Youth and Children’s FAQ

COVID-19 and CMS Youth and Children’s camps

CMS wants to ensure Camp MMM and Milimani can proceed with the utmost duty of care for your children. The structure of our camps reflects our commitment to uphold Safe Ministry standards and operate in a COVID-19 conscientious way. We pray these changes will minimise the risk of having to cancel camps this year and that they will give you peace of mind for your child’s safety.

CMS also wants to build capacity for growth into our Youth and Children’s programs. Currently, space on our camps is limited. By modifying the structure of our camps, we hope to provide opportunities for more young people to grow their hearts for Jesus and his mission each year.

By shifting at least some of the camps to warmer months, CMS hopes to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in Winter months. We also hope to move camp activities outdoors as much as possible.

When are camps running? 

The 2023 camp dates are as follows:

Camp Milimani (School years 4-6) – 18-20 April 2023.

Camp MMM (School years 11-12) – 3-7 July 2023.

Camp MMM (School years 7-8) – 26-29 September 2023.

Camp MMM (School years 9-10) – 3-6 October 2023.

How does transport work?

Leaders are no longer permitted to accompany children on public transport to campsites. Parents and carers need to make their own arrangements regarding transporting children to and from camps.

CMS has implemented this change to comply with Safe Ministry standards, ensuring that all youth and children have appropriate supervision at all times.

Public transport is still available, but an adult will be required to be present to ensure that all youth and children have appropriate supervision at all times. Car-pooling is also an option, and it is possible for a parent/guardian to give consent to sign a child in or out of camp (please note: this permission needs to be presented in writing at the registration desk upon arrival at camp).

If a camper who is P-plate driver is driving themselves to camp, they will need to provide written permission from their parent/guardian upon presentation at the registration desk.

Before camp 

Will my child have to complete a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) before attending camp?

Yes. CMS requires all youth and children to return a negative RAT result within no more than 48 hours prior to attending camp.
CMS also strongly encourages each camper to bring a RAT to camp to assist in the event that a youth or child displays symptoms of COVID-19.

What happens if my child displays symptoms in the week leading up to camp?

We advise that they take a RAT and if this returns a positive result, please contact CMS to discuss a refund of camp fees.

What is the cancellation policy for camp?

Refund requests arising from any cancellations will be dealt with by CMS on a case-by-case basis. Refunds will generally not be possible for any cancellations after final attendance numbers are provided to the venue. For Camp MMM Years 11-12, this date was 22 June 2023. For Camp MMM Years 7-8 and 9-10, this date is 23 August 2023.

Will my child get to stay with their first roommate preference?

We do our best to accommodate your child’s roommate preference. However, this year there will be less people in each room. To avoid disappointment, try to include a second roommate preference.

Can my child attend camp if they are not vaccinated?

Yes, however we would encourage all children to be vaccinated.

During camp

What happens if a youth or child displays symptoms of COVID-19 at camp?

They will be asked to complete a RAT and if positive to isolate until a parent/guardian can pick them up from camp.

What happens if there is a positive COVID-19 case at camp?

The youth or child who is COVID-19 positive will be asked to isolate until a parent/guardian can pick them up and take them home.

How can we communicate with our kids whilst they’re at camp?

We ask that all smart devices (phones, tablets) be left at home or handed in to house parents at check-in. This is to help your child remain present at camp with their friends and avoid distraction. If your child experiences anxiety or homesickness, they will be able to contact parents/carers at the discretion of house parents.

Camp MMM Years 7-8 & Years 9-10 Important Info

Arrival

Check-in for MMM Years 7-8 will begin at 10:00am at the CMS Conference Centre on Tuesday, 26 September.
Check-in for MMM Years 9-10 will begin at 10:00am at the CMS Conference Centre on Tuesday, 3 October.

After a camper has marked off their name and if applicable, provided any medication to their Houseparents, they can put their belongings in their room and meet at the KCC auditorium.

Parking: Please park your car on the KCC oval for drop-off. Entry to the oval is via Cliff Dr near Violet St. Leaders will be available to help with bags as needed, therefore we kindly ask that you do not block the CMS Conference Centre driveway.

Campers will receive a CMS bag containing their camp booklet, pen and hoodie which will be found in their room. Please see details below regarding what they will need to bring.

Departure

Check-out for MMM Years 7-8 will begin at 12:30pm on Friday, 29 September at the KCC auditorium.
Check-out for MMM Years 9-10 will begin at 12:30pm on Friday, 6 October at the KCC auditorium.

All campers must be signed out by a responsible person over the age of 18.

A packed lunch will be provided for each camper by KCC.

Parking: Please park your car on the KCC oval for pick-up.

Transport

A friendly reminder that there will be no train or bus taking campers to MMM.

You will have nominated someone (at the time of registration) to transport your child to and from camp.

Please notify the CMS Youth and Children’s Ministry team in writing at yandc.nswact@cms.org.au as soon as possible if there are any changes to the nominated person. All changes will be confirmed by our Youth and Children’s team in writing via reply email.

