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We aim to make school camps as easy as possible and accessible for everyone
School Camp Teachers are our Heroes
Without the effort teachers put into school camps many students would miss out on an important part of their education.
We recognise planning a school camp can be a daunting task. Issues such as venue, menus, cost, health and safety, adequate supervision and transport all have to be considered and dealt with before the actual teaching and activities begin.
Designed with school camps specifically in mind
The Lodge was designed and built to make it as easy as possible for teachers to access and teach about Northland’s native forest.
Operating for nearly 40 years, the Tangihua Lions Lodge facilities make planning and running a school camp significantly easier. On this website you can find suggested menus, activities, schedules and a list of what to bring.
Once you have decided on a venue, try to make it a regular event. This will make future trips much easier. You and your helpers will know what to expect. Parents with several children will have been there previously.
For a suggested schedule of activities try TLL – General Program for School Camp.
Accommodation at the Lodge
On each side of the main dining area there is one five and one 20 bunk room, sleeping a total of 50 people. Normally it is boys to the left of the main room and girls to the right – parents in the five-bed room, students in the 20 bunk room. The five-bed room has been designed with parents and teachers in mind. It is separated from the larger bunk room by a 3/4 wall which gives some privacy but also allows for monitoring of activities next door.
The small Lodge is a separate building next to the main Lodge that can sleep another 7 people. Ideal for a bit of peace and quite. The small Lodge also has its own bathroom and kitchenette.
If you need space for more, there is a grass clearing that’s perfect for camping only a 5 minute walk away.
Parents or adults at school camp
In order to get the required ratio of supervisors at school camps, parents are often called upon. Most parents find this to be a fun and rewarding experience.
There will be many skill sets available amongst the parents so make the most of those. Food preparation and the ability to be in the background keeping things ticking over are the two most needed. We suggest parents take a look at this website.
Parents, while participating in many interesting activities, get to know the teachers and the students. Meeting informally and chatting with teachers and other parents and seeing how the class interacts is always an interesting experience.
A newsletter with information for parents, sent out prior to permission slips, is a good idea. A meeting of parents prior to the camp will allay some fears and is often a quicker and easier way of dealing with any issues that may arise than talking to parents individually. Often parents know about the camp or have been there before and this “word of mouth” really helps.
To help parents understand their role we have created this one page sheet to provide them; TLL – The Role of Parents on School Camp
What to take to school camp
Here is our handy checklist of what to bring on a school camp at the Lodge; TLL – What to Bring on School Camp
Security and safety
Missing students can be as big a problem as unwanted visitors. The Lodge is 3km from Omana Road and the gate at the start of the Lodge road can be locked, making for a long walk in or out. There is not really anywhere for students to go.
All teachers and schools will have their standard rules. Here are some pertinent to the Tangihua’s:
- Use a buddy system
- No running, jumping, or tussling indoors
- No leaving the grassed lodge area without an adult
- The kitchen is out of bounds unless on duty
- Fire is a risk – no bush fires or BBQs anywhere in the Tangihua Ranges
- Respect nature and leave things as you found them
School camp food!
It is so important to make sure everyone is well food. Aim for food that is filling, nutritious and easy to make in large amounts.
In most cases there are many parents who are more than happy to be involved. The best option is to draw up a menu, put one person in charge and assign them plenty of help.
We have put together well a tested menu and some recipe ideas to help you out; TLL – School Camp Menu and TLL – Recipes for School Camps.
Dishing out onto plates as the student come past avoids waste and enables staff to see who is eating what. Seconds are better than over filled plates and wasting food.
The Lodge kitchen has been designed and built to feed the masses. It has plenty of bench space, a commercial oven and large hot plate, commercial toaster, cutlery for 100 people, a chiller on the back deck for storage and a steriliser. All you need to bring is food and cleaning products (tea towels, dish washing liquid etc.).
Wet weather
Planning for wet weather is essential as dry weather is never guaranteed, no matter the time of year. The Lodge has a large undercover deck area, as well as the main dinning room so there is plenty of room for indoor activities. There is also a drying room for wet gear if you get caught out.
Having a Plan B that is quick to implement and pack away can make dealing with wet weather so much easier. Indoor activities like art, map reading, talks, and games can keep the group engaged.
Wet weather won’t stop you getting to the Lodge or home again but please be careful if heading out into the bush. The track to the clearing and the Kauri Grove includes stream crossings that can be difficult after rain. If in doubt, don’t cross! Especially if it is still raining and you need to get back again.
Time out
Time out for staff is important. The small lodge is a separate building to the main and is a great place for quite time.
