
• Toiletries and towels  
• Comfortable cold weather clothes for 3 days (including a warm jacket for night activities) 
• Swimming gear & towel 
• Sunscreen 
• Hat  
• Rain jacket  
• Torch 
• Bible, notebook and pen 
• Camera, phone, chargers, etc. 

Other special items if you need these: 

• Nappies/Products, Catheters, etc. 
• If you normally use a mattress protector at home, please bring it with you  
• Electric wheelchair charger 
• Transfer belts, Hoist, Commode, etc. 
• Special drink cup and/or cutlery

What not to bring: 

• Your own food, chewing gum, firearms, illegal drugs or alcohol 
• We recommend you don’t bring electronic devices (e.g.iPods, DVD players, computers) unless they are required for communication or behavioural support aids

Elevate Family Camps typically begin at 4:30pm for volunteers and from 6pm for families, however, please check your camp information pack for specific times closer to the date.

Dinner is NOT provided on Friday so please have something before you arrive.    

Camp finishes after lunch on Sunday (approximately 1:30pm).