Mobile phones

Camp MMM has been designated a ‘No-phone zone’. Campers will not be able to use their phone during camp. All campers’ mobile phones, tablets and other smart devices will be collected from them upon check-in and kept with the Houseparents for the duration of the camp. They will be returned to the camper when they check out on the last day of camp.

Contact with a camper during camp is at the discretion of the Houseparents and the CMS Youth and Children’s Ministry team.

We kindly request that you do not try to contact the camper directly whilst camp is in progress as we would like them to be ‘fully present’ at camp and not distracted from activities and relationships.

COVID-19 testing

We ask that campers perform a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) no more than 48 hours before camp.

You do not need to send us your result, but if the RAT returns a positive result, please contact the CMS Youth and Children’s Ministry team at yandc.nswact@cms.org.au.

Please do not send your child to camp if they are experiencing any cold/flu symptoms or if they test positive to COVID-19. If your child cannot attend camp because of illness, please contact CMS to discuss a refund of camp fees.

Please see above for what you should do before camp and what will happen if a COVID-19 case occurs during camp.

Medical emergency

In the event of an emergency, a representative of the CMS Youth and Children’s Ministry team will communicate with your nominated emergency contact.

If this has changed, please provide the name and contact phone number of the person to contact in an emergency.

Medication

Please bring your child’s medication that they will need during camp in a zip-lock bag clearly labelled with their name and any instructions on it. This will be collected at check-in by the Houseparents. Medication such as Ventolin and EpiPens must remain in the possession of campers throughout the week.

Please complete a Medical Management Plan for your child if they have anaphylaxis, asthma or any other serious conditions that require a medical plan. Please submit this to the Youth and Children’s team by Tuesday, 19 September 2023 or bring a copy with you to hand in at check-in.

Please contact the Youth and Children’s team if you would like to discuss any aspect of your child’s medical needs, before or during camp at yandc.nswact@cms.org.au.

Homesickness

If you are concerned that your child may feel homesick or anxious, we can provide some helpful ways to prepare your child before camp (written by one of our Houseparents) so that they might feel less anxious while they are at MMM.

Accommodation

Campers will be accommodated at the CMS Conference Centre and KCC Mountain Camp.

Please note that while we take note of your child’s roommate preferences and aim to accommodate your child with people they know, our approach is to allocate rooms by year group to help build new friendships that will last beyond camp.

Speakers

Our speaker this year at Camp MMM Years 7-8 will be Filimone Lolohea. Filimone (Fili) is currently a full time Pastor at Living Water Church with a focus on the Indigenous community of Redfern. Read more about Fili on the event page.

Our speaker this year at Camp MMM Years 9-10 will be Braydon Lucas. Braydon is Minister for Mission at Christ Church Gladesville. Read more about Braydon on the event page.

Electives

On Wednesday and Thursday, campers will be able to choose and attend a leader-run seminar to hear more about topics of interest from a Biblical perspective.

Camp activities

On Wednesday night, campers and leaders will split into girls’ and boys’ groups for a fun-packed evening. Please note the following things to bring:

All Year 7-8 campers – bring clothes for messy games on Wednesday.
Years 7-8 Boys – bring clothes that can get dirty, enclosed shoes that can get dirty and a torch.
All Year 9-10 campers – for the colour run, bring 1 white shirt / change of clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
Year 9-10 Girls – bring a change of clothes that you don’t mind getting a bit messy.

Theme night

Our theme for Camp MMM Years 7-8 is ‘Toy Story’.
Our theme for Camp MMM Years 9-10 is ‘Wild, Wild West’.
We are planning a fun night on Thursday for both camps! Please bring a fun outfit to match this theme.

Missionaries at camp

At Camp MMM Years 7-8 we will be joined by David and Cathie Sandifer, who have been serving in the Netherlands.
At Camp MMM Years 9-10 we will be joined by Nathan and Maki Clapham, who have been serving in Japan.
We will have a chance to hear how God has been at work in their location to see people know Jesus.

Timetables

Download the camp timetables so you know what will be happening this year.
Camp MMM Year 7-8 camp timetable
Camp MMM Year 9-10 camp timetable

What to bring:

• A physical paper Bible (no phones are allowed during sessions or group time)
• Clothes for all kinds of weather during the week (including wet weather gear, pyjamas, hat and beanie)
• Clothes for the activities and theme night (extra clothes that can get dirty for messy games and boys bring extra clothes and shoes that can get dirty)
• A few pairs of shoes
• Toiletries
• 2 x Towels (towels take longer to dry when it’s cold)
• A warm sleeping bag, a fitted sheet and pillowcase or 2 x bed sheets (a fitted sheet and a flat sheet) and pillowcase. (A pillow, doona and blankets are provided.)
• A torch
• A COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test (will only be used if needed).

What NOT to bring:

• Valuable or expensive items that may break
• Soft drinks, energy drinks or alcohol
• Any illicit substances.

Please note: CMS NSW & ACT does not take responsibility for any items that are brought on camp including computers, mobile phones or any other equipment. Each camper brings this equipment at their own risk.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact our team and we would be happy to speak with you further. Looking forward to seeing everyone soon!